Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The use of steroids for the formation of a sports figure is widespread. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are used in large doses than in therapeutic practice. Studies of the side effects of AAS on carbohydrate metabolism are hampered due to the self-over-the-counter use of AAS.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that with the abolition of AAS, the effect of elevated doses of testosterone (Ts) and nandrolone (ND) decanoate on the utilization of glucose is reduced.

Methods: After the informational lectures among the visitors of the sports clubs of St. Petersburg on the impact of the AAS application on health, the expressed desire is included in the study. The inclusion criterion was the use of preparations of 19-nortestosterone with a course of 6 to 8 weeks in a weekly dosage of 300 to 700 mg in combination with Ts propionate and Ts enanthate, as well as the rejection of the subsequent use of anabolic steroids. BMI, HbA1c, immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and fasting plasma glucose (FG), and HOMA-IR insulin resistance index were compared before and after 3 months after the abolition of all AAS, while maintaining the previous exercise and dietary habits.

Results: Twenty-four athletes (18M), age 27±3.6 were examined. The average period of use of AAS is 7.3 weeks. After the abolition of the AAS, the IMB increased (mean difference=4.7 kg, P=0.012). The metabolism of glucose has changed in the direction of increasing all the indicators considered: FG (mean difference=1.02 mmol/l, P=0.047), IRI (mean difference=9.83, P=0.023), HOMA-IR (mean difference=7.31, P=0.015) and HbA1c (mean difference=0.25%, P=0.031). However, no violations of glucose metabolism were detected in any case.

Conclusions: The abolition of AAS in athletes caused an increase in body weight and a shift in all glucose metabolism rates closer to the upper normal values. This trend deserves further study.