Rapid weight loss decreases serum testosterone.

To investigate the effects of a rapid weight reduction program under authentic pre-competition conditions, eighteen elite wrestlers were studied with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after two to three weeks' weight reduction regimens. In order to establish the degree of dehydration and hormonal status, blood samples were collected to obtain blood chemistry, electrolytes and endocrinological parameters after both DXA measurements. The mean weight loss was 8.2 +/- 2.3 % and it was constituted by the mean reductions of fat mass of 16 +/- 6.9 % (p < or = 0.001) and lean body mass of 7.9 +/- 2.5 %. The rapid weight reduction caused significant dehydration which was noticed as increased blood hemoglobin (7.8 +/- 5.9 %, p < or = 0.001), hematocrit (11.3 +/- 6.8 %, p < or = 0.001), and serum creatinine (35 +/- 23 %, p < or = 0.001). There was a significant decrease in serum testosterone (63 +/- 33 %, p < or = 0.001) and luteinizing hormone (54 +/- 47 %, p < or = 0.001) concentrations. A reduced body weight correlated with decreased serum testosterone concentration (r = 0.53, p < or = 0.024). Serum sex hormone binding globulin concentration increased significantly (40 +/- 21 %, p < or = 0.001). The results suggest that even short-term weight reduction may have marked effects on body composition, blood chemistry and hormonal parameters. It may constitute a possible health risk at least in a growing adolescent athlete.

Anabolic androgenic steroids produce dose-dependant increase in left ventricular mass in power atheletes, and this effect is potentiated by concomitant use of growth hormone.

Power athletes abuse anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) and growth hormone (GH) to gain their muscular mass and strength. We wanted to determine how massive, self-administered doses of AASs with or without GH affect the left ventricular (LV) dimensions in power athletes. These substances are assumed to increase LVmass mainly by thickening the ventricular walls. Anecdotal evidence suggests a higher risk of cardiovascular events in AAS abusers. We were interested to see if LV dimensions and function in AAS abusers would indicate this increased risk. Twenty healthy male power athletes using massive doses of AAS without (n = 16) or with (n = 4) GH volunteered for the study. The controls were 15 sedentary male non-users of hormones. LV mass, geometry and filling were studied using standard echocardiographic methods. We found a significant association between LV mass and AAS dose (r = 0.54, p < 0.015). In contrast to the controls, LV mass (274 g in the athletes, 167 g in the controls) among the AAS abusers did not correlate with body weight or height. Concomitant use of AAS and GH further increased LV mass and associated with concentric remodelling of LV. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the mean AAS dose accounted for 29 %, age for 14 % and systolic blood pressure for 17 % of the variance in LV mass. We concluded that AAS abuse associates dose-dependently with myocardial hypertrophy and that concomitant use of GH associates with concentric remodelling of the LV. Our findings suggest that AASs and GH have a direct effect on the myocardium.