Side effects of anabolic androgenic steroids abuse.

Long-term side effects of high doses of anabolic androgenic steroids self-administration were evaluated in this study. Twenty male bodybuilders, voluntarily starting steroid self-administration, were followed every 6 months over 2 years. Physical examination, haematological, metabolic and endocrine variables, semen analysis, hepatic and prostate ultrasound and echocardiographic evaluations were performed. LH values (baseline 3.43 +/- 1.75) were suppressed at 18 (1.98 +/- 1.99) (p = 0.026) and 24 (2.43 +/- 2.17) (p = 0.026), and FSH (3.95 +/- 2.01) at 6 (3.01 +/- 2.16) (p = 0.031), 12 (2.45 +/- 2.54) (p = 0.029), 18 (2.02 +/- 2.29) (p = 0.032) and 24 (3.42 +/- 2.64) (p = 0.032) months and SHBG (34.11 +/- 10.88) values significantly lowered at 12 (24.81 +/- 12.49) (p < 0.05), 18 (21.28 +/- 11.15) (p < 0.01), 24 months (25.42 +/- 11.16) (p < 0.01). A significant decrease in spermatozoa count (p < 0.01), and fertility index (p = 0.01) occurred. HDL-cholesterol (baseline 56.94 +/- 13.54) was reduced at 18 (41.86 +/- 14.17) (p < 0.01) and 24 (43.82 +/- 18.67) (p < 0.05) months and Apo A-1 at 12 (p < 0.001), 18 (p = 0.05) and 24 (p = 0.05) months. The most important long-term adverse effects were lower fertility and the impairment of lipid profile associated with an increased cardiovascular risk.

Effect of ubidecarenone oral treatment on aerobic power in middle-aged trained subjects.

BACKGROUND: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays an important role in oxidative mithocondrial phosphorylation and prevents lipid peroxidation in biological membranes. During sustained physical exercise, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increase through several mechanism; one of them is the purine nucleotide cycle activation by shifting xanthine-dehydrogenase to xanthine-oxidase during AMP breakdown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CoQ10 treatment on aerobic power. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: according to a single blind study design, 28 health male cyclists were randomized into two groups (CoQ10 or placebo) and remained on treatments for eight weeks; there were 5 drop-outs and only 23 subjects were completely evaluated. Before and at the end of the eight weeks, cyclists underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing. MEASURES: a software system performed the necessary calculations to obtain the following parameters: oxygen uptake, CO2 production, minute ventilation, oxygen ventilatory equivalent, carbon dioxide ventilatory equivalent, oxygen pulse. Finally oxygen peak and anaerobic threshold were determined. Moreover blood inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, lactate and CoQ10 levels were measured before and immediately after each test. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that at the end of the eight weeks there was no difference between the two groups concerning physiological and metabolic parameters, but muscular exhaustion was reached at higher workloads in the CoQ10 group. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience ubidecarenone oral treatment does not improve aerobic power. The little improvement of tolerance to higher workloads may be due to the antioxidant activity of CoQ10.

The influence of ubiquinone (Co Q10) on the metabolic response to work.

Ubiquinone (Co Q10) is a natural substance suitable for therapeutic use in cardiology and in the treatment of some muscular diseases. It might therefore be used during strenuous exercise (as in athletic competitions), especially in the presence of metabolic modifications which may justify its use. For this purpose, we have evaluated the effect of prolonged treatment with Co Q10 (100 mg/day per os for one month) on the biological changes induced by prolonged work on an ergometer bicycle (equal to about 50% of the single VO2max per 60 m'), immediately followed by exhaustive work (25 watts increase every 2 m'). From the venous blood of 12 healthy untrained subjects (students, volunteers, mean age 25.7 and body mass index 23.3) we examined some biological parameters [free fatty acids (FFA), free glycerol, lactate, glucose, insulin, CK] before, at the end of aerobic work, at the end of exhaustive work, and after 30 and 60 m' of the recovery phase. The same indexes, measured after identical times and work, were evaluated after one month of treatment with Co Q10. The only relevant modifications observed were those concerning FFA: at the end of aerobic work and after the administration of the drug, lower levels were reached (before, 1011 +/- 329 microEq/l; after 790 +/- 392; p less than 0.05); the same trend was observed at the end of the exhaustive work (1031 +/- 320 microEq/l vs 826 +/- 387; p less than 0.05). At the subsequent times, as well as for the other biological parameters examined, we did not observe any variation before or after the period of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Mineral salts and water in the diet of the athlete]. / I sali minerali e l'acqua nella dieta dello sportivo.

Hydroelectrolyte disturbances, even if modest, are capable of negatively modifying sports performance. When the sweating, that accompanies sports activity, is abundant, it is the means by which the greatest quantity of water and salt are lost. A correct diet can prevent any of the manifestations connected to an altered hydroelectrolyte equilibrium, especially when the activity is very prolonged. A potassium or magnesium defect, even if they rarely reach serum levels below the norm, are frequently encountered after sports activity of an intermediate time span (2-3 hrs.), during which the athlete rarely eats. Variations of sodium and/or calcium are instead difficult to appreciate.