Anabolic steroids triple the risk of heart attack in men, study warns.
The use of these substances is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular problems such as arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and thromboembolism.
By Gabriela Cupani, from Agência Einstein - The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids significantly increases the risk of developing heart-related diseases, tripling the likelihood of heart attack, among other problems, according to Danish research. published in February in the scientific journal Circulation.
These anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones similar to testosterone used to increase strength and muscle mass. In Brazil, their use for aesthetic purposes or to improve athletic performance was banned by the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) in April 2023.
In addition to the risk of myocardial infarction, the study showed a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism, arrhythmias, heart failure, and cardiomyopathy—in this case, the risk was nine times greater.
According to the authors, although the increased mortality and heart risks among anabolic steroid users are known, long-term data on these problems were lacking. To reach this conclusion, they examined a group of 1.189 men who had been caught in doping tests in Denmark between 2006 and 2018. These records were compared to those of nearly 60 men from the general population.
The use of these substances is associated with several mechanisms that compromise cardiovascular health. “From a pathophysiological point of view, they promote a pro-inflammatory state with increased oxidative stress in the vessels, leading to a reduction in arterial elasticity, in addition to promoting accelerated coronary atherosclerosis with changes in the lipid profile [an increase in LDL cholesterol, considered bad, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol.“ ]”, explains cardiologist Eduardo Segalla, from the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital.
This can contribute to sudden cardiovascular events and an increased risk of serious cardiovascular diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and arrhythmias due to accelerated aging of the blood vessels.
Furthermore, prolonged use is associated with hypertrophy of the heart muscle with reduced pumping and relaxation function of the heart, which can lead to myocardial dysfunction and, consequently, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, heart failure, and sudden death.
The authors acknowledge that one of the study's limitations is the lack of data on the duration of anabolic steroid use. However, it is known that even small doses can cause side effects—increasing the likelihood of drug-induced hepatitis, infertility, sexual impotence, anxiety, and other problems.
In justifying its prohibition in Brazil, the CFM resolution cites the potential risks that even therapeutic doses can trigger, in addition to the lack of studies demonstrating the risks, benefits, and safety of these substances.
