ANABOLIC STEROIDS:

Effects on Strength Development

By L. C. Johnson and Pat O'Shea
Physical Education Department
Oregon State University

In the past five years the use of anabolic steroids has become an increasingly widespread practice by athletes attempting to improve performance through strength development. This situation is particularly true in athletic activities where strength is a prime factor for successful performance such as the discus, hammer throw, shot put, and weightlifting. While many instances of extraordinary and rapid improvement have been reported by athletes using this "wonder drug," the evidence appears to be entirely empirical.

We wish to clarify that in presenting the research evidence of this study, we do not necessarily condone or condemn the use of steroids by athletes. The sociological implications involved in the use of steroid by athletes are apparent but we do not wish to judge the propriety of this practice. Knowledge concerning possible long term side effects on adults is vague or absent, however, physically immature individuals can expect irrevocable and irreversible developments. Possible acceleration of epiphyseal ossification (1) and manifestations resembling macro-genitosomia precox (2) are two of the severe contraindications in the use of the steroid by teenagers.

Anabolic agents have been used for some time in various clinical situations, such as in patients recovering from illness or after surgery, for treatment of osteoporosis, fracture healing, severe burns, muscular dystrophy, for protein tissue building, and myotrophism. Anabolic agents have also been credited with having an important effect in stimulating the appetite and imparting a feeling of well-being. (3) While there is a lack of scientific data regarding the use of anabolic steroids by athletes, there exists sufficient clinical evidence that the anabolic potencies of these drugs should, on theoretical grounds, stimulate muscle hypertrophy and strength increases in normal healthy men. Research conducted over a number of years has shown that androgens exert a positive effect on muscle growth in various animal species. Papanicalou and Falk (4) showed that hypertrophy of certain muscles in immature guinea pigs accompanied administration of testosterone propionate. Burris, Bogart and Oliver (5) reported that weekly intramuscular injection of I mg testosterone per kg body weight resulted in increased weight gains in steers.

The chemistry of anabolic agents is beyond the scope of this paper; however, it seems useful to discuss briefly the physiological changes in tissue composition induced by these drugs. In man, the anabolic action of androgen hormones is to increase nitrogen-retention in the form of protein tissue. Nitrogen retention increases the rate of protein synthesis and decreases the rate of catabolism of amino acids which results in a progressive gain in weight. There is substantial evidence that the degree of nitrogen retention produced by anabolic agents depends on both caloric and protein intake; when either is restricted these agents cannot be expected to induce a positive nitrogen balance. (6)

In healthy athletes a simple increase in nitrogen-retention and protein metabolism is insufficient to significantly increase muscular strength. However, by combining these two elements with the overload principle, which involves heavy resistive exercise, strength develops. Heavy resistive exercise creates a condition that not only justifies but demands an increase in the metabolic rate of protein synthesis in muscle tissue.

In a study of protein metabolism, Yamazi (7) produced a positive nitrogen balance by placing his subjects on a combined high protein diet and a vigorous exercise program. When the regular diet containing 1 to 1.5 gm. of protein per kilogram of body weight per day was fed, retention was relatively small; however, when the protein content of the diet was increased 2 grams or more per kilogram of body weight per day, an increasing amount of nitrogen was retained. However, because of efficiency variances in the rate of protein metabolism in man, the capacity of athletes to rapidly increase muscle mass and strength varies. During periods of heavy training, anabolic agents may be of functional value in accelerating protein metabolism and strength development in athletes, as empirical evidence already indicates. With this in mind, the following six week study was carried out to determine the effects of anabolic steroid treatment on strength development in normal healthy individuals engaged in a heavy weight training program.

Twenty-four subjects, nineteen to thirty-nine years of age, were selected and paired according to age, weight, approximate strength, and training background for the six week experimental period. The experiment was divided into two phases: a three week preparatory period to allow time for the subjects to become accustomed to the weight training regime and to insure an adequate level of strength fitness; and the three week steroid treatment phase during which one five milligram tablet of methandrostenolone (Dianabol) (8) was administered twice daily. Also, throughout the six week experimental period, to meet the increased demand for protein resulting from the heavy exercise program and the steroid, all subjects supplemented their diets with 15 grams of 92% Hoffman's Super Hi-Proteen (9) twice daily.

Training three times per week for approximately one hour, the weight program was designed to work the major muscle groups of the body through the implementation of the progressive overload principle. The program was as follows: bench press and squat 4 sets of 4-6 repetitions, seated dumbbell curls 3 sets of 10-12 repetitions. Maximum weight loads were handled for the number of sets and repetitions required. Weight loads were increased as rapidly as possible to maintain the training as near maximum effort at all times.

The effectiveness of the three week steroid treatment on the development of strength and muscle hypertrophy was determined by seven pre and post test measurements: (a) dynamic strength as measured by one repetition maximum (1-RM) on the bench press and squat (10), (b) static strength as measured on the cable tensiometer (11), (c) subcutaneous adipose tissue assessed by skinfolding using the Harpenden caliper at six sites, (d) anthropometric measurements at five sites, (e) oxygen uptake ability measured by the Astrand Oxygen Uptake Test, (f) blood chemistry profile, and (g) blood lipid panel.

Since the primary objectives of this study was to determine the effects of anabolic steroid treatment on strength development, the dynamic and static strength tests are of prime importance. The results show in both instances the increases were statistically significant for the treatment group except for knee extension and grip strength. These data indicate that under the conditions described in this study, anabolic steroid treatment is extremely effective in developing muscular strength. It should be noted that the strength increase of the control group was typical.

Reports from athletes and weightlifters have described empirically significant muscular hypertrophy resulting from the use of anabolic steroids. The data from this study support these claims fully. A weight gain of 2.48 kilograms for the treatment groups and 0.29 kilograms for the control was significant at the 0.01 level of chance.

The statistically significant oxygen uptake increase ability of the treatment group was unexpected because the training program was not designed to develop the cardiovascular system. The possible implications of this finding should not be underestimated. At this time we have not found evidence that athletes whose success depends upon great cardiovascular endurance have used steroid treatment. The use of anabolic steroids by endurance type athletes could make possible increased oxygen uptake ability and thereby improve performance in endurance events.

There was not a significant change in subcutaneous adipose tissue deposition between the two groups. Since the treatment group had a significant weight gain, it can be assumed that this gain represents an increase in lean body mass and not adipose tissue.

The results of the blood chemistry profile analysis shows that statistically significant changes were noted in decrease of total bilirubin and an alkaline phosphate for the treatment group, decrease in free cholesterol for the controls, and an increase in both L.D.H (lactic dehydrogenase) and S.G.-Ot. for the treatment group. This elevation in L.D.H. and S.G.O. transaminase indicates that the rate of protein synthesis in muscle tissue was accelerated with this change being manifested by increased static and dynamic strength and body weight.

There were no consistent or apparently significant physiological side effects noted in this study. A few individuals indicated an increase in urine production and some felt a degree of tension which may have resulted from the strenuous training program. The near absence of normal muscle soreness and stiffness following the training sessions was noted. It appears to be possible to train at near maximum, 5-6 times a week during the treatment. No attempt was made to analyze possible psychological implications. No reduction in sex drive was reported.

Anabolic steroids can be of functional significance in accelerating the acquisition of muscular strength and muscular power and simultaneously permitting training at or near maximum capacity with greater frequency. It would seem prudent, however, for athletes to be cautious about using such treatments until more information is available on total physiological effects on humans.

REFERENCES

1. Plauster, H. A. (1964) New England J. Med. 270, 141.
2. Prader, A. (1962). Acta Endocrinol. 39 (Suppl. 63),110.
3. Androgenic-Anabolic Steroids, New Drugs , American Medical Association, Chicago, 3rd ed., 1967, p. 401-404.
4. Papanicalou, G. H. and E. A. Falk. 1938. General muscular hypertrophy induced by androgenic hormone. Science. 87:238.
5. Burris, M. J., R. Bogart and A. W. Oliver. 1953. Alteration of daily gain, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics in beef cattle with male hormones. J. Animal Sci.12:740.
6. Androgen-Anabolic Steroids. op. cit., pp. 401-404.
7. Yamazi, R. Studies of protein metabolism during muscular exercise: 1. Nitrogen metabolism in training for heavy muscular exercise. Journal of the Physiology Society of Japan. 1951, p. 13,476.
8. Dianabol, Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., 556 Morris Ave., Summit, New Jersey, 07901.
9. Robert Hoffman, York Barbell Co., York, Penna
10. O'Shea, J. P. "The development of strength and muscle hypertrophy through selected weight programs." Research Quarterly . March, 1966, p. 95-107.
11. Clark, H. H. and David H. Clark. Developmental and Adapted Physical Education . Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1965, p. 72-102. end