We take an in-depth look at anabolics and the effect they have on health. In this article, we will address what is undoubtedly the taboo subject par excellence in the world of sports: anabolic drugs. All the anabolic drugs, like the popular Steroids USA, used by elite athletes and people related to physical activity with overloads are synthesized.
What are anabolics?
Anabolics are chemical derivatives synthesized from testosterone. Testosterone, in turn, is a hormone synthesized in the body from cholesterol, that is, they share the same chemical structure, and they are a cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene.
Testosterone is biosynthesized in the testicles, specifically in the Leydig cells, which are responsible for producing 90% of the total testosterone secreted in a day (4-10mg in men) and the remaining 10% is produced by the adrenergic cortex ( 0.5mg approximately in men and women). Only 2% of testosterone is found in free form in the blood, 53-55% is loosely bound to serum albumin and 43-45% is strongly bound to testosterone-estradiol binding globulin (TeBG).
This production is controlled by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular (H-H-T) axis, the hypothalamus produces and secretes Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH). This will stimulate the anterior pituitary to produce gonadotropins, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The latter is responsible for stimulating the Leydig cells of the testicles to produce testosterone.
When this hormone passes through some tissues such as the skin and the prostate, it is reduced by the enzyme 5α-reductase to dihydrotestosterone and this, together with its androgen receptor, is responsible for the androgenic effects: growth of body and facial hair, acne or baldness.
On the other hand, testosterone can be oxidized by the aromatase enzyme and become estradiol, the main female hormone, which in high concentrations in men can cause a series of side effects that we will analyze later.
The action of testosterone and its derivatives
When testosterone joins its androgenic complex, it is responsible for producing the so-called anabolic effects, such as maintenance of libido, sperm production, increase in muscle mass and strength, and bone mineral density. In turn, testosterone and its derivatives can be classified into two groups.
Group 1: those with the highest affinity with the androgen receptor are those that act directly on muscle tissue, increasing protein synthesis in muscle cells.
Group 2: those with low affinity for the said receptor, acting indirectly on muscle tissue, stimulating the release of anabolic hormones, such as GH and insulin-like growth factors.
Types of anabolics
The most common anabolics that are currently marketed are mainly presented in two formats for their administration: orally or parenterally (injectable).
Most oral EAAs (Essential Amino Acid) are 17α alkylated, that is, an alkyl radical is added to Carbon 17 in the α position to avoid the inhibitory effect of the first hepatic pass and thus pass into the bloodstream without being metabolized by the liver. The said modification makes the molecule very hepatotoxic, therefore its consumption must be strictly necessary. As for injectable ESAs, they can be presented in aqueous solutions, in the form of suspensions, and in aqueous solutions. To say that they are less toxic to the liver since they pass directly into the bloodstream but even so they must pass through it to be eliminated from the body, therefore the toxicity in them is still present.
The people who consume anabolic steroids as a general rule and according to different sociological studies are:
– High-performance athletes involved in competitions of great importance.
– Gym users
– Professionals as members of special security forces, both public and private.
Administration of anabolic or anabolic steroids
To administer anabolics in the human body there are two types of route: oral and intramuscular; although there is also another much less widespread route, the transcutaneous one.
– Oral route: it is through which these substances are ingested from medicines in the form of capsules or pills, being a non-invasive method. These can only be legally obtained by presenting a prescription at pharmacies.
– Intramuscular route: it is through which anabolic steroids are injected directly into the muscle, being an invasive method.
Between these two types of consumption, there are substantial differences in terms of the speed of action in muscles and metabolism related to performance. On the one hand, it must be said that intramuscular injections have a much faster and longer-lasting effect than oral capsules or pills, which must be taken in advance for the effect of anabolic steroids to appear. We hope this information was useful. Thank you for reading.