Evolution of serum lipids in two male bodybuilders using anabolic steroids

Abstract

We followed weekly the evolution of serum lipid concentrations in two bodybuilders undergoing a cycle of treatment with anabolic steroids. These drugs caused maximum depression of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations by 69.1% in the fifth week after the beginning of the cycle for subject 1, and by 72.4% in the fourth week for subject 2. Maximum increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were 144% and 156%, respectively. Total cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B were highly increased with anabolic steroid use. We also saw depression of apo A-I by 84% and 91%, and lipoprotein(a) decreased to undetectable amounts in both cases. These effects were reversed 10 weeks after the end of the steroid cycle in subject 1, but subject 2 still presented abnormal concentrations of serum lipids 13 weeks after drug cessation. The periods until reversibility of anabolic steroid effects on lipids were longer than those reported in previous studies.