Anabolic steroids linked to serious heart damage in weightlifters, stopping them may aid recovery
Long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has serious consequences for the heart, according to a new study that has been following weightlifters for nearly 10 years.
A new study published in European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging reveals that long-term use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) can cause serious heart damage in weightlifters. Dr. Vibeke M. Almaas, the lead researcher from ProCardio Center for Research Based Innovation at Oslo University Hospital, found that men who used AAS while engaging in strength training had thickening of the heart's left ventricular wall and reduced ability to pump blood effectively.
However, the study also showed that stopping the use of AAS can reverse these adverse effects on heart health. Among those who continued using AAS, 17% had severely reduced heart function. But those who stopped using AAS showed a significant reduction in heart muscle thickness at follow-up, with a 19% decrease in left ventricular mass indexed for body surface area.
Their left ventricular systolic function also improved by 13%, from 48% to 54%. However, this improvement did not match the non-users, whose left ventricular systolic function was 60% at follow-up. The study highlights the importance of continuing both preventive efforts and harm reduction strategies, as anabolic steroids have been prohibited in competitive sports for decades, and nonmedical use remains common despite the risks.
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