Know Your Supplements

by John Gonet

Nutritional supplements that are really variant forms of illegal anabolic drugs have flooded the market recently. It is imperative for athletes to educate themselves on what their nutritional supplements contain. Their futures in natural sports organizations are being put on the line, but more importantly, so is their health.

In recent years anabolic steroids have made headlines across the world. With increasing reports of athletes failing drug tests it seems that steroids have touched every sport in the world. Although anabolic drugs are widely available, many people who choose to remain natural and train without the use of anabolic steroids are not out of harm’s way. In recent months many legal nutritional supplements have flooded the market and may have already compromised the natural status of many. While legal, these nutritional supplements referred to as “pro-steroids” are not natural and are variant forms of illegal anabolic drugs.

With the help of legal loopholes pro-steroids have been mass-produced and sold to knowing and unknowing consumers. These products have names sounding much like their illegal counterparts from which they are derived. Some examples are Ergomax, Pheraplex, Superdrol, and Mega Zol. All have portions of infamous illegal steroids in their product name. The Food and Drug Administration has touted the dangers of their use but their warnings have fallen on deaf ears.2

Many consumers have started using these products without fully understanding the consequences. For example, one of the most popular pro-steroids marketed in recently is referred to as Superdrol. The hepatoxicity (liver toxicity) of this compound is quite high and can be considered to be one of the most liver toxic oral steroids ever produced.3, 6 When compared to illegal oral steroid counterparts such as Dianabol, Anavar, Anadrol or Winstrol, Superdrols measure of hepatoxicity is much higher. While there is a legitimate pharmaceutical market for anabolic steroids many companies will not produce methyl steroids because of the advent of liver damage that comes with use of the compound.

When observing the chemical structures of these drugs their true nature can be deduced. Many of these legal steroids contain a 17alpha-methyl group in its chemical structure. This methyl group makes the drug less susceptible to metabolic deactivation and increases oral bio-availability. The downside is in terms of liver health and in that regard this group is extremely harsh.3, 5 The common dose for many of these legal hormones is twenty to thirty milligrams a day. At that recommended dose considerably high liver damage is expected from the methyl group, especially when taken for a prolonged period. 1,2,5

From a chemical standpoint these products are anabolic steroids. The base chemicals structure of any steroid hormone is cholesterol, by which many of the hormones in the body are synthesized.1,4 Most of the prosteroids are derivatives of cholesterol and can be generally referred to as an anabolic steroid. This is most evident once increased muscle mass beyond the normal range is observed.

Apart from the liver damage, any synthetic anabolic hormone introduced to human physiology will be suppressive to natural hormone production and synthesis.1, 4,6 When taking a synthetic anabolic steroid the body’s natural ability to produce testosterone and other hormones in adequate amounts during and after the period of use will be reduced dramatically.1 When the use of the drug is discontinued the body will try to rebound and therefore raise the level the hormone effected.1 In this attempt to rebound, the internal hormonal environment will be out of control and out of homeostatic balance.1,4 The hypothalamus pituitary testes axis (HPTA) will be greatly out of balance and an eventual crash in sex drive and other physiological functions is inevitable.1 Since an optimal natural hormonal environment is not available, it is expected that the user will end up in a catabolic state where muscle breakdown will occur at an accelerated rate. Alongside the increased muscle breakdown, many of the methylated prosteroids increase the glucocorticoid receptor density for the stress hormone cortisol. Once the drug use has been discontinued this increase in receptor density will lead to added muscle loss and amplify symptoms of physiological and psychological stress.3

Some of the pro-steroids also have a profoundly negative affect on cholesterol. There are two distinct types of cholesterol - LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and HDL (“good cholesterol”). 4 Many of these drugs can result in a negative blood lipid panel where LDL is obscenely high while HDL is almost non-existent. This effect on cholesterol primes the user for serious future heart health implications.

Not only are the above effects almost guaranteed, but there are also many other possible health reactions which may occur. Possible immediate health concerns are depression, diuretic disorders, joint swelling, anger fits, acne, undesired hair growth, hair loss, growth of female breast tissue in males, growth of the clitoris in females and kidney failure.1 Possible future health concerns cover numerous diagnosed sicknesses from diabetes to heart failure.1, 4

In today’s era where steroids have become comfortable in America, it is imperative for the natural athletes to educate themselves on what their nutritional supplements contain in order to truly remain natural. Their future in natural sports organizations are being put on the line, but more importantly so is their health. It pays to know what is in your supplements and how it will affect your future in sports and health.

John Gonet will complete his degree in biology at Assumption College in Mass. this fall and will attend chiropractic school afterward. He’s competed as a drug-free bodybuilder for the past five years and also judges competitions.

References
1. Colker C. Extreme muscle enhancement. NJ. ProSource Publications; 2005
2. FDA. FDA Warns Manufacturers About Illegal Steroid Products Sold as Dietary Supplements. 2006 [cited 2006, April 1]. Available from: URL: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2006/safety06.htm#steroids
3. Fernandez L, Boada LD, Luzardo OP, Zumbado M, Lopez A, Diaz-Chico BN, Chirino R.[3H]Dexamethasone binding activity in liver microsomes is modulated differently by 17 alpha-alkylated androgens and testosterone in vivo.Pharmacol Toxicol. 1995 Oct;77(4):264-9.
4. Hatfield F. Hardcore bodybuilding a scientific approach. Illinois. Contemporary books; 1993
5. P. C. A. Kam, M. Yarrow. Anabolic steroid abuse: physiological and anaesthetic considerations. Anaesthesia 2005. 60: 685
6. Strauss RH, Yesalis CE. Anabolic steroids in the athlete. Department of Preventive Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine, 43210.