Bodybuilding & Drugs - Six Research Findings

1) This Is Your Brain on Steroids

Long-term use of anabolic steroids reduces brain volume and cortical thickness (the combined thickness of the layers of the cerebral cortex), according to Astrid Bjornebekk from the Norwegian Doping Control Laboratory, and colleagues. They performed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 82 current or former steroid users, and 68 non-using weightlifters. Steroid users exhibited smaller brain mass, particularly in gray matter, cerebral cortex and putamen. In spite of structural changes, there were no differences in intelligence quotient (IQ), anxiety or depression, attention span or behavioral problems (i.e., criminal behavior). Anabolic steroid use is often associated with psychological disturbances, which might be related to structural changes in the brain. (Biological Psychiatry, published online June 30, 2016)

2) The Next Generation of Insulin Drugs

Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, after years of research, has developed a drug called Tresiba that maintains stable blood sugar levels for 40 hours— more than twice that of other long-acting insulins. Its research department is working on new categories of insulin, such as one that selectively targets the liver and another that can be taken as a tablet rather than injected. Last year, their research and development department spent $1.6 billion on insulin research. The worldwide diabetes epidemic will undoubtedly produce record profits for the company in the years to come. (The Wall Street Journal, November 1, 2016)

3) Glucocorticoids and Sport

Glucocorticoids are hormones that include cortisol, prednisone, dexamethasone and cortisone. They increase mobilization of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and could boost performance in endurance sports. They have anti-inflammatory effects, so they can help athletes recover faster. However, they have severe side effects that include suppression of the immune system, elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance, soft-tissue fragility, bone loss, impaired memory and attention deficit, muscle breakdown and eye problems. Physicians often use corticosteroids to treat acute inflammation, but their chronic use in athletics is a bad idea. (Steroids, 115:193-202, 2016)

4) Testosterone for Better Health and Quality of Life

Prescriptions for testosterone for middle-aged and older men have tripled in the last decade. Low testosterone in aging men is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, decreased muscle and bone density, diminished sexual performance, psychological depression and premature death. Testosterone supplements decrease waist circumference, total fat, blood sugar, annual death rates and insulin resistance, and increase lean mass. A Brazilian study on normal and diabetic older rats, led by Romeu Silva, found that testosterone supplementation improved endurance, decreased organ fat levels and improved fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Testosterone treatment in older adult humans often leads to improved health and quality of life. (Archives Endocrinology Metabolism, published online September 6, 2016)

5) Dopamine and Noradrenaline Improve Endurance

Bupropion is an antidepressant that prevents decreases in dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain. These are important neurotransmitters that regulate mood and behavior. Researchers from Loughborough University in the U.K., led by Phil Watson, found that administration of bupropion (four doses of 150 milligrams before exercise) to physically active, college-aged women increased power output during endurance exercise in the heat by nine percent, compared to a placebo (fake bupropion). Heart rate and core temperature were higher when the test subjects were taking the drug, indicating that the drug allowed the women to work harder. Dopamine and noradrenaline are “fight-or-flight” hormones that allow the body to perform at higher levels than normal. Bupropion is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substances list. The amino acid L-tyrosine is a natural alternative and precursor to dopamine and noradrenaline. (Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, published online October 13, 2016)

6) Growth Hormone Protects Against Methadone Toxicity

Methadone is an opioid used to treat pain and opioid dependency. It presents a high risk for abuse. Nearly 5,000 deaths per year in the United States are due to methadone poisoning. Symptoms of methadone overdose include constricted pupils, nausea, stomach and intestinal spasms, labored breathing, fatigue and muscle twitches. Erik Nylander and colleagues from Uppsala University in Sweden found that growth hormone protects cultured brain cells (cells in glass dishes) against methadone-induced poisoning. Growth hormone works by maintaining the function of the mitochondria (powerhouses of the cell) and cell strength. The significance of this finding in humans is not known. (Neuroscience, published online October 13, 2016)

DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE ON THE MD FORUM

READ MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS IN THE CHEM SECTION

FOLLOW MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT ON:

FACEBOOK: MuscularDevelopment Magazine

TWITTER: @MuscularDevelop

INSTAGRAM: @MuscularDevelopment

YOUTUBE: http://bit.ly/2fvHgnZ