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Anabolic steroid: effects on strength, body weight, oxygen uptake and spermatogenesis upon mature males.

1972; National Institutes of Health; Volume: 4; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

L. C. Johnson, G. H. Fisher, L. Jay Silvester, C C Hofheins,

Muscle metabolism and nutrition

The effects of an anabolic steroid on male physical education students at Brigham Young University were studied. 31 subjects were trained with weights for 7 weeks. At the end of week 4 24 subjects were randomly placed in a treatment-placebo group which took 2 capsules daily from 24 numbered bottles for 21 days. 12 of the bottles contained 5 mg of methandrostenolone (Dianabol) per capsule. All subjects supplemented their diets with 20 gm of 93% protein powder daily. 6 pretests were given before the subjects were placed into groups. Oxygen uptake sperm count maximum weight lifting and thickness of skinfolds were determined. Also used were cable tensiometry and anthropometric measurements. At the end of the study period it was determined that there was no significant change in maximal oxygen uptake and no significant changes occurred in sperm count. The dynamic and static strength increases of the treatment group were significant over the placebo and control groups for all measures. There was a significant increase in the circumference measurements at 5 of the 8 sites measured. The mean weight gain of the treatment group was 2.37 kg. There was no significant change in skinfold thickness. When interviewed the subjects noted that there was a very rapid weight gain during the first 5-8 days followed by a loss of 1-2 pounds within 5 days after the end of the treatment. There was also a noticeable increase in urine production the first 5-8 days but not noticeable thereafter. A majority of the subjects felt some degree of nervous tension during the treatment. 1 subject noticed an increase in sexual drive and 1 a decrease. There was a general increase in appetite and a surplus of energy and all subjects noted that they felt bigger and stronger. It was concluded that anabolic steroid treatment does accelerate the acquistion of muscular strength and size if accompanied by a higher protein diet and serve muscular stress.