Biochemistry and YouSteroids

(slides from “Success without steroids” by the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee)

Cholesterol

(slides from “Controlling your blood cholesterol and triglycerides” by the Univ. of

Georgia Cooperative Extension Service)

Diabetes

(slides from “Diabetes” by the Pan American Health Organization)

Educational objectives

• What are steroids?• Who uses steroids? Why?• Do steroids work?• What are the health risks associated with

using steroids?• What are the myths about steroids?• What are the healthy ways to achieve my

goals without using steroids?

What are steroids?

• Powerful drugs that many people use as a short cut to boost their athletic performance or improve their appearance

• Sometimes called “Roids”, “Juice”, “Hype”, “Pump”

• Properly called anabolic-androgenic steroids

What do “anabolic” and “androgenic” mean?

• Anabolic = “building body tissue” – Anabolic-androgenic steroids help to increase muscle mass and

body weight, and speed up bone maturation

• Androgenic = “promoting male characteristics”– Anabolic-androgenic steroids promote development of facial hair,

deeper voice, balding, and other male characteristics

• All “anabolic” steroids are also “androgenic”

What do steroids do?

• Doctors sometimes prescribe low doses of anabolic-androgenic steroids to treat people with serious medical conditions

• Example = A man’s testosterone level decreases due to a testicular tumor– Dose prescribed is only enough to bring the testosterone

level back up to normal– Testosterone levels and side effects are monitored closely by

the doctor

Examples of anabolic-androgenic steroids

• Testosterone (Depo-testosterone)• Nandrolone (Deca-durabolin)• Methandrostenolone (Dianabol)• Oxandrolone (Oxandrin/Anavar)• Oxymetholone (Anadrol)• Stanzol (Winstrol)• Trenbolone (Finaplix)• Boldenone (Equipoise)• Tetrahydrogestrinone• Norbolethone• Madol

What are corticosteroids?

• Medications prescribed by doctors to treat medical conditions such as asthma and arthritis – Examples = Prednisone, Medrol

• Corticosteroids are not anabolic or androgenic

• Corticosteroids have no muscle-building effects

Who uses steroids?

• Not just professional athletes!

• 20% of college students 1

• 4-12% of high school students 2-10

• 2-3% of middle school students 11,12

• Highest rates of steroid use among teens are seen in football players 2-5,12

Who uses steroids?

• Not just men!

• Up to 2.9% of middle and high school girls 11,12

Who uses steroids?

• Not just athletes!

• 25% of teens who report steroid use do not participate in organized athletics 14

How do people take steroids?

• Pills• Injections• Gels or creams

• Taken in doses 10-40 times higher than prescription doses to treat medical conditions

How do people get steroids?

• It is illegal to buy, sell, or possess steroids without a doctor’s prescription!

• Penalties range from 5 months to 6 years in jail

Illegally purchased steroids

• Not monitored for quality or purity– 10-15% are counterfeit (contain no steroids

at all!)– Many are contaminated with substances

like motor oil – Sellers only care about making money –

they do not care about the buyer’s health

Do steroids work?

• Steroids will increase muscle size and strength when used with intense strength training

• But your body will pay a hefty price!!

• The medical dangers of steroid use far outweigh the advantage of gains in muscle mass and strength

What are the health risks?

• Steroids have harmful side effects on every system of the body– Side effects range from mild to serious

– Some side effects are reversible and go away once steroid use is stopped, but many are permanent

– A few side effects are life-threatening

Harmful side effects

• Skin and hair– Severe acne on face and back * – Baldness *– Stretch marks *– Being bloated– Skin infections at injection sites

* These side effects can be permanent

Harmful side effects

• Muscles and joints – Aching joints– Muscle cramps– Tendon rupture

• Liver– Liver damage – Liver cancer

• Heart – High blood pressure– High cholesterol– Heart disease – Heart attack

• Brain– Headaches– Stroke

Harmful side effects

• Gastro-intestinal– Nausea– Vomiting– Diarrhea

• Infection– Can get HIV/AIDS and

hepatitis if needles are shared to inject steroids

• Psychological– “Roid rage”-

aggressive and violent behavior

– Anger/irritability – Severe mood swings– Paranoia– Anxiety – Panic attacks– Depression – Suicide

Pyschological side effects

• Can last for up to a year after steroids are stopped

Side effects for males

• Testicles shrink

• Breasts become larger*

• Sperm count goes down

• Infertility

* Can be permanent!

Side effects for females

• Girls develop masculine characteristics– Facial hair *– Deeper voice * – Smaller breasts *– Irregular periods – Infertility

* Can be permanent!

A special danger for teenagers

• Steroids cause your bones to stop growing

• You will not reach your full height potential

• Using steroids can stunt your growth

Myths and facts about steroids

Myth or fact?

Steroids will make me a better athlete.

The truth

• Steroids CANNOT improve your– Agility – Athletic skills– Endurance

Myth or fact?

You can’t get addicted to steroids.

The truth

• Users can become addicted

• Steroid users are also more likely to become addicted to alcohol and other drugs

Myth or fact?

The newer steroids are safer and have fewer harmful side effects.

The truth

• All steroids have harmful side effects

Myth or fact?

Steroids are safe if you use them carefully.

The truth

• Even small doses of steroids are harmful

• Users may try “pyramiding” and “cycling” to reduce side effects– No method eliminates the

dangerous effects

Myth or fact?

You can’t get strong without using steroids.

You can’t keep up with your competitors without using

steroids.

The truth

• You can get strong and beat your competitors without steroids

• Steroids are – Illegal– A form of cheating– Dangerous to your health

• Short cuts are not the way to achieve your long-term goals

How to succeed without steroids

• Success takes talent, skill, and most of all, practice and hard work

• There are many healthy ways to build strength and improve your appearance:– Proper conditioning and training

• Get supervision and advice from a qualified professional

– Good, sound nutrition

Nutrition tips for athletes

• The best fuel for performance is a balanced diet that includes a variety of whole foods

• There is no one “miracle food,” vitamin, nutritional supplement, or energy bar that can supply ALL of your nutritional needs

What’s a balanced diet for an athlete?

• Ideal balance of nutrients:– Carbohydrates (60-70% of daily calories) – Protein (20% of daily calories)– Fat (10% of daily calories)

• Ideal balance of food groups:– 2 servings of dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)– 2 servings of meat (fish, poultry, beans)– 4 servings of fruits and vegetables– 4 servings of grains or cereal

Nutrition tips for building muscle strength

• Eat more calories!

• Young athletes trying to build strength should eat an extra 500 calories each day

• These extra calories should come from carbohydrates and protein

Nutrition tips for building muscle strength

• Eat more carbohydrates!– The most important nutrient for building strength is

carbohydrate

• An athlete’s daily carbohydrate needs– 3.5-4.5 grams per pound of body weight

• Eating carbohydrates during a workout builds strength – A sports drink during a workout provides carbs

Nutrition tips for building muscle strength

• Eat more protein!

• Athletes building strength need more protein than athletes in endurance sports– 0.7-0.9 grams per pound of body weight per day– Eating more than this will not build additional muscle and will

only harm your kidneys

• For optimal muscle growth and recovery, eat a snack that has BOTH protein and carbohydrate about 30-60 minutes after exercise.

Sources of protein

• Athletes can easily eat enough protein without using additional protein or amino acid supplements or switching to a high-protein diet.

• The protein found in food is of better quality and is absorbed better by the body than the protein found in supplements.

• Healthy protein sources include lean meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, low-fat cheese, nuts, and dried beans.

For more information

• National Institute on Drug Abuse– www.nida.nih.gov

• National Center for Drug-Free Sport– www.drugfreesport.com

• World Anti-Doping Agency– www.wada-ama.org

For more information

• International Olympic Committee (IOC)– www.olympic.org

• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)– www.ncaa.org

• Taylor Hooten Foundation – www.taylorhooten.org

What is Blood Cholesterol?

• A fat-like substance in the blood.• Made in the liver and comes

from some foods we eat.• Too much cholesterol can build

up in arteries over time.• Can cause heart attacks and

strokes.

Normal Artery

Clogged Artery

Cholesterol

Why do we need cholesterol?

• To build and maintain cell membranes (fluidity)

• To facilitate intracellular transport• For cell-to-cell signaling (hormones)• To insulate nerve conduction

(myelin sheath)

Who needs to have their cholesterol monitored?

• If you have any evidence of heart disease• If you have a family history of high

cholesterol• If you are a diabetic• If you have high blood pressure• If you have a family history of heart disease

LDL vs. HDL • LDL Cholesterol

• “Bad” or “Lousy”• Low Density Lipoprotein• It can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the

heart and brain causing a heart attack or stroke

• HDL Cholesterol• “Good” or “Happy”• High Density Lipoprotein• high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack• Low levels of HDL also increase the risk of heart disease.• Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away

from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body.

• Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, slowing its buildup.

Tryglycerides

• Triglyceride is a form of fat made in the body.• Elevated triglycerides can be due to

– Obesity– physical inactivity– cigarette smoking– excess alcohol consumption– a diet very high in carbohydrates

• People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL (bad) level and a low HDL (good) level.

• Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.

What is the Recommended Level?

The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends…

•Total Cholesterol =

•LDL Cholesterol =

•HDL Cholesterol =

•Triglycerides =

Less than 200 mg/dl

Less than 100 mg/dl

Women: over 50 Men: over 40

Under 150

What Are Some Ways To Control Blood Cholesterol and

Triglycerides?

• Healthy Eating

• Physical Activity

• Weight Loss

• Medication

Eating Healthy

• Choose more fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads, cereals and pastas.

• Choose baked, skinless chicken and fish, and low-fat dairy products.

• Eat less fat– Saturated fat– Trans fatty acids

Improving Fats

• Eat fewer solid fats – Shortening– Stick

butter/margarine– Excess fat on meats

• Substitute liquid or soft fats “Heart-Healthy Fats”

• Monounsaturated oils– Olive, Canola, Peanut oil

Trans Fatty Acids

• Limit Trans fats– Fried foods,

cookies, cakes, crackers, snack foods

Dietary Cholesterol• Can raise blood cholesterol levels• Limit foods high in cholesterol

– Liver, organ meats, egg yolks, full-fat dairy products

• The American Heart Association recommendations?

–Less than 300 mg/day

–Less than 200 mg/day (with diabetes or heart disease)

Triglycerides

• Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates

• Eat Fiber (Soluble)– Dried beans, peas,

oats, fruits and vegetables

Physical Activity

• Important even as we get older! HDL Cholesterol LDL Cholesterol Lower triglycerides

• 30 minutes or more on most days.– Moderate activity

Weight Management

• Weight loss can…– LDL– Triglycerides– HDL

• Just 5 to 10 pounds will help show improvements!!!

• Be sure to talk with your doctor.

Medication

• Medication needed by some people.

• Continue with healthy eating and physical activity.

• Your doctor will help decide the best type of drug.

Points to Remember

• Know your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers!

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and less fat and cholesterol.

• Exercise regularly• Lose weight if overweight.• Talk with your doctor about medicine if

lifestyle changes aren’t enough

Diabetes definition

Metabolic disorder of multiple etiology (causes) characterized by hyperglycemia with carbohydrates, fat, and protein metabolic alterations that result in defects in the secretion of insulin, its action or both.

What is diabetes?• The majority of intake of food is

converted into glucose. • The pancreas produces the insulin

hormone, which lowers the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.

• The pancreas produces the glucagon hormone, which raises the amount of glucose in the bloodstream.

• In persons with diabetes, insulin does not work properly.

Types of diabetes• Type 1

– Little or no production of insulin– Initiates in childhood or adolescence– Insulin injections are needed– Genetics play a role

• Type 2– Far more common than type 1– The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood

glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to insulin.

– Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition.

– Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to increasing obesity and failure to exercise

– Generally initiates after 30 years of age

Risk factors

• Family history of diabetes

• Older than 30 years of age

• Lack of physical activity

• Poor diet

• Excessive weight