Anabolic Steroids & Kidney

[Michael Scally MD]

Evaluation of Anabolic Steroid Induced Renal Damage with Sonography

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anabolic steroids on kidneys in bodybuilders.

METHODS: Twenty-two bodybuilders were included in the study. Participants were divided into three groups according to the scheme of steroid usage:
· group 1 (N.=8, intramuscular 500 mg testosterone enanthate, intramuscular 400 mg nandrolone decanoate and oral 40 mg methandrostenolone for 12 weeks),
· group 2 (N.=7, intramuscular 500 mg testosterone enanthate, intramuscular 300 mg nandrolone decanoate and intramuscular 300 mg boldenone undecylenate for 16 weeks), and
· group 3 (N.=7, no steroid intake).

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), urine micro-albumin and electrolyte levels were measured. Renal volume, cortical thickness and echogenicity were obtained in ultrasonographic scans.

RESULTS: Renal volume, cortical thickness, echogenicity and protein intake value were significantly higher in group 2 than group 1 and 3. Plasma levels of BUN and Cr in group 2 were significantly higher than other groups (P<0.001). Urine microalbumin and electrolyte levels were normal in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that high protein intake, steroid usage, particularly the schemes, including boldenone undecylenate increases cortical echogenicity, thickness of renal parenchyma and renal volume in bodybuilders.

Kantarci UH, Punduk Z, Senarslan O, Dirik A. Evaluation of anabolic steroid induced renal damage with sonography in bodybuilders. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness 2018;58:1681-7. Evaluation of anabolic steroid induced renal damage with sonography in bodybuilders - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2018 November;58(11):1681-7 - Minerva Medica - Journals

 

[Burrr]

Evaluation of Anabolic Steroid Induced Renal Damage with Sonography

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anabolic steroids on kidneys in bodybuilders.

METHODS: Twenty-two bodybuilders were included in the study. Participants were divided into three groups according to the scheme of steroid usage:
· group 1 (N.=8, intramuscular 500 mg testosterone enanthate, intramuscular 400 mg nandrolone decanoate and oral 40 mg methandrostenolone for 12 weeks),
· group 2 (N.=7, intramuscular 500 mg testosterone enanthate, intramuscular 300 mg nandrolone decanoate and intramuscular 300 mg boldenone undecylenate for 16 weeks), and
· group 3 (N.=7, no steroid intake).

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), urine micro-albumin and electrolyte levels were measured. Renal volume, cortical thickness and echogenicity were obtained in ultrasonographic scans.

RESULTS: Renal volume, cortical thickness, echogenicity and protein intake value were significantly higher in group 2 than group 1 and 3. Plasma levels of BUN and Cr in group 2 were significantly higher than other groups (P<0.001). Urine microalbumin and electrolyte levels were normal in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that high protein intake, steroid usage, particularly the schemes, including boldenone undecylenate increases cortical echogenicity, thickness of renal parenchyma and renal volume in bodybuilders.

Kantarci UH, Punduk Z, Senarslan O, Dirik A. Evaluation of anabolic steroid induced renal damage with sonography in bodybuilders. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness 2018;58:1681-7. Evaluation of anabolic steroid induced renal damage with sonography in bodybuilders - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2018 November;58(11):1681-7 - Minerva Medica - Journals

What can you take away from the abstract? Looks like a Test/DEca/Dbol cycle was low impact and adding EQ caused the kidney to enlarge?

 

[Michael Scally MD]

What can you take away from the abstract? Looks like a Test/DEca/Dbol cycle was low impact and adding EQ caused the kidney to enlarge?

IMO, of no clinical significance.

 

[Old]

How can you take away anything from 15 AAS participants? It could be said that methandrostenolone ameliorates some kidney distress from T + Deca.

The BUN and creatine levels are of interest but what were their intakes of protein and creatine during the study? Exactly how much exercise since muscle damage = higher creatine? What is the history of AAS use for each participant? Did each participant do the same thing and have the same histories? Now if the study had 10,000 participants, then statistics might have some relevance. Just another under-powered study.

There are other reports of elevated creatine with boldenone but not actually distiguishing from other androgens. Again, no details of total AAS usage by the various subjects. Didn't find other reports specific to BUN.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Goldman AL, Bhasin S. Testosterone Deficiency and Other Testicular Disorders in Kidney Disease. In: Rhee CM, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Brent GA, eds. Endocrine Disorders in Kidney Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019:113-25. Testosterone Deficiency and Other Testicular Disorders in Kidney Disease

Testosterone deficiency is frequent among men with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Aberrations at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis contribute to testicular dysfunction and low testosterone levels in CKD. Testosterone levels decline as CKD progresses with further reductions in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Both CKD and low serum total testosterone concentrations are independent predictors of mortality risk, and combined evaluation of the GFR and circulating testosterone improves mortality risk stratification even further.

Testosterone deficiency may have important clinical implications with regard to sexual dysfunction, anemia, loss of muscle mass and function, mobility, well-being, and health-related quality of life. Patients with CKD also suffer from high rates of erectile dysfunction and decreased fertility. Hypogonadism associated with CKD is seldom improved with the initiation of hemodialysis alone, but impairment of the HPG axis and sexual dysfunction are often improved by renal transplantation.

In healthy hypogonadal men with normal renal function, testosterone replacement improves sexual desire, erectile function, sexual activity, muscle mass and maximal voluntary strength, as well as bone mineral density and bone quality. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of administering testosterone replacement therapy in patients with CKD.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

McClintock TR, Valovska M-TI, Kwon NK, et al. Testosterone replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of urolithiasis. World Journal of Urology 2019. Testosterone replacement therapy is associated with an increased risk of urolithiasis

Purpose - To determine whether TRT in men with hypogonadism is associated with an increased risk of urolithiasis.

Methods - We conducted a population-based matched cohort study utilizing data sourced from the Military Health System Data Repository (a large military-based database that includes beneficiaries of the TRICARE program). This included men aged 40–64 years with no prior history of urolithiasis who received continuous TRT for a diagnosis of hypogonadism between 2006 and 2014. Eligible individuals were matched using both demographics and comorbidities to TRICARE enrollees who did not receive TRT. The primary outcome was 2-year absolute risk of a stone-related event, comparing men on TRT to non-TRT controls.

Results - There were 26,586 pairs in our cohort. Four hundred and eighty-two stone-related events were observed at 2 years in the non-TRT group versus 659 in the TRT group. Log-rank comparisons showed this to be a statistically significant difference in events between the two groups (p < 0.0001).

This difference was observed for topical (p < 0.0001) and injection (p = 0.004) therapy-type subgroups, though not for pellet (p = 0.27). There was no significant difference in stone episodes based on secondary polycythemia diagnosis, which was used as an indirect indicator of higher on-treatment testosterone levels (p = 0.14).

Conclusion - We observed an increase in 2-year absolute risk of stone events among those on TRT compared to those who did not undergo this hormonal therapy. These findings merit further investigation into the pathophysiologic basis of our observation and consideration by clinicians when determining the risks and benefits of placing patients on TRT.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Anabolic Steroid Use

Exercise induced rhabdomyolysis has been reported before. Renal injury to varying degrees has been described in athletes on nutritional supplements and anabolic steroids. We report a case of severe rhabdomyolysis leading to acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in a young male following anabolic steroid use.

A 33-year-old African American male presented to the emergency department with worsening generalized weakness, myalgias and reduced urine output that was brown colored. He reported that he had taken two injections of trenbolone over the last week, which he had bought online. He has never used anabolic steroids before this and was unable to recollect the dose. He denied using any other nutritional supplements or recreational drugs. …

Gnanapandithan K, Karthik N, Singh A. Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Anabolic Steroid Use. Am J Med 2019. https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(19)30256-6/abstract

 

[Old]

Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Anabolic Steroid Use

Exercise induced rhabdomyolysis has been reported before. Renal injury to varying degrees has been described in athletes on nutritional supplements and anabolic steroids. We report a case of severe rhabdomyolysis leading to acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in a young male following anabolic steroid use.

A 33-year-old African American male presented to the emergency department with worsening generalized weakness, myalgias and reduced urine output that was brown colored. He reported that he had taken two injections of trenbolone over the last week, which he had bought online. He has never used anabolic steroids before this and was unable to recollect the dose. He denied using any other nutritional supplements or recreational drugs. …

Gnanapandithan K, Karthik N, Singh A. Rhabdomyolysis and Acute Kidney Injury Associated with Anabolic Steroid Use. Am J Med 2019. https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(19)30256-6/abstract

"He was a muscularly built man weighing 120.1 kg with a body mass index of 35.9 kg/sq m"

Now lets see ... you have a 6 foot bodybuilder who weighs 264 lbs but has NEVER used AAS before the two injections of tren the week that he got sick. Perhaps possible but very unlikely.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] The Potential Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and Growth Hormone as Commonly Used Sport Supplements On The Kidney

BACKGROUND: Anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone are among the most commonly used supplements by sportsmen and sportswomen. The aim of this systematic review is to collect and report available data about renal safety of anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone (GH).

METHODS: The search strategy was in accordance with the PRISMA guideline. Seven databases such as Scopus, Medline, Embase, and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched using keywords, such as "growth hormone", "anabolic-androgenic steroids", and "kidney injury". Articles published from 1950 to December 2017 were considered. Randomized clinical trials, prospective or retrospective human studies, case series as well as case reports, and experimental (in vivo) studies were included. Twenty one clinical and experimental articles were selected (12 for anabolic-androgenic steroids and 9 for GH).

RESULTS: Anabolic-androgenic steroids can affect the kidney in different aspects. They can induce or aggravate acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and glomerular toxicity. These adverse effects are mediated through pathways such as stimulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, enhancing the production of endothelin, producing reactive oxygen species, over-expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic mediators (e.g., TGF-beta1), as well as inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-alpha, IL-1b, and IL-6).

Although GH may affect the kidney in different aspects, such as size, glomerular filtration rate, and tubule functions, either directly or indirectly, there is no conclusive clinical evidence about its detrimental effects on the kidney in athletes and body builders.

CONCLUSION: Evidence regarding effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids exists; However, GH's exact effect on the kidney at doses used by athletes and body builders has not yet been clarified. Cohort clinical studies with long-term follow-up are warranted in this regard.

Davani-Davari D, Karimzadeh I, Khalili H. The potential effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone as commonly used sport supplements on the kidney: a systematic review. BMC nephrology 2019;20:198. The potential effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone as commonly used sport supplements on the kidney: a systematic review | BMC Nephrology | Full Text

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] Kidney Disease Associated with Androgenic–Anabolic Steroids and Vitamin Supplements Abuse: Be Aware!

The excessive chase for beauty standards and the rise of muscle dysmorphia have ultimately led to an increase in androgenic–anabolic steroids (AAS) and intramuscular injections of vitamins A, D and E (ADE) abuse, which is associated with several adverse effects and has become a public health issue.

This review of literature discusses kidney injury associated with the use of AAS and ADE, highlighting the mechanisms of acute and chronic renal lesion, such as direct renal toxicity, glomerular hyperfiltration and hypercalcemia. Future perspectives regarding evaluation and early diagnosis of kidney injury in these patients are also discussed.

Parente Filho SLA, Gomes PEAdC, Forte GA, et al. Kidney disease associated with androgenic–anabolic steroids and vitamin supplements abuse: Be aware! Nefrología 2019. Kidney disease associated with androgenic–anabolic steroids and vitamin supplements abuse: Be aware! - ScienceDirect

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[OA] Complementary Bodybuilding: A Potential Risk for Permanent Kidney Disease.

We report our experience of renal disease associated with bodybuilders who had been on high-protein diet, anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs), and growth hormone (GH) for years. A total of 22 adult males who volunteered information about use of high protein diet and AAS or GH were seen over a six-year period with renal disease.

Kidney biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in eight, nephroangiosclerosis in four, chronic interstitial nephritis in three, acute interstitial nephritis in two, nephrocalcinosis with chronic interstitial nephritis in two, and single patients with membranous glomerulopathy, crescentic glomerulopathy, and sclerosing glomerulonephritis.

Patients with FSGS had a longer duration of exposure, late presentation, and worse prognosis. Those with interstitial disease had shorter exposure time and earlier presentation and had improved or stabilized after discontinuation of their practice.

There is a need for health education for athletes and bodybuilders to inform them about the risks of renal disease involved with the use of high-protein diet, AAS, and GH.

El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease. Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation: an official publication of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Saudi Arabia 2018;29:326-31. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP - Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl

 

[Old]

[OA] Complementary Bodybuilding: A Potential Risk for Permanent Kidney Disease.

We report our experience of renal disease associated with bodybuilders who had been on high-protein diet, anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs), and growth hormone (GH) for years. A total of 22 adult males who volunteered information about use of high protein diet and AAS or GH were seen over a six-year period with renal disease.

Kidney biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in eight, nephroangiosclerosis in four, chronic interstitial nephritis in three, acute interstitial nephritis in two, nephrocalcinosis with chronic interstitial nephritis in two, and single patients with membranous glomerulopathy, crescentic glomerulopathy, and sclerosing glomerulonephritis.

Patients with FSGS had a longer duration of exposure, late presentation, and worse prognosis. Those with interstitial disease had shorter exposure time and earlier presentation and had improved or stabilized after discontinuation of their practice.

There is a need for health education for athletes and bodybuilders to inform them about the risks of renal disease involved with the use of high-protein diet, AAS, and GH.

El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease. Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation: an official publication of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Saudi Arabia 2018;29:326-31. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP - Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl

These individuals were eating 20– 30 g/kg/day of protein - far more than most (or what anyone would need).
There must be a typo: "GH on average of 100 mg/day" !!!

Like many studies, presented are extreme situation. But to apply it to all or most bodybuilders would be a mistake. It merely stands as a general warning.

 

[Deleted member 59947]

[OA] Complementary Bodybuilding: A Potential Risk for Permanent Kidney Disease.

We report our experience of renal disease associated with bodybuilders who had been on high-protein diet, anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs), and growth hormone (GH) for years. A total of 22 adult males who volunteered information about use of high protein diet and AAS or GH were seen over a six-year period with renal disease.

Kidney biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in eight, nephroangiosclerosis in four, chronic interstitial nephritis in three, acute interstitial nephritis in two, nephrocalcinosis with chronic interstitial nephritis in two, and single patients with membranous glomerulopathy, crescentic glomerulopathy, and sclerosing glomerulonephritis.

Patients with FSGS had a longer duration of exposure, late presentation, and worse prognosis. Those with interstitial disease had shorter exposure time and earlier presentation and had improved or stabilized after discontinuation of their practice.

There is a need for health education for athletes and bodybuilders to inform them about the risks of renal disease involved with the use of high-protein diet, AAS, and GH.

El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease. Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation: an official publication of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Saudi Arabia 2018;29:326-31. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP - Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl

That study

Effects of growth hormone and IGF-I on renal function. - PubMed - NCBI

indicates an increase in GFR subsequent to GH injection, which is good.

Whether that says anything about the damage to the kidneys or lack thereof is another story

 

[GDL]

I’m thinking, could those bodybuilders have had high blood pressure for years as well?
What if someone supplemented with Astragalus.
And how much tren did they run. Tren is brutal on the kidneys.

 

[GDL]

I’m thinking, could those bodybuilders have had high blood pressure for years as well?
What if someone supplemented with Astragalus.
And how much tren did they run. Tren is brutal on the kidneys.

 

[Old]

[OA] Complementary Bodybuilding: A Potential Risk for Permanent Kidney Disease.

We report our experience of renal disease associated with bodybuilders who had been on high-protein diet, anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs), and growth hormone (GH) for years. A total of 22 adult males who volunteered information about use of high protein diet and AAS or GH were seen over a six-year period with renal disease.

Kidney biopsy revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in eight, nephroangiosclerosis in four, chronic interstitial nephritis in three, acute interstitial nephritis in two, nephrocalcinosis with chronic interstitial nephritis in two, and single patients with membranous glomerulopathy, crescentic glomerulopathy, and sclerosing glomerulonephritis.

Patients with FSGS had a longer duration of exposure, late presentation, and worse prognosis. Those with interstitial disease had shorter exposure time and earlier presentation and had improved or stabilized after discontinuation of their practice.

There is a need for health education for athletes and bodybuilders to inform them about the risks of renal disease involved with the use of high-protein diet, AAS, and GH.

El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease. Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation: an official publication of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Saudi Arabia 2018;29:326-31. Complementary bodybuilding: A potential risk for permanent kidney disease El-Reshaid W, El-Reshaid K, Al-Bader S, Ramadan A, Madda JP - Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl

Something is wrong with these numbers:

“All patients had been on high-protein diet (20–30 g/kg/day) and multiple AASs, especially testosterone injections up to 250 mg/day intramuscularly in addition to GH on average of 100 mg/day.”

For example, take a 80kg (176 lbs) bodybuilder eating 25 g/kg/day

80 kg * 25 g/kg * 4 cal/g = 8,000 cals per day​

With a 100kg (220 lbs) bodybuilder

100 kg * 25 g/kg * 4 cal/g = 10,000 cals per day​

Compound this with protein poisoning (“rabbit starvation”). The maximum percentage of calories from protein a person can survive on is 50%. Otherwise the liver and kidneys are too overloaded among other issues. [ See “The physiological ceiling on protein intake” in Man the Fat Hunter: The Demise of Homo erectus and the Emergence of a New Hominin Lineage in the Middle Pleistocene (ca. 400 kyr) Levant ]

How many bodybuilders actually eat 8,000 to 10,000 calories of protein a day!?! If these guys actually did, no wonder they have kidney damage.

So the 80 kg guy would actually have to eat 16,000 calories/day and the 100kg guy, 20,000 calories/day.

Obviously this ‘study’ seems screwed up !!!

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Low Serum Testosterone Levels and The Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: Despite existing evidence regarding the role of testosterone as a protective factor for the kidney function in male adults, there are conflicting and inconclusive results on the influence of testosterone deficiency on developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and hazard ratio of CKD among male adults with low testosterone levels compared to controls with normal testosterone levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 15-year follow-up study, a total of 1277 eligible male adults aged 20-80 years consisting of 605 males with low testosterone levels (< 350 ng/dL) and 672 controls with normal levels participating in the Tehran-Lipid and Glucose Study were recruited. Cox's proportional hazards models were applied to estimate hazard ratios of CKD between the groups after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS: The total cumulative incidence rate of CKD at the median follow-up time of approximately 11.2 years was 21/1000 (95% CI: 18/1000, 25/1000) and 18/1000 (95% CI: 16/1000, 22/1000) in the low and normal testosterone groups, respectively (P = .2). The multivariate Cox model adjusted for age, body mass index, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking showed that HR of developing CKD in the male adults with low testosterone levels was significantly higher than those with normal levels (HR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.80).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study shows a higher hazard ratio of CKD progression in male adults with hypogonadism compared to those with normal levels in their later life. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases in hypoganadal men can prevent the morbidity and mortality from CKD.

Amiri M, Ramezani Tehrani F, Rahmati M, et al. Low serum testosterone levels and the incidence of chronic kidney disease among male adults: A prospective population based study. Andrology 2019. Error - Cookies Turned Off

 

[SaneDog]

Damn, he's so young to be using man. Why do kids always do this?

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Severe Acquired Hypokalemic Paralysis in a Bodybuilder After Self-medication With Triamterene/Hydrochlorothiazide

BACKGROUND: Severe hypokalemia with severe neurological impairment and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities due to the misuse of triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in a bodybuilder has not yet been reported.

CASE REPORT: A 22-year-old bodybuilder developed acute generalized muscle cramps, sensory disturbance of the distal lower and upper limbs, quadriparesis, and urinary retention. These abnormalities were attributed to severe hypokalemia of 1.8 mmol/L (normal range 3.4-4.5 mmol/L) due to misuse of triamterene/HCTZ together with fluid restriction.

He was cardiologically asymptomatic, but ECG revealed a corrected QT (QTc) interval of 625 ms. On intravenous application of fluids along with intravenous and oral substitution of potassium, his condition rapidly improved, such that the sensory disturbances, quadriparesis, and bladder dysfunction completely resolved within 2 days after admission.

CONCLUSIONS: Self-medication with diuretics along with fluid restriction may result in severe hypokalemia, paralysis, and ECG abnormalities. Those responsible for the management of bodybuilding studios and competitions must be aware of the potential severe health threats caused by self-medication with diuretics and anabolic steroids. Although triamterene is potassium-sparing, it may enhance the potassium-lowering effect of HCTZ.

Pfisterer N, Stollberger C, Finsterer J. Severe Acquired Hypokalemic Paralysis in a Bodybuilder After Self-medication With Triamterene/Hydrochlorothiazide. Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine 2019. Severe Acquired Hypokalemic Paralysis in a Bodybuilder... : Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine

 

[RoidmeDangerfield]

Evaluation of Anabolic Steroid Induced Renal Damage with Sonography

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anabolic steroids on kidneys in bodybuilders.

METHODS: Twenty-two bodybuilders were included in the study. Participants were divided into three groups according to the scheme of steroid usage:
· group 1 (N.=8, intramuscular 500 mg testosterone enanthate, intramuscular 400 mg nandrolone decanoate and oral 40 mg methandrostenolone for 12 weeks),
· group 2 (N.=7, intramuscular 500 mg testosterone enanthate, intramuscular 300 mg nandrolone decanoate and intramuscular 300 mg boldenone undecylenate for 16 weeks), and
· group 3 (N.=7, no steroid intake).

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), urine micro-albumin and electrolyte levels were measured. Renal volume, cortical thickness and echogenicity were obtained in ultrasonographic scans.

RESULTS: Renal volume, cortical thickness, echogenicity and protein intake value were significantly higher in group 2 than group 1 and 3. Plasma levels of BUN and Cr in group 2 were significantly higher than other groups (P<0.001). Urine microalbumin and electrolyte levels were normal in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that high protein intake, steroid usage, particularly the schemes, including boldenone undecylenate increases cortical echogenicity, thickness of renal parenchyma and renal volume in bodybuilders.

Kantarci UH, Punduk Z, Senarslan O, Dirik A. Evaluation of anabolic steroid induced renal damage with sonography in bodybuilders. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness 2018;58:1681-7. Evaluation of anabolic steroid induced renal damage with sonography in bodybuilders - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2018 November;58(11):1681-7 - Minerva Medica - Journals

I'm not a doctor but in looking this over and to see in the conclusion that group 2 had significantly higher renal volume, cortical thickness, echogenicity and protein intake value, BUN and Cr it seems clear to me the reasons why are because this group was taking the most overall amounts of steroids (1100mg total) and for the longest duration.

From my research it seems we really shouldn't be too focused on what specific steroids we take that may be worse for the kidneys. We should be thinking in terms of which drugs cause the most significant weight gain and how that dramatic weight gain affects our organs. Let's keep in mind that it's no coincidence that obesity, high blood pressure and kidney disease are typically associated with one another. And in the case of obesity, gaining extra adipose tissue is typically a much slower process than say a bodybuilder who gained 20lb or more of lean muscle while using tren in just six to eight weeks.

I also think there's something to be said about overall blood viscosity and how it's affected from steroid use. Hematocrit, higher than normal red blood cell count can go up to dangerous levels. But what I am not seeing from any medical study is how this higher viscosity (caused from moderate to heavy steroid use) affects heart valves or the kidneys. I would think thicker than normal blood concentrations would take their toll on heart and kidney tissues.

Like I said, I'm not a doctor. And this is just my theory so shoot me down and dismiss me if you like. I just hope you all and I do well as we continue to seek muscle gains as best we can with no ill health effects. My last blood pressure check was 130/80 which my doctor felt wasn't too bad. My creatinine level was 1.34 last time we checked. It's a bit high but the guidelines established for acceptable levels is between 0.51 - 1.18 mg/dL. But my doctor isn't concerned since these values apply to a 90lb old woman versus me who is 220 of pretty lean muscle and trains intensely five days a week. I'm doing a one pint therapeutic blood draw every ninety days to keep hematocrit levels at bay and if my blood pressure goes up any higher I'm going to go on meds to control it.