Anabolic Steroids Research Paper
Anabolic Steroids
Description:
Anabolic steroids are performance enhancing drugs. They are a synthetic form of the chemical testosterone that is normally found in the body.
By taking anabolic steroids, a person's testosterone level can be raised up to a hundred times more than the usual amount of 2.5 to 10 mg. Per day. The increase in testosterone increases anabolic activity, which results in greater muscle bulk. It also increases protein synthesis and androgenic activity (enhanced secondary sexual characteristics) in males. The users of steroids want to increase the anabolic effects and reduce the androgenic effects, but no steroid is known to have just anabolic effects.
Use:
Anabolic steroids can be taken in two ways, by injection …show more content…
Steroids that are injected are less toxic to the liver and are less potent than oral steroids on an equal dosage basis. Injected steroids have a delayed take up, which makes them last longer. It also allows them to be detected in drug tests for a longer period of time.
How they work in the body:
When anabolic steroids are introduced into the body, under certain conditions they increase: protein synthesis, lean body mass, and the nitrogen balance in the body. A steroid receptor is formed which stimulates the synthesis of enzymes. With the stimulus of enzymes in the body, protein synthesis is also increased. One enzyme system that is placed into the body by the receptor is the ribonucleic acid (RNA)-polymerose system. This system promotes cellular protein metabolism and synthesis which utilizes nitrogen. By utilizing the nitrogen, the anabolic action is increased, which leads to larger muscle size and strength. Anabolic steroids also increase nitrogen retention in the body. They move the nitrogen equilibrium to the positive side. This allows the body to utilize ingested protein better, but the balance does not last forever. The body's homeostatic mechanisms regulate the balance and change …show more content…
Since the time of the
Greek Olympics athletes have been using performance enhancing drugs in order to heighten their athletic performance. In 1886 the 1st person to die due to performance enhancing drugs was a French cyclist. He took a speed-ball, a mix of cocaine and heroin, which eventually killed him. Physicians in the 20's ran tests on athletes by inserting monkey testicles into male athletes to help boost their vitality. Adolf Hitler supposedly administered the hormone testosterone to himself and his troops in order to increase aggressiveness. In 1953 the first anabolic steroid was introduced. It had five times more strength building effects than natural hormones. In the 1960's the IOC (International Olympic
Committee) started to ban performance enhancing drugs due to their popular use.
At the 1976 summer games in Montreal, the IOC initiated the first testing for steroids. Today testing is done routinely on the collegiate and international level. The USOC (United States Olympic Committee) can suspend an athlete for up to two years if caught using steroids. Repeat offenders may be suspended from competing on the Olympic level for life. The NCAA does year round
Description:
Anabolic steroids are performance enhancing drugs. They are a synthetic form of the chemical testosterone that is normally found in the body.
By taking anabolic steroids, a person's testosterone level can be raised up to a hundred times more than the usual amount of 2.5 to 10 mg. Per day. The increase in testosterone increases anabolic activity, which results in greater muscle bulk. It also increases protein synthesis and androgenic activity (enhanced secondary sexual characteristics) in males. The users of steroids want to increase the anabolic effects and reduce the androgenic effects, but no steroid is known to have just anabolic effects.
Use:
Anabolic steroids can be taken in two ways, by injection …show more content…
Steroids that are injected are less toxic to the liver and are less potent than oral steroids on an equal dosage basis. Injected steroids have a delayed take up, which makes them last longer. It also allows them to be detected in drug tests for a longer period of time.
How they work in the body:
When anabolic steroids are introduced into the body, under certain conditions they increase: protein synthesis, lean body mass, and the nitrogen balance in the body. A steroid receptor is formed which stimulates the synthesis of enzymes. With the stimulus of enzymes in the body, protein synthesis is also increased. One enzyme system that is placed into the body by the receptor is the ribonucleic acid (RNA)-polymerose system. This system promotes cellular protein metabolism and synthesis which utilizes nitrogen. By utilizing the nitrogen, the anabolic action is increased, which leads to larger muscle size and strength. Anabolic steroids also increase nitrogen retention in the body. They move the nitrogen equilibrium to the positive side. This allows the body to utilize ingested protein better, but the balance does not last forever. The body's homeostatic mechanisms regulate the balance and change …show more content…
Since the time of the
Greek Olympics athletes have been using performance enhancing drugs in order to heighten their athletic performance. In 1886 the 1st person to die due to performance enhancing drugs was a French cyclist. He took a speed-ball, a mix of cocaine and heroin, which eventually killed him. Physicians in the 20's ran tests on athletes by inserting monkey testicles into male athletes to help boost their vitality. Adolf Hitler supposedly administered the hormone testosterone to himself and his troops in order to increase aggressiveness. In 1953 the first anabolic steroid was introduced. It had five times more strength building effects than natural hormones. In the 1960's the IOC (International Olympic
Committee) started to ban performance enhancing drugs due to their popular use.
At the 1976 summer games in Montreal, the IOC initiated the first testing for steroids. Today testing is done routinely on the collegiate and international level. The USOC (United States Olympic Committee) can suspend an athlete for up to two years if caught using steroids. Repeat offenders may be suspended from competing on the Olympic level for life. The NCAA does year round