Anabolic steroids or anabolic-androgenic steroids are medicines that imitate the effects of male sex hormone testosterone and dihydrotestosterone or DHT for short. Anabolics work by increasing protein synthesis in the cells resulting in increased buildup of cellular tissue (anabolic effect). Being close to testosterone anabolic steroids have androgenic and virilizing properties manifested in development of sexual characters.
Anabolic steroids are the most effective class of anabolic preparations. In appropriate application they allow to achieve a significant muscle growth and increase of muscular strength. Body weight gain is associated not only with muscular mass, but also with increasing the mass of liver, heart, kidney.
Anabolic steroids increase the ability to assimilate proteins and increase protein synthesis. In hypogonadism of different etiology anabolic steroids fill the deficiency of endogenous testosterone. Along with protein synthesis anabolic steroids strengthen bone calcification, cause the retention of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, sodium and water. In women anabolics cause inhibiting of hypophysis function, function of ovaries, mammary glands, endometrium atrophy.
Usually a man requires nearly 70-100 grams of protein daily; anabolic steroids may increase this demand up to 300g daily. Therefore during the treatment with anabolic steroids it is necessary to increase the amount of proteins in the diet.
Anabolics are actively used in medical practice for hormonal replacement therapy in primary and secondary hypogonadism in males (hypopituitarism, endocrine impotence, infertility as a result of spermatogenesis disruption, climacteric disorders in men, in particular, reduced libido, mental and physical activity, delayed puberty). Anabolic steroids are also indicated for osteoporosis caused by androgen deficiency. Besides medical practice, anabolics are actively used by athletes to build muscles. Usually athletes uses two types of anabolics: such as bulking steroids for the purpose to gain muscle mass and cutting steroids to burn fat tissue and prevent water and fat retention. Anti-estrogens are also commonly used to avoid side effects common for steroids.
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