liftsiron
Community Veteran, Longtime Vet
Anabolic Steroids Help COPD Patients Increase Their Weight, Lean Body Mass
NORTHBROOK, IL -- July 8, 1998 -- Older, malnourished men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefited from the same type of controversial drug that athletes sometimes use to increase muscle and enhance performance, according to a new study.
The men experienced weight gain and increases in lean body mass. The study was reported in the current issue of CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.
More than 15 million Americans suffer from COPD, the fourth-ranking cause of death in the United States. Malnutrition is often associated with severe COPD and affects the composition and function of the respiratory muscle. Over the past 20 years, a number of reports have claimed that anabolic steroids contributed to better performance of high-level athletes due to improvements in skeletal muscle mass and strength.
Twenty-three malnourished men with severe COPD (manifested mostly as emphysema and chronic bronchitis) were selected for the double, randomised study to evaluate the potential benefits of anabolic steroids. The patient participants were randomly assigned to either a control group which received a placebo or a study group which received anabolic steroids (250 milligrams of testosterone IM, given once at the start of the study) and 12 milligrams of stanozolol, a synthetic substance derived from testosterone.
Both groups participated in inspiratory muscle exercises during weeks nine to 27 and cycle ergometre exercises during weeks 18 to 27. The study was conducted by Dr. Ivone Martins Ferreira and colleagues from the Federal University in Sao Paulo, Brazil and also involved Dr. Roger Goldstein and colleagues from the University of Toronto.
At the end of six months, researchers reported that those taking the anabolic steroids gained more weight (two kilograms or more) than the control group. The weight gain was associated with significant increases in arm muscle and thigh circumference and in lean body mass. There were no significant changes noted, however, in endurance exercise capacity.
Because of the concerns about the side effects of anabolic steroids, researchers performed detailed monitoring of biochemical, hormonal and hematologic measures, as well as both clinical and ultrasound assessment of the prostate size. They reported that the beneficial findings of the study occurred without any clinical or biochemical side effects.
Because of the limited size of the study, investigators called for new and larger studies on the influence of anabolic steroids which would address health-related quality of life issues.
NORTHBROOK, IL -- July 8, 1998 -- Older, malnourished men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) benefited from the same type of controversial drug that athletes sometimes use to increase muscle and enhance performance, according to a new study.
The men experienced weight gain and increases in lean body mass. The study was reported in the current issue of CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.
More than 15 million Americans suffer from COPD, the fourth-ranking cause of death in the United States. Malnutrition is often associated with severe COPD and affects the composition and function of the respiratory muscle. Over the past 20 years, a number of reports have claimed that anabolic steroids contributed to better performance of high-level athletes due to improvements in skeletal muscle mass and strength.
Twenty-three malnourished men with severe COPD (manifested mostly as emphysema and chronic bronchitis) were selected for the double, randomised study to evaluate the potential benefits of anabolic steroids. The patient participants were randomly assigned to either a control group which received a placebo or a study group which received anabolic steroids (250 milligrams of testosterone IM, given once at the start of the study) and 12 milligrams of stanozolol, a synthetic substance derived from testosterone.
Both groups participated in inspiratory muscle exercises during weeks nine to 27 and cycle ergometre exercises during weeks 18 to 27. The study was conducted by Dr. Ivone Martins Ferreira and colleagues from the Federal University in Sao Paulo, Brazil and also involved Dr. Roger Goldstein and colleagues from the University of Toronto.
At the end of six months, researchers reported that those taking the anabolic steroids gained more weight (two kilograms or more) than the control group. The weight gain was associated with significant increases in arm muscle and thigh circumference and in lean body mass. There were no significant changes noted, however, in endurance exercise capacity.
Because of the concerns about the side effects of anabolic steroids, researchers performed detailed monitoring of biochemical, hormonal and hematologic measures, as well as both clinical and ultrasound assessment of the prostate size. They reported that the beneficial findings of the study occurred without any clinical or biochemical side effects.
Because of the limited size of the study, investigators called for new and larger studies on the influence of anabolic steroids which would address health-related quality of life issues.
