Research
Hormonal
Anabolic steroids promote muscle growth and strength, but their efficacy in improving physical function and quality of life in clinical populations (e.g., cachexia, elderly) remains unproven.
While anabolic steroids can increase muscle mass, current evidence does not confirm they improve physical function or quality of life in sick or elderly patients. Do not expect functional benefits without specific training.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Athletes and bodybuilders have recognized for several decades that the use of anabolic steroids can promote muscle growth and strength but it is only relatively recently that these agents are being revisited for clinical purposes... nevertheless their efficacy still needs to be demonstrated in terms of improved physical function and quality of life.
Why this rating
The paper is a review stating that efficacy needs to be demonstrated, implying existing evidence is inconclusive or insufficient for functional outcomes.
Source
Pharmacology of anabolic steroids
Andrew T. Kicman · British Journal of Pharmacology · 2008
DOI 10.1038/bjp.2008.165
narrative_reviewCited 578×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Anabolic steroids exert their effects through multiple mechanisms including androgen receptor modulation, anticatabolic effects via glucocorticoid receptor interference, and non-genomic pathways.Good
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