Hormonal
Androgenic-anabolic steroid administration significantly lowers serum Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations, which may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk, although this benefit is offset by the adverse effects on other lipids.
AAS use tends to lower Lipoprotein(a), which is generally considered a good thing for heart health. However, because AAS simultaneously destroys your 'good' cholesterol (HDL) and raises 'bad' markers, you cannot assume the Lp(a) benefit cancels out the damage. The net effect on heart disease risk is likely negative and complex.
Serum Lp(a) declined from 189 (315) to 32 (63) U/l... Administration of AAS for 14 weeks was associated with slower recovery to pretreatment concentrations than administration for eight weeks.
Why this rating
Supported by Study 1 (non-blinded) and Study 2 (double-blind, though small sample size).
Source
Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids on apolipoproteins and lipoprotein (a)
Fred Hartgens et al. · British Journal of Sports Medicine · 2004
DOI 10.1136/bjsm.2003.000199
More from this paper
- Self-administration of polydrug androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) regimens for 8-14 weeks significantly decreases HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, and Apo-A1, while increasing Apo-B, creating a highly atherogenic lipid profile.Good
- Recovery of adverse lipid profiles (HDL, Apo-A1, Lp(a)) after stopping AAS use is prolonged and depends on the duration of prior AAS use, with 14 weeks of use leading to slower normalization than 8 weeks.Good
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