Effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on blood parameters in Turkish male gym participants: a comparison of users and non-users
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, cilt.25, sa.3, ss.762-776, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 25 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1080/15332640.2026.2689389
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Criminal Justice Periodical Index, Social Sciences Abstracts, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Criminology Collection (ProQuest), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.762-776
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Athletes, gyms, substance abuse, anabolic-androgenic steroids, testosterone
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Abuse of anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) to enhance muscularity has become a global health problem. Gym participants may abuse AAS under the influence of performance goals, body image concerns, and ethnocultural masculinity norms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AAS-users among Turkish male gym participants and to compare their blood parameters with those of non-users. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis identified recreational male gym athletes aged 18–50 years who underwent measurement of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and total testosterone (TT) between 2015 and 2025. Athletes with gonadotropin (LH and FSH) suppression were defined as “AAS-users”. A total of 161 athletes were included in the study, and 57 (35.4%) were AAS-users with severe gonadal suppression (median LH= 0.12 IU/L and FSH= 0.17 IU/L). AAS-users were predominantly young adults aged 18–25 years (54.5%). Compared with non-users, AAS-users had significantly higher levels of TT, vitamin-B12, creatinine, liver transaminases, red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelets, and significantly lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Vitamin-B12 showed the strongest inverse correlation with gonadotropin levels, whereas HDL showed the strongest positive correlation. The findings indicate that approximately one-third of Turkish gym participants were AAS-users. They exhibited AAS-related renal, hepatic, polycythemic, thrombocytic, and dyslipidemic alterations, along with a higher tendency to use vitamin supplements. The pursuit of a muscular physique is associated with substantial cardiometabolic risk among male AAS-users, particularly young adults. This underscores the need for targeted educational interventions to improve benefit–risk awareness.