Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and Cardiotoxicity

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are a class of natural and synthetic hormones, which owe their name to their chemical structure (steroid nucleus) and their biological, anabolic, and androgenic effects. Misuse of AAS for aesthetic and performance purposes has become widespread, as they provide increases in muscle mass and strength. It is estimated that approximately 3.5% of the world’s population uses AAS.

Use of AAS dates back to ancient Greece, followed by the Second World War. They were detected in sports competitions in 1954 and later disseminated among bodybuilders and identified in various sports in the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. Currently, we are witnessing a growing encouragement of AAS use for aesthetic purposes, through “beauty chips” and disguised as hormone replacement therapy. This indiscriminate use culminated in a resolution by the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine against the prescription of these hormones for aesthetic purposes.

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