In a study conducted by a group of doctors revealed that the long term use of anabolic steroids can weaken the heart and could increase the risk of heart failure. The findings were published in the latest edition of the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Heart Failure.

Previous studies have little data to prove that anabolic steroids can directly harm the heart and its normal functions. Most studies were centered on the effects of steroids on the kidneys and liver. The researchers also noted that the previous studies conducted in Europe used professional athletes as the subject of the study. Most of them took different supplements which makes it very difficult to associate heart problems to steroids alone. And since they are competitive athletes, it is also expected that they have healthier bodies.

The doctors from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston headed by Dr. Aaron L. Baggish decided to make a separate study to determine the extent of anabolic steroids’ effects to the heart. But their study only focused on recreational athletes or bodybuilders. The group recruited 12 male weightlifters with an average age of 40. The data from these weightlifters who are taking 675 milligrams of steroids per week for nine years was compared to other weightlifters with the same statistics except that they did not took steroids.

Dr. Baggish told WebMD that steroids use is not only confined in professional sports but it is now becoming popular for casual athletes. “Steroid use in the general public wasn’t really an issue until the late 1980s or even the mid-1990s. Even now, when we hear about steroids it’s because a professional baseball player or cyclist has taken them. But the vast majority of steroid use is now happening among casual athletes who work 9-to-5 jobs,” he said.

The group used the Doppler echocardiographytechnique to examine the left ventricle’s function and structure. It uses an ultrasound to conduct graphical assessment of the heart particularly its blood flow. With this method, the ejection fraction of the heart is measured. The normal ejection fraction is between 55% to 70%. 10 weightlifters who took steroids for longer periods showed a lower percentage with an average of 50% while those who did not took any anabolic steroids has a higher ejection fraction averaging 59%. Only 1 of the seven non-steroid user returned a below normal figure. Low ejection fraction increases the risk of heart disease and heart failure. It was also noted that the steroid group had impaired diastolic functions.

The researchers hope that with their findings, people will now recognize the effects of steroids to the heart. “What we hope is that people start recognizing steroid use as a potential cause of heart disease and a cause of otherwise unexplained heart dysfunction in young people,” said Baggish. “I think for the first time we’re starting to realize that the heart is one of the organs that is negatively impacted by long-term steroid use,” he added.

Since it was only a micro-study, other questions are still left unanswered. According to Dr. Baggish, it is not yet clear whether the impact of long term steroid use on the heart is still reversible once these people stoppped using the drug.

Their findings will also help health practitioners in the proper diagnosis of patients with heart problems. They can now include anabolic steroids use as one of the possible causes of left ventricular dysfunction in young people who are considered healthy according to Dr. Baggish. “Doctors need to ask their patients if they use steroids.”

Ann F. Bolger, spokeswoman of the American Heart Association, said that further studies should be conducted to confirm the findings. However, she agreed that the use of anabolic steroid needs to be on the radar of evaluating clinician regarding the heart disease risks of their patients. “This is a wake-up call to practitioners to ask about steroid use,” said Bolger who is a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California. “We would never dream of not asking if a patient smokes or if they have high blood pressure or diabetes. But I’m guessing very few ask about steroid use,” she said.

The use of growth hormones has become a necessity for some people who wants to stay young and healthy. The increasing popularity of these anti-aging drugs has enticed a lot of health conscious people. This is also intensified by a lot of pharmaceutical companies advertising growth hormones not as drug used for medical purposes but as a drug used for vanity. The many benefits promised by growth hormones did not only focus on the slowing of the aging process but it also becomes an elixir of some professional athletes because of its rejuvenating effects and significant help in the recovery from injuries.

A professor from the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas T Perls, is one of the few experts who are vocal against the use of these growth hormones aside from its major use, to treat medical conditions. He wrote in a medical journal that he is not in favor in marketing these hormones, particularly growth hormone and anabolic steroids for anti-aging.

Dr. Perls also commended the American Medical Association (AMA) in publishing a recent study on the efficacy and safety of these anti-aging drugs. The Council on Science and Public Health of AMA conducted a study “The Use of Hormones for “Anti-Aging”: A Review of Efficacy and Safety”. The study made an assessment of the risks and benefits of growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen and DHEA for anti-aging. “The AMA’s review of the risks and benefits of these hormones in the setting of anti-aging and athletic enhancement is very important given its inclusion of the consensus and position statements of the key professional medical societies as well as the federal agencies that guard public health,” Perls said.

The doctor is worried on the current situation of the proliferation of anti-aging drugs both synthetic and natural forms. These are commonly called as bio-identical or all-natural hormones. Some products which have an estrogen like effects comes from vegetable extract like soy or yams. This may have similar properties with growth hormones but there were little clinical trials that will prove its efficacy. “The terms bio-identical or all-natural, particularly in the case of the drugs prescribed by endocrinologists, misleadingly convey a sense of safety to the gullible customer,” said Perls.

Based on the assessment of the American Medical Association, the risk outweighs the benefits claimed by these anti-aging drugs. The doctor also advises other medical practioner to explain to their patient the advantages and disadvantages of these drugs and educates them in their pursuit of healthy aging.

Dr. Thomas T Perls is an associate professor in medicine at Boston University Medical School. He also works as a geriatrician at the Boston Medical Center. Dr. Perls has been active in the study of aging and heads the study on the New England Centenarian Study (NECS) which is being funded by the National Institute on Aging. The institute is the largest genetic and social study of centenarians (100-year-olds) and their families worldwide. He also founded the People’s Genetics and Elixir Pharmaceuticals. One of the contributions of Dr. Perls in the medical field is the development of the life expectancy calculator.

There are already many cases of doctors and healthcare professionals who were charged and convicted for making illegal prescriptions. Federal authorities are keen in catching those people who are doing unethical practices because they are putting their patients at risk. It is also a must that proper diagnosis should be done in order to avoid any complications. Doctors should strictly follow the procedures in making prescriptions as mandated by law. However, there are still some health professionals who violate the basic procedure in treating their patients. Most of these happen in the prescription of controlled substances such as stimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, depressants, and anabolic steroids.

To implement an effective control and monitoring of the prescriptions, the Drug enforcement Agency (DEA) proposes to expand the current electronic prescription system being adopted by health care professionals, hospitals and pharmacists. The old system allowed the providers to create prescriptions electronically for controlled substances and those prescriptions are either printed out for signatures or faxed to a pharmacy. The electronic prescriptions are transmitted as electronic data files to the pharmacy and then import the data file into a database through the use of computer programs.

However, the rule for e-prescribing met some resistance from federal healthcare providers. They argued that the approach proposed for the private sector was inconsistent with their existing practices and did not meet the security requirements for federal systems. This was the rule imposed by the DEA since June 2008.

The new rule proposed by the DEA will now include the use of biometrics. The use of fingerprints, iris scans, or handprints will be utilized to help in the authentication of the e-prescribing user. Under the new rule, users of e prescribing systems for controlled substances would have to prove their identities by using two out of three factors: something you know (passwords), something you have (tokens), or something you are (biometrics).

The proposal will eliminate the unauthorized use of identities of e-prescribing user. The biometrics will now be used as a substitute to hard token or password. According to the DEA, entities who will still use the hard token, should meet specified security standards for cryptographic devices one time password devices. In addition, it must be stored on a device that is separate from the computer in use.

In a statement issued by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, allowing for electronic prescribing of controlled substances— while maintaining rigorous controls to prevent illegal diversion and protect privacy— is key to unleashing the vast cost saving and quality improvement potential of health information technology. “This new interim rule from the DEA and DOJ brings us one step closer to that goal,” he added.

Specifically, the aim of the new rule is to prevent the misuse of controlled substances that have a potential for abuse and psychological and physical dependence. Some of these drugs include opioids, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids. According to Health Leaders Media, the prescriptions for controlled substances in the US accounts for 10% to 11%. The DEA has already posted the new regulation in the Federal Register and is open for comments for 60 days.

Competitive athletes must posses not just skills but at the same time power to be able to achieve victory. They need four basic things; endurance, strength, energy and fast recovery. Although these can be developed through workouts and rigid training, the need for supplementation is a must. This is the reason why the market for sports nutrition is now gaining a strong hold of the market. Many companies engaged in developing and marketing sports supplements has recorded an increasing trend in the demand for these products. This is even in the midst of controversies that some of these products contain steroid like ingredients which should be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. In the previous years, there was a double digit increase in the demand for the sports nutrition and weight-loss products based on the research of the Nutrition Business Journal.

These products are available in the market in various forms. But the most common and still popular are supplements in the form of capsules or tablets, powders and beverages. According to Scott Steil of Nutra Bridge, there have been a few newer technologies that have evolved, such as creams, strips and effervescent or quick dissolve tablets, but they have not penetrated the market to any noticeable degree. Another form which is popular to athletes are drink sticks because these are convenient to bring. It can be used anytime and handy especially during sporting events. Energy shots are also available.

The Natural Product Insider website reported that athletes and other people who lives an active lifestyles turn to amino acids, creatine, protein powders, sports hydration drinks, sports nutrition bars and sports nutrition supplements to augment their performance. Some of these products have different combination of essential vitamins and minerals to deliver the needed effects to the user. Thermogenic products are gaining popularity because of its muscle building and weight loss effects. “This growing market of active lifestyle enthusiasts need and want more energy—not just for their workouts, but also to help them get through their busy days,” said Bob Green, president of a sports nutrition company.

According to sources from within the industry, people are now more aware of what they need. They are looking for supplements which are convenient, accessible and portable. There are times that some of them requests for specific combination of ingredients. “We always see requests for the variety of B vitamins which are critical to metabolism,” said Amy Alderton, research & development manager of Watson Inc. “Choline is popular and important in fat metabolism. Chromium is becoming more popular as it helps regulate insulin levels, speeds metabolism and helps burn fat. Zinc is a key component in metabolic enzymes. She also added that request for ingredients such as inositol and guarana is also prevalent. Inositol also plays an important role in fat metabolism together with choline. Guarana, on the other hand, contains caffeine which provides energy.

Athletes’ concern is not only about optimal performance but overall health as well. This is where thermogenic supplements comes in since it is a proven product in trimming down excess weight and providing leaner muscles. It has various effects on the body such as supporting overall health, managing weight, improving athletic performance, increasing energy and many others.

With the endless benefits of sports nutrition supplements, athletes and fitness enthusiasts should still do some research on every product they ingest. Steroid tainted supplements and unfounded claims by some manufacturers may just ruin your objectives to increase performance and attain a healthy lifestyle.

Anabolic steroids may not have a bad reputation if health professionals who are supposed to help regulate its use do not tolerate some patients and individuals to abuse the drug. There are already several cases where doctors and health care providers were involved in prescribing and selling anabolic steroids to people who are not supposed to take the drug. Steroids are beneficial to some patients because of its medical use. But when this drug is abused, it can lead to health problems and complications which can even lead to death.

In Staten Island, NY, a doctor who was charged with illegal prescriptions of steroids to more than a hundred patients appeared in court Monday. From 2005 to 2007, Dr Richard Lucente used his Anti-Aging and Wellness Center on Staten Island to prescribe steroids to bodybuilders and even to some cops. According to the report of Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the prosecution presented a witness detailing the fate of a customer bodybuilder who died due to complication from steroids use. In the testimony of Dr. David Mann, the steroid prescription to the bodybuilder is inappropriate since the bodybuilder underwent a heart transplant just a few months ago.

The bodybuilder, Joe Baglio, died of heart failure in March 2007 while attending a bodybuilding convention in Ohio. Court records shows that Baglio went to Dr Lucente and asked for a prescription for testosterone deficiency. Baglio is still under medication for the surgery since the heart transplant happened in October 2004. “This was a patient who’d probably been abusing growth hormones in the past and was seeking another medication that could lead to abuse,” said Mann. It is also probable that the heart problem of Baglio was caused by steroids. According to Dr Mann, even a person with a normal heart shouldn’t have gotten the dosage of testosterone that Dr Lucente prescribed to Baglio.

However, Dr Lucente argued that he made legal prescriptions of steroids to treat patients with hormonal imbalances. Investigators estimated that Dr Lucente made over $500,000 while running the New York Anti-Aging and Wellness Center. He also allegedly received kickbacks from the Lowen’s Pharmacy in Bay Ridge where he sends his patients to buy steroids.

Dr Lucente is facing more than 70 charges for illegal prescriptions of controlled substances. The minimum penalty that could be given to Dr Lucente is 5 years and 6 months if convicted.

Another case of a doctor involved in illegal prescription of steroids is Dr Jesse Haggard. He is a naturopathic doctor in Arizona who was implicated in the statewide conspiracy which involved the Applied Pharmacy Services. Dr Haggard recently pleads guilty for the charges of conspiracy to distribute steroids and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The doctor is already under the custody of the authorities after his return from Costa Rica last year. His lawyer is optimistic that Dr Haggard will only receive 1 year jail term as part of the plea agreement. The sentencing is set on June according to U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade.

There were already 5 people convicted in the conspiracy case which include several doctors and pharmacists. Before Dr Haggard fled the country when he was implicated in the case, he was able to write a book detailing his use of steroids when treating patients. The steroid book is entitled “Demystifying Steroids.”

In the previous months, the FDA was busy issuing warning letters and even raided some sports nutrition companies for allegedly selling unapproved dietary supplements which may harm the consumers. The agency found several sports supplements that contains controlled substances specifically synthetic anabolic steroids or with steroid-like ingredients. Some companies have pulled out their products from the market in compliance with the FDA directive and to avoid possible charges for selling illegal supplements. However, with the large market for sports nutrition supplements, the FDA has to continue its efforts in monitoring and stopping the illegal market strategies of some sports nutrition companies.

According to industry reports, there is a continuous increase in the demand for sports supplements for the past years. The Nutrition Business Journal reported that the supplements industry grew at 7.6 percent to $2.7 billion in sales for 2008. Consumers who used sports nutrition products were reported to reach 22% in 2009 based on the report from NMI’s 2009 Health & Wellness Trends Database. The sports nutrition category include products such as amino acids, creatine, protein powders, sports hydration drinks, sports nutrition bars and other sports nutrition supplements.

Sports nutrition supplements became a necessity for many professional athletes. But because of some ingredients banned by sports organizations, it has caused some athletes’ career in demise. An of example of that is the case of U.S. Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy who was banned in participating in the previous Olympics due to a banned stimulant, clenbuterol. She said that the dietary supplement she was taking has caused the positive test. Greek track and field athlete and Olympian Fani Halkia faced the same charges.

Several Chinese swimmers in the Beijing olympics were also banned due to tainted supplements. The list of professional athletes facing sanctions because of sports supplements is increasing. The recent case is the suspension of ex-NBA player Juan Dixon due to a positive test for steroids. Dixon admits that he is a supplements junkie but denied using any anabolic steroids to enhance performance. Actually he is one of the few athletes who supports anti-steroid campaign.

According to representatives of established and reputable sports nutrition companies, industry players could help the FDA in its effort to stop tainted dietary supplement products. One of the ways to ensure the safety of the consumer is to adopt GMP’s or good manufacturing practices in their companies. Alissa Marrapodi of Natural Products Insider website interviewed some of the sport nutrition companies’ representatives and provided insights on the issue. Patrick Luchsinger, marketing manager of Lipid Nutrition, said that the supply chain needs can be better guarded with ongoing GMP certifications and quality assurance education. “From a supplier point of view, the aftermath of the recent ingredient scandals involving sub-standard suppliers, activists, members of Congress and FDA are demanding action to prevent poor-quality ingredients reaching the consumer,” he said.

Nutra Bridge President Scott Steil also shares the same concern. “Given the upward shift in both health education and individual responsibility for maintaining one’s own health, consumers have clearly made living a healthy, active lifestyle a priority. The robust growth in the sports nutrition market proves supplements are a core part of such a commitment,” he said. Sports nutrition companies’ main priority should be the safety of the consumers since the consumer base is expanding from the hard-core bodybuilders to people who are just health conscious according to Nutratech President Bob Green. “The industry was all about bulking up, bodybuilding and performance enhancement; but today, sports nutrition products are attracting a much broader, mass audience. We’re now dealing with a new generation of consumers who have grown up knowing an active lifestyle has positive, long-term implications for health, fitness, weight management and longevity,” said Green.

Chief operating officer of OmniActive Health Technologies, Abhijit Bhattacharya, agreed to make the supply chain in the supplements industry undergo scrutiny. “Adulteration, mislabeling, sub-optimal levels or deliberate spiking of supplements with inappropriate or unauthorized ingredients are some of the undesirable practices of a few unscrupulous suppliers,” he said. “With the new GMPs coming into force, responsible suppliers and formulators will be able to cooperate in assuring each other and the end consumers that the products entering the market contain the right level of ingredients,” said Bhattacharya. To ensure the success of this effort, manufacturers should focus on product safety by undergoing safety certifications such as ISO-22000 food safety management systems and well-documented product literature.

To regain consumer trust, a good partnership between players in the sports nutrition industry should take place from the ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, marketing companies to retailers. More resources should be allocated to research and clinical studies to determine the safety of the ingredients used in sports supplements.