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. 2018 Jan-Feb;22(1):77-81.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.07.001. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Androgenic-anabolic steroids inhibited post-exercise hypotension: a case control study

Jefferson F C R Junior  1 , Alexandre S Silva  2 , Glêbia A Cardoso  2 , Valmir O Silvino  1 , Maria C C Martins  1 , Marcos A P Santos  3
Affiliations

Androgenic-anabolic steroids inhibited post-exercise hypotension: a case control study

Jefferson F C R Junior et al. Braz J Phys Ther. 2018 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: There is evidence of hypertensive effects caused by anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). A single exercise session promotes the acute reduction of blood pressure, but the effects of AAS on this phenomenon are unknown.

Objectives: To investigate the post-exercise blood pressure response in androgenic-anabolic steroid users.

Methods: Thirteen AAS users (23.9±4.3 years old) and sixteen controls (22.1±4.5 years old) performed a session of aerobic exercise. Heart rate and blood pressure were assessed before exercise and during a 60min post-exercise resting period. Repeated ANOVA measures were used to determine differences between the groups.

Results: While the control group had a significant reduction in post-exercise systolic blood pressure of up to 13.9±11.6mmHg at 40min, this phenomenon was limited among AAS users who reached a maximum of 6.2±11.5mmHg at 60min. The between groups comparison revealed significant higher post-exercise hypotension (PEH) for the control group at 30min (-12.9±14.1mmHg versus -2.9±7.6mmHg), 40min (-13.9±11.6mmHg versus -2.5±8.3mmHg), 50min (-13.9±13.9mmHg versus -5.0±7.9mmHg) and 60min (-12.5±12.8mmHg versus -6.2±11.5mmHg). There was no significant diastolic PEH in any of the groups.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated impaired systolic post-exercise hypotension as a new adverse effect of AAS usage.

Keywords: Anabolic agents; Blood pressure; Exercise; Movement; Physiological adaptation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic view of the exercise and evaluation protocol. BP, blood pressure; HR, heart rate; min, minutes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Behavior of the heart rate during the 60 min of post-exercise recovery. Data are presented as the means and standard deviation of the means. Response of the heart rate before and at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min post-exercise (○) control group (■) AAS group; *significant differences between groups (two-way repeated ANOVA measures, p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Variation in the systolic (panel A) and diastolic blood pressure (panel B) in relation to the resting blood pressure after one session of aerobic exercise. Data are the delta of the means and standard deviation. *Statistical within-group differences at every moment (two-way repeated ANOVA measures, p < 0.05).
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