LIVER ENZYMES -ARTICLE

Few reviews on anabolic steroids have failed to highlight the alteration of liver function tests that frequently observed following administration of 17-alkylated androgens; however, this effect appears to be much over-rated! Moderate increase in serum activity levels of these Enzymes have also been observed in androgen-using athletes, but even with significantly higher values than control subjects or over-baseline values, serum activity levels tend to remain in the normal range. When Enzyme levels such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transminase (SGOT) exceed the normal range in steroid-using athletes, this may be a reflection of skeletal muscle damage from intense training (and from steriod injections) rather than a reflection of specific liver tissue damage. In patients the elevation has been reported to be a transient phenomenon even with continual use. In 1962 a group of reseachers (Petera, Bobek, ad Lahn) found that Methlytestosterone (30mg/day) produced peak rise in both SCOT and Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminise levels after approx. 10 to 12 days of administration to 40 patients, and with the observation that there was no change in liver function tests at 1, 2, or 3 months or oral Methyltest more, Petera found that the transient enzyme elevation was associated with 17-alkylation; no change occured if patients were treated with test prop (25mg/day, either by oral or parenteral routes of administration. Oral test given to normal men in fouf 100mg doses per day also DID NOT change ANY liver function tests over 21 days (Johnson, Kampmann, Bennett, and Jorgenson, 1976). Kruskemper (1968) also found increased serum transminase levels only with 10-alkylated androgens and NO incease with Test Prop or even with an orally administrated 1-Methylated Androgen.

CONCLUSION

From the evidense of studies of androgen adminisration, it is not readily apparent that we can attribute signifigant advers health effects to androgens as a general class; HOWEVER, the 17-alkyl-substituted androgens have a certain est. consequences, ALL involving the liver.