Anabolic-androgenic steroids refer to testosterone derivatives that are used either clinically or by athletes for their anabolic properties. Several health risks are associated with the long-term use or excessive doses of anabolic steroids. This article briefly describes the use and abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male sex hormone testosterone that is mainly involved in muscle-building and regulation of male sexual characteristics. AAS drugs are legally prescribed to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency, such as delayed puberty, as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS. Biochemistry and pharmacology The primary goal of AAS production is to develop agents that are more anabolic and less androgenic than testosterone and…
