You steroidsare a group of the lipid class that do not have the ester function like the other groups in this class, but which characterized by having a common structure, formed by 17 carbon atoms linked in the form of 4 cycles, as shown below:
However, each steroid has different functional groups, such as alcohol, ketone, enol and carboxylic acid, linked to these cycles. One of the natural steroids is testosterone, the main male hormone, whose formula is shown below:
From testosterone, synthetic hormones known as anabolic androgenic steroids (EAA), better known as anabolics. These compounds have properties that enhance the physiological effects of testosterone, such as increasing muscle mass and reducing fat. Two examples of testosterone-derived anabolics are shown below:
Anabolic steroids can be used to treat some health problems, but with careful medical follow-up. See some examples:
·Hypogonadism: cases where the testicles produce too little testosterone, leading to infertility and decreased libido;
·compulsive diseases: cases in which the person is wasting away;
·muscle diseases;
·old age or andropause: when there is a noticeable drop in quality of life. In cases of women with menopause problems, hormone replacement therapy is only done in specific cases, as it has been related to the development of cancer;
·In HIV carriers: to regain muscle loss and boost the immune system;
·In obesity treatments: the male hormone causes an increase in metabolism and, with that, increases the "burning" of fats.
Unfortunately, however, these compounds have been used indiscriminately and without a prescription by healthy young people who want to get stronger and better looking. aesthetically, by athletes who want to increase their performance in competitions and by bodybuilders, who seek to increase muscle mass in a way easier.
Many of these young people are even encouraged by a coach or personal trainer, who developed “his own therapy”, indicating the amount he thinks will give more results in each young person. But this practice has no scientific basis and the trainer does not know how the drug will individually react in the body.
Others are influenced by friends and acquaintances, which is why this product is particularly popular in gyms. But what these young people (mostly men aged 18 to 34) don't realize is that the use of these hormones can greatly harm your health and bring many unwanted effects. The following figure shows some of these:
In addition to these effects we have tremors, increased blood pressure, glucose intolerance, increased LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol (good form of cholesterol), mood swings, uncontrollable aggression and anger, pathological jealousy, extreme irritability, insomnia, feelings of invincibility, distraction, mental confusion and forgetfulness.
The prescription and indiscriminate sale of anabolic steroids have led to the existence of low quality products that enter our country illegally. This further aggravates the adverse effects, as many of these substances sold are counterfeit and packaged in unsterilized ampoules and mixed with other drugs. There have been cases of people who have used steroid-based veterinary products without knowing the risk of these drugs in humans.
Another serious problem related to the use of anabolic steroids is that it makes the user start using other recreational drugs, to, among other reasons, combat the symptoms of insomnia and irritability caused by EAA.
Athletes who use these steroids are prohibited by the International Olympic Committee from participating of competitions, as the names of these compounds have been included in the list of drugs whose use is considered doping.
A tragic case that shows us this occurred in the Olympics in Seoul (South Korea) in 1988. American athlete Florence Griffith Joyner broke the 100-meter dash record and won the gold medal. However, there were suspicions that she used drugs and these suspicions became even greater when in 1998 she suffered a heart attack and died prematurely, at 38 years of age.
This and other examples show us that it's not really worth using these drugs to shorten the effort required to get the desired results, as they also end up “shortening” other pleasures in life and, often, the life.
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/esteroides-anabolizantes-forca-beleza-enganosas.htm
