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What Are The Side Effects Of Anabolic Steroids?

Posted on Mon, 18 May 2015

Question: Dear Doctor, I have a question regarding past anabolic steroid treatment I had and it's effect on my heart stem cells. I understand steroids help to proliferate such cells. But how long do these cells stick around for before replaced entirely with newer stem cells - weeks , months years?

I just want to be free from the steroid effects (even though positive cell proliferating effects!)

Thanks and best regards

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Years...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

first of all you should not overestimate the effect of androgens on your muscles. They do promote hypertrophy and a very limited regeneration potential. Less than 50% of our heart muscle cells are renewed during our lifetime, so this is an inherently slow process. Androgens seem to speed up this process a little.

As I have implied in the first paragraph, the muscle cells in general (and the heart muscle and the stem cells) may live for years, perhaps even for as many years as an individual may live.

The androgen effect (regarding this process) is not a negative one and it's likely permanent. Actually androgens have been used for medical reasons to promote muscle vigor in frail and old patients.

I hope I've helped!
Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)

Thanks Dr. Panagiotis,

I know androgen affects cardiac muscle cells through hypertrophy and not proliferation (as muscle cells cannot divide) , but what surprised me is androgens' ability to proliferate stem cells in the heart.

i'm very sad now because it means the steroid treatment has had a permanent effect ( even though a positive one) in the form of proliferated stem cells. Or is this incorrect statement?

thanks and all the best

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is correct

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

actually the heart muscle cells may regenerate but as described in my previous answer at such a low rate that they can be considered non-proliferating.
And yes, the effect is rather permanent. I can't see why you're so worried about that though!

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (43 hours later)

Ok i have one more question.

Is it possible the newly formed stem cells, from the steroid treatment, then goes on to transdifferentiate into brain and heart cells?

Thanks and Best Regards

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No brain cells...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

in theory stem cells may differentiate into any cell. There are types of progenitor cells though which are committed to a specific path (to "give birth" to muscle heart cells for example). The brain does not regenerate as far as I know. Heart stem cells may create new heart cells. Whether a dedicated heart stem cell can create other type of cells is beyond my knowledge... but I believe that the answer is no. They definitely can't create brain cells.

I hope I've addressed your questions satisfactorily.
I'll be glad to provide more clarifications, if you need me to.

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)

Can bone narrow stem cell create heart cell or brain cell under normal conditions?

Or does this only take place in lab and has to be lab engineered?

Thanks and best regards

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Normally only blood cells

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

the bone marrow normally produces only blood cells (red cells, lymphocytes, platelets etc). I can't confirm that there is a way for committed marrow cells to create another type of cell. If this can be done, then it would definitely be an experimental procedure.

Kind Regards!

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar