Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and Exercise Training: Breaking the Myths and Dealing With Better Outcome in Sarcopenia

Hugo Falqueto; Marcelo Rodrigues Dos Santos; Leandro H Manfredi

doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.838526

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids and Exercise Training: Breaking the Myths and Dealing With Better Outcome in Sarcopenia

Front Physiol. 2022 Mar 17:13:838526. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.838526. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hugo Falqueto^{1

2}, Marcelo Rodrigues Dos Santos³, Leandro H Manfredi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Medical School, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Chapecó, Brazil.
² Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, UFFS, Chapecó, Brazil.
³ Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

Sarcopenia is an emerging clinical condition determined by the reduction in physical function and muscle mass, being a health concern since it impairs quality of life and survival. Exercise training is a well-known approach to improve physical capacities and body composition, hence managing sarcopenia progression and worsening. However, it may be an ineffective treatment for many elderly with exercise-intolerant conditions. Thus, the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) may be a plausible strategy, since these drugs can increase physical function and muscle mass. The decision to initiate AAS treatment should be guided by an evidence-based patient-centric perspective, once the balance between risks and benefits may change depending on the clinical condition coexisting with sarcopenia. This mini-review points out a critical appraisal of evidence and limitation of exercise training and AAS to treat sarcopenia.

Keywords: anabolic-androgenic steroid; exercise; muscle; resistance trainig; sarcopenia.

Publication types

Review