Physiological basis behind ergogenic effects of anabolic androgens

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely abused by the sporting community. Demonstrating performance enhancing effects of AAS in rigorous scientific studies is fraught with difficulty. In controlled studies, MS have consistently been reported to increase muscle mass and strength. The clinical evidence that these anabolic effects are independent of, and additive to exercise are supported by preclinical studies suggesting that MS and exercise affect muscle by overlapping, yet distinct mechanisms. MS may also improve performance by their actions on other organ systems, such as the vasculature, and the erythropoietic and central nervous system, although this evidence is less strong. While most of the actions of AAS are thought to be mediated via classical androgen receptor-inediated genomic signalling, AAS may also produce rapid effects via non-genomic mechanisms. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.