An important new medical finding about athletes who use anabolic steroids was released at this year’s American Society of Nephrology’s Renal Week conference. The study, led by a professor at Columbia University, found that long term users of anabolic steroids suffered significant kidney problems.
The study followed a group of bodybuilders who used anabolic steroids for a long period of time. Though these bodybuilders were muscular and appeared to be physically fit, their kidneys looked the same or worse than people who are morbidly obese.
The fact that anabolic steroids can be dangerous is not new – but the connection to severe, potentially life threatening, kidney disease is new. The study followed people who used steroids regularly for a period of 8 -20 years. Medical researchers do not know if steroid use would have the same effect on the kidneys if the drugs are used for a shorter time but they are not ruling out the danger.
What we do know from the study that has been completed is that an athlete who “only” uses anabolic steroids for 4 years of high school sports and 4 years of college athletics is at risk for significant, perhaps fatal, kidney damage. Therefore, it is important for student athletes, bodybuilders, and others to stop using steroids to enhance their performance.
