Norwegian scientists from Oslo University Hospital have discovered another negative effect of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). It turns out that taking these substances can lead to sleep disorders. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine BMC Psychiatry.
Steroids are synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of the testosterone hormone. They are used in medicine to treat delayed puberty and loss of muscle mass. However, AAS is better known as a way to quickly pump up muscles, used by athletes and bodybuilders. It is known that steroid medications can cause a multitude of side effects, from skin rashes and hypertension to sexual dysfunction, infertility and violent outbursts.
Previous evidence suggested that people taking steroids may suffer from insomnia. However, until recently, there had been no comprehensive research to confirm this link.
The experiment involved 126 men interested in weightlifting. Of these, 68 had been using steroids for at least a year and 58 were not using AAS and served as the control group.
Volunteers filled out surveys asking about the quality of their sleep and the side effects of steroid use, and also took tests to diagnose emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety.
It turned out that steroid users’ sleep was significantly worse than that of control group members. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of athletes stated that they did not sleep well after taking AAS. Researchers also found increased symptoms of depression and anxiety in those taking steroid medications.
“Poor sleep quality appears to be a common side effect of AAS use; 66 percent of recent or past steroid users report sleep problems. And 38 percent have to take sleeping pills to get enough sleep,” said Sandra Klonteig, author of the scientific study.
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