Table 2.
Summary of primary findings and adverse events by intervention
| Intervention (No. of Reviews) | No. of Studies in Reviews per Intervention (Total No. of Participants Receiving Intervention) | Adverse Events | Summary Statement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anabolic Steroids (2) | 42 (984) | Decrease in HDL, increase in LDL, irritability and mood changes, elevations in liver enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase may all be present. Other reported side effects include injection site reactions, alopecia, acne, increased hematocrit, and decreased testicular size | AAS use in healthy trained adults is associated with small increases in strength and lean body mass. There are risks associated with use |
| GH (3) | 49 (559) | Soft tissue edema, fatigue, arthralgias, and carpal tunnel syndrome | GH administration may lead to changes in body composition (lean body mass, body weight, extracellular water content, fat mass), but it does not seem to increase either muscle strength or improve physical performance in healthy, young subjects. There are adverse effects associated with use |
| Creatine (14) | 351 (5912) | Generally safe when properly used short-term (small chance of GI upset, rash, or headache have been reported), long-term effects are largely unknown due to lack of evidence | There is sufficient evidence to conclude that total and lean body mass, strength, and performance in high-intensity, short-duration, repetitive tasks are improved when resistance training is augmented with properly dosed and monitored creatine use |
| Erythropoietin (3) | 34 (453) | Cardiovascular effects (risk of thrombotic events such as MI, PE, and stroke), encephalopathy | There is weak scientific evidence supporting EPO on athletic performance, despite evidence for an increase in both VO2max and maximal cycling power output |
| Cannabinoids (5) | 32 (776) | Tachycardia, decreased resting blood pressure, and decreased balance | Based on the low quality of evidence available, THC does not enhance aerobic exercise or strength and may impair athletic performance |
AAS, androgenic anabolic steroids; EPO, erythropoietin; GH, growth hormone; GI, gastrointestinal; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MI, myocardial infarction; PE, pulmonary embolism; THC, tetrahydrocannabinol.