Influence of different training methods on cardiovascular disease risk markers after cessation of anabolic steroids abuse in bodybuilders at risk

Abstract

Evidence suggests that anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse induces adverse effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether different training methods are effective in reducing these consequences. This study aims to compare the effects of aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT), and combined training (CT) on CVD risk markers in professional bodybuilders at risk after cessation of AAS abuse. Forty bodybuilders were randomly assigned to one of four groups: control (n=10), AT (n=10), RT (RT, n=10), and CT (n=10) groups. Before and after eight weeks of training, the high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), haematocrit (HCT), homocysteine (HCY), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Significant decreases within groups in HCY and CRP were observed (P<0.05). However, decreases were greater in training groups, and there was a significant difference between control and training groups (P<0.05). Increase in NT-proBNP, and decreases in systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels were significant only in training groups (P<0.005). The increase of NT-proBNP was significant in the CT when compared to the RT (P<0.05). The present study found that discontinuing AAS consumption can improve some CVD risk markers in professional bodybuilders, but this effect could be improved if various modalities of training were performed. Accompanying AT with RT was also discovered to have a greater impact on some markers (including NT-proBNP).