The objective was to report on the effect of repeated usage of anabolic steroids on LDL and HDL cholesterol.
A man engaged in body building repeatedly used anabolic steroids over a 5-year period. His initial lipids were HDL-C of 0.4 mmol/L and LDL-C of 4.6 mmol/L. After 10 weeks of discontinuation of anabolic steroid, his HDL-C markedly increased to 1.0 mmol/L and LDL-C was reduced to normal at 3.3 mmol/L. In the subsequent follow-up visits, he resumed anabolic steroid use several times with the lowest levels of HDL-C of 0.2-0.1 mmol/L accompanied by the highest levels of LDL-C at 5.8-6.5 mmol/L. This represented a 100% increase in LDL and a 90% reduction in HDL cholesterol. High LDL-C is universally accepted to be linked to atherosclerosis and low HDL-C is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The repeated usage of the anabolic steroids proves the causative effect of anabolic steroids on lipid metabolism producing serum lipids in a range compatible with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.