Jun 06, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- There is growing
concern by physicians and public health experts about widespread use of steroids
and steroid-like supplements among young people, with serious health
implications.
Part of the concern stems from a recent disclosure by a former professional
baseball player that steroid use is rampant within the leagues, especially among
the top performers.
"Kids are going to baseball games and they want to stop off at the supplement
store on the way home and get what their heroes are taking," Lewis Maharam, a
sports physician in private practice in New York City, told United Press
International.
"That's very unhealthy and it's bad for our youth," said Maharam, who is the
president of the New York chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.
"It's horrible because we see kids everyday that are taking it and we're worried
about health problems."
The known side effects of steroids include stunted growth, coronary artery
disease, the development of breasts in men, shrinking of the testicles, hair
loss, liver tumors and acne. The drugs can also cause enlarged prostate, cancer,
psychiatric disorders and even death.
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated magazine, Ken Caminiti admitted
taking steroids during his career with the San Diego Padres. He said up to half
the league uses the illegal substances. Another former player, Jose Canseco,
said the problem was worse -- perhaps 85 percent of major league ballplayers
used the drugs.
A recent Blue Cross Blue Shield survey found one million youths reported using
steroids, as well as performance-enhancing drugs such as ephedra,
androstenedione, and creatine, chief Blue Cross medical officer Allan Korn said
in a statement. More than half of the young people in the survey participated in
sports and their No. 1 reason for taking the drugs was to enhance their athletic
performance.
"It would be a national shame to watch our heroes go from the Baseball Hall of
Fame to places like the Testicular Cancer Hall of Fame where a majority of the
'inductees' are athletes," Korn said.
There is still concern about the use of steroids among kids, but the supplements
are a "bigger problem because they are easily accessible and it's like taking an
anabolic steroid" and can probably cause the same negative health effects,
Maharam said.
He noted Major League Baseball conducted a study after former player and home
run champion Mark McGwire admitted taking androstenedione "and it showed that
using these products caused testosterone to increase," just as the steroids do.
Another performance-enhancing supplement that can have steroid-like effects is
nandrolene, Blue Cross spokesperson Iris Shaffer told UPI. Androstenedione and
nandrolene "have the same health risks as steroids, and you don't have to go to
Mexico to get them, you can probably get them down the street or on the
Internet," she added.
Betterbodz.com, one of the Web sites offering androstenedione, claims the
supplement "will increase blood levels of testosterone. Testosterone is
effective in eliciting greater gains in the gym through increasing energy,
enhancing nitrogen retention and speeding up recovery time. It may also heighten
sexual arousal and performance, as well as provide a greater sense of well
being."
Regarding possible negative effects of androstenedione, the Web site states,
"There are no known negative side effects to Androstenedione, however, all
athletes should consider the effect rapid testosterone increases have on their
personality. Androstenedione will not convert to estrogen ... so there are no
negative estrogenic side effects possible."
Other supplements of concern are human growth hormone, which has potentially
serious health risks such as heart disease and disfigurement associated with
excessive growth of bones, and ephedrine, which has been associated with heart
attacks and death, Shaffer said.
William O. Roberts, a family physician at MinnHealth in White Bear Lake, Minn.,
and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, told UPI he is
concerned when he finds adolescent patients who are taking performance-enhancing
supplements and tries to discourage them from using them.
One reason for alarm is "because you're concerned about what else they are going
to take," Roberts said. Another reason is that they are supplements and "aren't
well tested or well monitored ... so you don't know exactly what is in there."
He tells his patients to "train hard, eat a good diet and sleep well and avoid
the recreational drugs."
Korn noted Blue Cross two years ago asked the Major League Baseball's top 60
sluggers to sign a drug-free pledge. Only two players responded.
"This suggests that these players and/or their agents are not willing to take a
stand against the use of drugs in sports," Shaffer told UPI. "It's too bad for
the youth of America and it's too bad for the game of baseball."
Maharam said players' unwillingness to sign the drug-free pledge indicates they
are using steroids and other banned substances. "Why don't we have a dream team
for baseball in the Olympics that consists of our best major league baseball
players? Because they test in the Olympics and they would test positive," he
said.
The players' union has resisted testing for illegal substances, insisting the
players have a right to personal privacy, Maharam said. "I think it's beyond
their personal rights because it's affecting our kids," he added.
Blue Cross is launching a campaign to promote awareness about the potential
health risks of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, Shaffer
said. One of the places the campaign will focus on is major league ballparks and
on youth attending the games.
