Androgenic-anabolic steroids inhibited post-exercise hypotension: a case control study

BACKGROUND: There is evidence of hypertensive effects caused by anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). A single exercise session promotes the acute reduction of blood pressure, but the effects of AAS on this phenomenon are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the post-exercise blood pressure response in androgenic-anabolic steroid users. METHODS: Thirteen AAS users (23.9 ± 4.3 years old) and sixteen controls (22.1 ± 4.5 years old) performed a session of aerobic exercise. Heart rate and blood pressure were assessed before exercise and during a 60 min post-exercise resting period. Repeated ANOVA measures were used to determine differences between the groups. RESULTS: While the control group had a significant reduction in post-exercise systolic blood pressure of up to 13.9 ± 11.6 mmHg at 40 min, this phenomenon was limited among AAS users who reached a maximum of 6.2 ± 11.5 mmHg at 60 min. The between groups comparison revealed significant higher post-exercise hypotension (PEH) for the control group at 30 min (−12.9 ± 14.1 mmHg versus −2.9 ± 7.6 mmHg), 40 min (−13.9 ± 11.6 mmHg versus −2.5 ± 8.3 mmHg), 50 min (−13.9 ± 13.9 mmHg versus −5.0 ± 7.9 mmHg) and 60 min (−12.5 ± 12.8 mmHg versus −6.2 ± 11.5 mmHg). There was no significant diastolic PEH in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated impaired systolic post-exercise hypotension as a new adverse effect of AAS usage.