SynthesisBMC nephrology2019
The potential effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone as commonly used sport supplements on the kidney: a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC nephrology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 60 citations in OpenAlex.
- When Size Goes Inside: Visceromegaly in Bodybuilders Is Not Attributed to High-Protein Intake but More Likely Associated with the Use of Appearance- and Performance-Enhancing Drugs.Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 2026Article
- Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Mortality and Cardiorenal Events in Sjögren's Syndrome and Osteoporosis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Exercise and Kidney Health: Core Curriculum 2026.American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation · 2026Review
- Hypercalcemia From Trenbolone Use: A Case Report.Cureus · 2026Article
- Purtscher-Like Retinopathy in a Young Male With Renal Failure Following Bodybuilding Supplement Overuse: A Case Report.Case reports in medicine · 2026Article
- Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Narrative Review of the Literature.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Mortality in male bodybuilding athletes.European heart journal · 2025Article
- The 4Rs Framework of Sports Nutrition: An Update with Recommendations to Evaluate Allostatic Load in Athletes.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Predicting Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Doping among Specialized Health Care Patients with Elastic Net Regression Reveals Potential Laboratory Variables for "Patient Biological Passport".Sports medicine - open · 2025Article
- Article
- Impacts of Anabolic-androgenic steroid supplementation on female health and offspring: Mechanisms, side effects, and medical perspectives.Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society · 2024Review
- High Protein Diets and Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Athletes and Bodybuilders: Is Chronic Kidney Disease the Real Finish Line?Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2024Review
- Prediction model for anabolic androgenic steroid positivity in forensic autopsy cases - a new tool to the autopsy room.International journal of legal medicine · 2024Article
- Metabolic Effects of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy on Juvenile Patients after Craniopharyngioma Resection.International journal of endocrinology · 2022Article
- Advances in the Determination of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: From Standard Practices to Tailor-Designed Multidisciplinary Approaches.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Misuse: Mechanisms, Patterns of Misuse, User Typology, and Adverse Effects.Journal of sports medicine (Hindawi Publishing Corporation) · 2021Review
- Effects of bodybuilding supplements on the kidney: A population-based incidence study of biopsy pathology and clinical characteristics among middle eastern men.BMC nephrology · 2020Article
- miRNAs as Novel Biomarkers of Chronic Kidney Injury in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users: An Experimental Study.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAnabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone are among the most commonly used supplements by sportsmen and sportswomen. The aim of this systematic review is to collect and report available data about renal safety of anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormone (GH).
methodsThe search strategy was in accordance with the PRISMA guideline. Seven databases such as Scopus, Medline, Embase, and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched using keywords, such as "growth hormone", "anabolic-androgenic steroids", and "kidney injury". Articles published from 1950 to December 2017 were considered. Randomized clinical trials, prospective or retrospective human studies, case series as well as case reports, and experimental (in vivo) studies were included. Twenty one clinical and experimental articles were selected (12 for anabolic-androgenic steroids and 9 for GH).
resultsAnabolic-androgenic steroids can affect the kidney in different aspects. They can induce or aggravate acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and glomerular toxicity. These adverse effects are mediated through pathways such as stimulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, enhancing the production of endothelin, producing reactive oxygen species, over-expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic mediators (e.g., TGF-β1), as well as inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1b, and IL-6). Although GH may affect the kidney in different aspects, such as size, glomerular filtration rate, and tubule functions, either directly or indirectly, there is no conclusive clinical evidence about its detrimental effects on the kidney in athletes and body builders.
conclusionEvidence regarding effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids exists; However, GH's exact effect on the kidney at doses used by athletes and body builders has not yet been clarified. Cohort clinical studies with long-term follow-up are warranted in this regard.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.