Page 110 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Fall 2015

An Ongoing Series

Androgens and Androgen Derivatives:
Science, Myths, and Theories

Explored From a Special Operations Perspective

Melissa L. Givens, MD, MPH; Patricia Deuster, PhD, MPH

ABSTRACT
Androgen use outside of legitimate medical therapy is a (SARMs) should all be considered when discussing an-
perceived concern that is drawing attention across mili- drogens. An in-depth description of these substances is
tary and specifically Special Operations Forces (SOF) beyond the scope of this article, but in-depth reviews
communities. For leadership and the medical commu- of these agents can be found in the references listed in
nity to properly address the issue and relate to those Table 1.
individuals who are using or considering use, it will be
crucial to understand the scope of the problem. Lim- Table 1 Recommended Reading for Understanding
ited data suggest that the prevalence of androgen use Androgens, Precursors, Inducers, and SARMs
may be increasing, and inferences made from the scien- • Austin KG, Deuster P. Monitoring training for human
tific literature suggest that SOF may be a population of performance optimization. J Spec Oper Med. 2015;15:
concern. While risks of androgen use are well known, 102–108.
there are little data specific to military performance that • Kickman AT. Pharmacology of anabolic steroids. Br J
Pharmacol. 2008;154:502–521.
can be applied to a rigorous risk:benefit analysis, allow- • Segal S. Therapeutic potential of the SARMs: revisit-
ing myths and poorly supported theories to perpetuate ing the androgen receptor for discovery. Expert Opin
within the community. Further efforts to define the po- Investig Drugs. 2006;15:377–387.
tential benefits balanced against the short- and long- • Ziegenfuss TN. Effects of prohormone supplementa-
term risks should be undertaken. Providers within the tion in humans: a review. Can J Appl Physiol. 2002;
SOF community should arm themselves with informa- 27:628–645.
tion to engage androgen users and leadership in mean-
ingful discussion regarding androgen use. Androgen use outside of legitimate medical therapy is
a perceived concern that is drawing attention across
Keywords: androgen steroids; protein building military and specifically SOF communities. In order for
leadership and the medical community to properly ad-
dress the issue and relate to those individuals who are
using or considering use, it will be crucial to understand
Introduction
the scope of the problem. This article will discuss issues
Roids, Pumpers, Gym Candy, Stackers, A’s, Dbol, Winny, and literature pertinent to military forces and SOF in
Primo, Deca, EQ, Tren, Test, Gear, Juice—Androgen particular.
steroids and their derivatives exert both masculinizing
(development of secondary male sex characteristics) and History and Military Relevance
anabolic (protein building in muscle and bone) effects.
No compound currently has purely masculinizing or an- Androgen use is reported in the medical literature dat-
abolic effects, so for simplicity the term “androgen” will ing back to 1889. Brown-Séquard, the namesake of the
be used to describe compounds that bind to the andro- Brown-Séquard lesion of a hemisected spinal cord, in-
gen receptor and have both masculinizing and anabolic jected himself with a testicular extract from dogs and
effects. Androgens, androgen precursors, androgen guinea pigs and described improved strength, mental
inducers, and selective androgen receptor modulators ability, and appetite. Although his extracts likely lacked
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