NUTRITIONAL-STATUS AND LIPID PROFILES OF TRAINED STEROID-USING BODYBUILDERS

Fourteen trained male anabolic steroid-using bodybuilders (SBBs) (19-4 1 years) were recruited for the study. Three-day diet records were obt ained from SBBs and analyzed. A resting venous blood sample was drawn, and serum/ plasma was subsequently analyzed for various nutritionally related factors. Results showed that mean dietary energy (4,469 +/- 1 ,406 kcal), protein (252 +/- 109 g), and vitamin and mineral intakes o f SBBs greatly exceeded U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances. Dietary c holesterol intake was 2.8 times the recommended levels. Mean serum/pla sma nutrient concentrations of SBBs were within normal range. However, individual SBBs had a number of serum/ plasma values outside of the n ormal or recommended range, the most notable of which was hypercalcemi a, which was present in 42% of SBBs. Serum/plasma lipids were such as to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in these subjects.