Case Report
Hepatotoxicity Associated with Nutritional Supplements Containing Anabolic Steroids
Guaraná de Andrade Thais*, Vargas Karen Arce, Biccas Beatriz Nunes, Carvalho Angela
Cristina Gouvêa, Agoglia Luciana and Esberard Eliane Bordalo Cathalá
Department of Medicine and Pathology, Antônio Pedro University Hospital, Federal Fluminense University, Brazil
*Corresponding author: Guaraná de Andrade Thais, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Antônio Pedro University Hospital, Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Published: 26 Jan, 2018
Cite this article as: de Andrade Thais G, Arce VK, Nunes
BB, Gouvêa CAC, Luciana A, Cathalá
EEB. Hepatotoxicity Associated with
Nutritional Supplements Containing
Anabolic Steroids. Ann Clin Case Rep.
2018; 3: 1495.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The objective of this article was to emphasize the hepatotoxicity
associated with the use of nutritional supplements and anabolic-androgenic steroids, as well as
discussing the sale of the latter as a dietary supplement.
Methods: This is a case series of two patients who developed hepatic damage after the consumption
of anabolic-androgenic steroids, accompanied by a detailed bibliographic research on this topic.
Results: We present two young men who developed significant liver damage, both with
hyperbilirubinemia pattern after consumption of anabolic-androgenic steroids. This was associated
with considerable morbidity, although both recovered without liver transplantation. The two
anabolic-androgenic steroids were being marketed as dietary supplements.
Conclusions: Although classified as Class V controlled substances in Brazil, anabolic-androgenic
steroids are the cause of severe hepatotoxicity. Although the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency
acts in the regulation of such substances, some of these products are still marketed as dietary
supplements, requiring a more rigorous surveillance by health professionals.
Introduction
Testosterone was discovered and isolated in 1935 and since then there have been several attempts to develop synthetic derivatives (usually by 17α-alkylation) with the goal of making it orally active and prolonging its biological activity [1,2]. Many of these products, commonly known as Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS), have been developed, being more anabolic and less androgenic than their parent molecule [2]. The most commonly used derivatives include nandrolone, oxandrolone, stanozolol and oxymethylene. There are some clinical situations that suggest their use, especially for conditions such as cachexia [3] related to the immunodeficiency virus and aplastic anemia [4]. However, they came to discredit after the use by athletes in order to boost performance. In 1975, the International Olympic Committee Medical Committee added anabolic steroids to its list of banned substances, and in 1991 all these were classified as class III controlled substances (Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990). Pub. L. 101-647.1901, 104 Stat. 4851) by the Food and Drug Administration. In spite of this, many anabolic steroids are available in natural products stores and can also be purchased easily on the internet. What is more worrying is that they are being marketed as dietary supplements. To increase awareness of this problem and to highlight hepatic side effects, we report two clinical cases of young men developing potentially fatal hepatotoxicity after consumption of M-STANE (2a,17a-dimethyl-5a-androst-3-one-17b-ol 10 mg) which contains ultradrol, aprehormone that, once consumed, is metabolized as a steroid, and WINSTROL (stanozolol), considered a pure anabolic-androgenic steroid.
Case Presentation
Case 1
A 21-year-old male construction worker was referred to Antônio Pedro University Hospital in
January 2014 with a history of diffuse abdominal pain, jaundice, choluria, acholic feces and severe
pruritus, as well as an 18-kilogram weight loss in the last three months. There was no history of
altered mental status. There was a report of illicit drug use from age 14 to 16, and former smoker
10 packs • year (quit five years ago); without associated diseases. He admitted to using M-STANE
one month prior to the start of his clinical condition, 2 capsules / day (dose recommended by the
manufacturer) for a total of four weeks from October to November 2013. M-STANE was obtained
from a “natural products” store, according to the patient's report. The patient denied any prior liver disease, excessive alcohol intake, medication use or travel; as
well as family history of liver disease. At admission the patient was
hemodynamically stable, but had a marked conjunctival jaundice.
His liver was palpable 2 cm below the right costal border. However,
there was no evidence of fluid overload or hepatic encephalopathy.
Initial laboratory results revealed a total bilirubin level of 27.2 mg/
dL (0.1-1.2 mg/dL), the conjugated fraction was 21.2 mg/dL; alanine
aminotransferase 38 U/L (16-63 U/L); aspartate aminotransferase of
54 U/L (15-37 U/L); 701 U/L alkaline phosphatase (46-116 U/L); a
gamma-glutamyltransferase of 61U/L (15-85 U/L); serum albumin of
2.8g/dL (3.5-5.3 g/dL); INR of 1.1. Viral serologies for hepatitis A,
B and C, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus as well as anti-nuclear
antibody titers, antimitochondrial antibody, and anti-smooth muscle
antibody were all negative. Ultrasonography showed no evidence
of biliary obstruction or chronic liver disease. Hepatic biopsy was
performed, whose histopathological study revealed cholestatic liver
disease with marked cholestasis and porto-portal fibrosis, in addition
to the presence of portal venous ectasia (Figures 1A and 1B). We
chose a conservative treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid 900 mg/
day. The patient had jaundice (4+/4+) when he was discharged,
without signs of encephalopathy, with a prothrombin time of 100%
and in a good physical status. Figures 2A and 2B show the course of
hyperbilirubinemia as well as an isolated peak of alkaline phosphatase
reaching a level of 701 U/L in the absence of a change in the level
of gamma-glutamyltransferase. Jaundice resolved over a period of 8
weeks. At this time ursacol was suspended because the patient had
no pruritus. At the last follow-up evaluation in August 2015, the total
bilirubin level was 0.34 mg/dL with alkaline phosphatase of 122U/L.
Case 2
The second patient was a 28-year-old man, a bricklayer, who was
referred to the hepatology department of Antônio Pedro University
Hospital in January 2017 for diagnostic elucidation. He presented
as symptoms: progressive jaundice, choluria, acholic feces and also
reported a weight loss of 10 kilograms in the last three months and
pruritus. He reported using Winstrol (stanozolol) for three weeks, in
October 2016. He obtained the product from a professional at the
gym. The patient denied any prior liver disease and had a history
of eventual smoking and social drinking, although he denied any
significant ingestion in the four weeks preceding the condition. On
physical examination, he had a significant conjunctival jaundice
and hepatometry of +/- 18cm. He was alert and oriented. The
hepatic profile showed: total bilirubin level of 18.8 mg/dL, with
the conjugated fraction being 11.94 mg/dL; albumin of 4.26 g/dL;
alkaline phosphatase of 200U/L; 42U/L gamma-glutamyltransferase;
38U/L aspartate aminotransferase; 156U/L alanine aminotransferase;
international standard rate for prothrombin time was normal and
viral serologies and autoantibodies were negative. Ultrasonographic imaging showed a regular and homogeneous enlarged liver (reaching
the right flank), with no evidence of intra- or extra-hepatic dilatation.
The patient was treated conservatively with symptomatic treatment,
as an outpatient. However, there was no significant improvement in
bilirubin levels even with the AAS suspension since the onset of the
clinical condition. A hepatic biopsy with subsequent histopathological
study (Figure 3A and 3B) revealed cholestatic hepatitis with sinusoidal
dilatation (SOS/VOD) Budd-Chiari simile, compatible with anabolic
use, in addition to coexisting lobular and interface hepatitis suggestive
of autoimmune hepatitis, possibly induced by the substance. Presence
of portal fibrosis with short fibrous septa (F2). He was discharged
with cholestyramine, hydroxyzine, ursodeoxycholic acid; the use of
latter two being suspended by the patient himself two weeks later,
due to diarrhea. The total bilirubin level reached a peak of 37.5 mg/dL
(Figure 2C). Later on, hyperbilirubinemia showed a gradual decrease.
At the last clinic appointment in February 2017, total serum bilirubin
levels were 2.55 mg/dL and transaminases were within normal limits.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2
a) Total Bilirubin mg/dL. b) Alkaline phosphatase (AP) and gammaglutamyltransferase
(GGT). C) Course of hyperbilirubinemia mg/dL (TB:
Total bilirubin; DB: Direct bilirubin; IB: Indirect Bilirubin).
Figure 3
Figure 3
a) Cholestatic Hepatitis with sinusoidal dilatation Budd – Chiari
simile. b) Coexistence lobular and interface hepatitis.
Discussion
The two patients mentioned presented an important hepatic injury
due to the use of AAS. Our first patient was consuming M-STANE,
which contains a pre-hormone called ultradrol that stimulates the
conversion of synthetic substances from the supplement, leading to a high hormonal load. This has the same function as pure AAS.
Our second patient used Winstrol. It contains a synthetic steroid
derived from testosterone called Stanozolol, which has the purpose
of decreasing the glycoprotein SHBG, responsible for the binding
of some hormones, such as testosterone. The decrease in SHBG
causes free testosterone to increase, favoring its effects. Because of
the serological and epidemiological exclusion of other causes and the
compatibility in liver histopathology, the AAS consumed by these two
patients was the most likely cause of hepatotoxicity. Initially, other
causes of liver disease were excluded and imaging studies revealed
no evidence of biliary obstruction. The second patient had a history
of alcohol consumption, but the biopsy was not compatible with an
alcohol-induced injury. It should be emphasized that pre-existing
liver disease or the concomitant use of other drugs may increase the
hepatotoxicity associated with AAS [2]. Thus, it is conceivable that
alcohol may have increased susceptibility to hepatic injury induced
by AAS in our second patient. Furthermore, hepatic biopsy in both
patients was consistent with AAS-induced hepatotoxicity [5-8].
Finally, both LFT results showed spontaneous improvement after
discontinuation of the substance.
Currently, AASs are classified as controlled substances (The
Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 [section 21 U.S.C. 844]),
therefore, the mere possession, manufacture and distribution of these
products (except for strict medical prescription) is considered illegal.
However, in spite of this, AAS are not only available on the internet
and in “natural products” stores, but are also being marketed as
dietary supplements [6,9-11] Shipley's Washington Post article drew
attention to the following six anabolic steroids sold as supplements:
halodrol-50, Ergomax LMG (Anabolic Resources LLC) (contain
madol); Superdrol (Anabolic Resources LLC), Prostanozol (Anabolic
Resources LLC) (similar to stanozolol), FiniGenX Magnum Liquid
(PharmGen X, San Marcos, CA) (similar to nandrolone); and
Methyl 1-P (Legal Equipment-LG Sciences, Brighton, MI) (contains
two steroids, progestin, and a second steroid that resembles
androstenedione).
In addition to that, the classification of AAS as controlled
substances did not prevent its increasing use. Anabolic steroid use
among high school seniors increased from about 2% in the early 1990s
to 3.4% in 2004 in the United States [12]. Men are more likely to use
AAS compared to women, [4] and recent data indicate that currently
about 1 million men consume AAS in the United States [12]. Four out
of five AAS users take the drug for cosmetic reasons only [13]. Most
AAS consumers seek immediate aesthetic results, and therefore do not
mind their possible side effects. The psychiatric community identified
some of these individuals as having muscle dysmorphia, a condition
also known as reverse anorexia nervosa [14]. In an internet search
on AAS we found an anonymous questionnaire on a popular website
among users of these products. Of the 500 AAS users who answered
the questionnaire, 78% were not bodybuilders; about 60% reported
using at least 1000 mg of testosterone or its equivalent per week (selfadministered
at 99%), 13% were using unsafe injection practices,
and almost all reported subjective side effects after the use of AAS
[13]. Several side effects that have been reported with the use of AAS
include unfavorable lipid profile and atherogenesis [15], suppressed
endogenous testicular function, growth retardation, neuropsychiatric
effects, nephrotoxicity (including rare Wilms' tumors), [12,16,17]
and, finally, hepatic side effects. Hepatic changes include peliosis
hepatis (cystic blood-filled cavities in the liver), hepatic adenomas,
hepatocellular carcinomas, and hepatotoxicity [16,18,19].
In a study in patients with aplastic anemia who received AAS,
35.5% had altered liver function test results, although only half of
them (17.3%) developed jaundice [20]. In most cases, cholestasis
improved with supportive therapy after 12 months of AAS
discontinuation [21,22]. Pruritus responded to choleretic agents
such as ursodeoxycholic acid [23,24]. Although, in most cases,
cholestasis has been described as benign, fatal cases, although rare,
have been reported [22]. Cholestasis induced by AAS is pure (i.e.,
not associated with hepatocellular damage). Rarely, however, a
lesion similar to hepatitis may occur [25]. Cholestasis results from
a change in hepatocyte biliary secretion [26]. Mechanisms, however,
remain speculative. Studies in rats (Welder et al. [27]) showed that
hepatotoxicity and increased levels of liver enzymes were drugspecific
changes and that AAS had direct toxic effects on hepatocytes.
Other animal studies indicated that oxidative stress could play a role
[28], which in turn may result in impairment of the canalicular bile
salt export pump [29]. Structural changes induced by AAS include
degenerative effects on mitochondria and lysosomes [30].
In conclusion, although AAS-induced cholestasis is uncommon,
it is potentially fatal and is associated with significant morbidity. This
is well prominent in the cases presented in this report. Besides that,
health professionals need to maintain a high level of vigilance over
this scenario. It is important to regularly inquire patients about the
consumption of AAS or dietary supplements. Also, it is imperative to
educate our patients about the hepatotoxicity associated with the use
of this class of products.
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