Altered serum lipoprotein profiles in male and female power lifters ingesting anabolic steroids

Serum lipoprotein profiles were measured in nine male and three female power lifters who were taking anabolic steroids. Male steroid users had higher total serum cholesterol, lower HDL-C, and lower HDL-apoprotein A-l(apoA-l) levels than a weight-trained reference group that did not use steroids. Female steroid users showed similar trends. Mean serum HDL-C and HDL-C to total cholesterol ratio were lower in male steroid users than in a young male South African population at high risk for atherosclerosis. The radio of HDL3-C to total HDL-C was higher in steroid users than in the reference group. Ratios of apoA-l to apoA-ll were similar in the two groups. These unfavorable lipid profiles suggest that male and female steroid users may face an increased risk of coronary artery disease.