In this newsletter, we look at a recently pre-printed case study exploring the effects of anabolic steroid use on muscle growth, strength, and body composition in a 21-year-old amateur male bodybuilder during a 9-week, off-season phase.
Study Overview
This case study documented the 9-week bulking phase of a young British amateur bodybuilder on anabolic steroids and is, surprisingly, the first published case study to look at the combination of a hypercaloric diet alongside anabolic steroids resistance training and their effect on muscle growth and strength.
Before we get into the actual case study itself, it’s important to note that the participant was a resident of the United Kingdom where the possession of anabolic steroids is legal for personal use. One of the main reasons we do not have more case studies like this one is that the possession of anabolic steroids is illegal in many countries, making it very difficult for people to openly admit to using steroids, especially while also reporting to a university lab.
The disclaimer aside, the participant engaged in a 6-day push/pull/legs resistance training program and followed a high-protein hypercaloric diet while taking anabolic steroids (Testosterone Enanthate & Methandrostenolone) for the course of 9 weeks.
Measurements were taken before and after the 9-week period to assess changes in muscle thickness, body composition, and 1-repetition maximum (1RM) strength in the squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Results & Interpretation
The participant made some serious gains, experiencing an 8.4% increase in fat-free mass (~7kg) and an overall body mass gain of 8.2 kg while his body fat % remained stable at ~18%. The participant also experienced substantial increases in muscle thickness in every muscle aside from the biceps brachii where he actually experienced a 2.3% decrease (more on that later). Strength improvements were also significant, including a 26.7% increase in squat strength, a 13.2% increase in bench press strength, and a 17.6% gain in deadlift strength. These changes suggest that anabolic steroid use, coupled with a high-calorie diet and intensive training, may accelerate muscle hypertrophy and strength development while minimizing fat gain.
While the participant demonstrated considerable muscle growth and strength gains, the increases in muscle thickness were uneven across different muscle groups. For example, while the triceps brachii and quadriceps femoris showed substantial growth, the biceps brachii actually decreased in size by 2.3%. This inconsistency could be due to only one site being measured at each muscle or even due to possible measurement error. The researchers also took arm circumference measurements which showed that both arms increased in circumference, making it difficult to conclude that the participant actually experienced a decrease in bicep size, especially since he was training close to failure, performing a multitude of exercises for the biceps, all while gaining weight and consuming a ton of protein.
When comparing the results of the study with previous studies on natural lifters, the participant did gain more strength and fat-free mass than is usually observed, but some of the muscle thickness increases were in line with what has previously been reported in drug-free lifters. It’s also important to note that, despite his significant strength gains, the participant wasn’t particularly strong at the start; his pre-bulking strength was comparable to that of beginner powerlifters. This could explain why he was able to gain so much strength in a short period. However, since he did not engage in any 1RM-specific training, his gains remain quite impressive.
The above aside, this case study has some limitations that must be acknowledged. Firstly, it relied on self-reported data for training, nutrition, and steroid usage, which could introduce bias or inaccuracies. Additionally, the assessment of body composition was conducted using air displacement plethysmography (BodPod), a method not validated specifically for bodybuilders, especially those using anabolic steroids. This could mean that some of the observed changes in body composition might have been influenced by factors like water retention rather than true muscle growth. More importantly, the study did not actually measure blood hormone levels, making it difficult to truly know how the participant responded hormonally to the anabolic steroids (or if they were legit to begin with).
Conclusion
While this case study illustrates the potential effects of anabolic steroids on muscle growth and strength when combined with resistance training and a high-calorie diet, it is important to remember that it is just a case study. Before this, we had no formal evidence on the specific effects of “bulking” while taking steroids, so this case study serves as an interesting reference point for discussions among lifters, especially since it’s unlikely that we will see many randomized controlled trials on anabolic steroids and bulking in the near future. That said, based on the broader body of evidence showing the effectiveness of anabolic steroids in promoting muscle growth, it’s reasonable to expect that bulking while using anabolic steroids likely results in more muscle growth and less fat gain compared to doing so drug-free.
