stress chemicals called prostaglandins, which are critical for generating muscle stem cells called satellite cells. During hypertrophy and muscle tissue repair, the muscle cells create satellite cells. Muscle growth factors can cause the satellite cells to combine with muscle cells that were stressed or damaged during training and assist in cell repair and adaptation. Canadian researchers, led by Joel Krents, found that low doses of ibuprofen (400 milligrams per day) did not interfere with muscle hypertrophy or muscle soreness. This was a short-term study involving only 18 subjects. Several studies have demonstrated that NSAIDs interfere with protein synthesis, so it is a good idea to use these drugs sparingly. (Applied Physiology Nutrition Metabolism, 33:470-475, 2008)

Government evaluates new version of oxycontin

Oxycontin, sometimes called “hillbilly heroin,” has replaced marijuana and cocaine as the recreational drug of choice in many young people. They sometimes take oxycontin by first crushing the pill and then either snorting it or diluting it in water and injecting it. The drug was hailed as a breakthrough for treating chronic pain when it was introduced in the 1990s. However, drug abusers found that they could get a heroin-like high by administering the drug all at once. The maker of Oxycontin Purdue Pharma LP wants to coat the pill in plastic to make it more tamper resistant. The FDA wants the company to perform studies to determine if the plastic coat reduces abuse. Preliminary studies show that the new drug dissolves slowly and provides long-term relief of pain. Other companies are also working on abuse resistant forms of the drug. (Associated Press, May 1, 2008)

Heavy drinking damages the heart and blood vessels

Moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of heart disease and premature death. Heavy drinking, however, has the opposite effect. It promotes domestic violence and accidents and is destructive to the heart, kidneys, liver and metabolism. An Irish study showed that men who drank more than 21 drinks per week and women who drank more than 14 drinks per week were more likely to develop high blood pressure, stiff arteries and enlarged hearts. Enlarged hearts increase the risk of heart failure, heart attack and stroke by five to six times. Once a heart is enlarged and weakened, it is very difficult to restore it to normal. We can infer from scientific studies that moderate alcohol consumption (one or two drinks per day) is healthy and promotes longevity for most people. However, excessive consumption causes damage to the heart and blood vessels. (Paper presented at the American Society of Hypertension annual meeting, May 2008)

Aspirin lowers blood sugar

Many people take an aspirin every day to prevent heart attack and stroke. Aspirin decreases blood clot formation, which causes most heart attacks. Also aspirin decreases inflammation, which triggers blood vessel disease. Aspirin might also have an effect on metabolic health by enhancing insulin metabolism. Spanish researchers, in a study on rats and human tissue, found that an aspirin-like drug (trifluomethyl salicylate) decreased blood sugar and increased insulin secretion, but had no effects on insulin sensitivity. Problems with blood sugar metabolism cause high blood pressure, abdominal fat deposition, abnormal blood fats, blood clotting abnormalities and type 2 diabetes all of which increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. This study supported taking an aspirin every day to prevent heart attacks. (Journal Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, in press; published online May 6. 2008)

Ritalin increases heat stroke risk during exercise

Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, drowsiness and chronic fatigue syndrome. It is a commonly prescribed drug, particularly to young people. Belgian researchers showed that the drug could have deadly side effects during exercise in the heat. Cyclists took either Ritalin (20mg) or a placebo (fake Ritalin) before exercising for 1 hour in a room temperature of either 64 or 80 degrees. Ritalin increased exercise capacity in the hot, but not the cool environment. Care temperature rose when the subjects took the drug, but there was no change in the perception of effort or thermal stress. Ritalin allowed athletes to drive up their body temperatures during exercise in the heat and took away the perception they were getting overheated, which would increase their risk of heat stroke. People taking Ritalin should be careful not to push too hard during exercise in the heat. (Medicine Science Sports Exercise, 40: 879-885, 2008)

They realize that a pill is no substitute for hard work, determination and commitment to goals. In deciding whether to use drugs, athletes must choose between the expected positive outcomes and negative consequences. The negative consequences might deal with personal or moral issues or the more practical possibility that they will test positive on a drug test. The researchers concluded that the motivation for drug use in athletes is complicated and that getting them to stop requires careful analysis of factors that make them vulnerable to drug use in the fist place. (Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and policy, 3:7 published online March 10, 2008)

EPO might increase muscle and capillary growth

Erythropoietin (EPO0 is a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Scientists developed a synthetic version of EPO using recombinant DNA technology (genetically alters bacteria to produce EPO). It is very popular with cyclists and distance runners who take it to increase maximal oxygen consumption and endurance. The drug increases the ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles and boost exercise capacity by 10 percent or more. EPO is a banned substance in most sports and has been at the center of recent doping scandals in the tour de France and the Olympics. It does more than increase red boost cell production. Danish researchers found EPO receptors in muscle and in cells lining blood vessels. EPO is involved in muscle hypertrophy and promoting capillary density in response to training, but its role is not very well understood. (Journal Applied Physiology, 104:1154-1160, 2008)

Steroid users have bad images

During the recent congressional hearings on drug use in baseball, the news media portrayed athletes who used anabolic steroids at about the same level as heroine addicts, burglars and check forgers. It is little wonder that the perception of the average person is similarly misinformed. French psychologists found that people viewed steroid users as less committed and motivated, poor sportsmen and more likely to deliberately injure an opponent. The study showed that in the general population, steroid use is socially undesirable and steroid users are viewed in a bad light. The average non-medical used of steroids is in his early 30s and takes the drugs for self-improvement. Most steroid users seek to increase strength, muscle mass and physical attractiveness and decrease body fat. They follow structured diets and exercise programs and do not play sports. Most are well educated and employed and take the drugs as part of a health-centered lifestyle. It isn’t likely that the image of anabolic steroids will improve anytime soon. If you use steroids, keep quiet about it. (Scandinavian Journal Medicine Science Sports, in press; published online February 4, 2008)

Levothyroxine therapy maintains levels of T3

Many bodybuilders take levothyroxine, a synthetic form of the thyroid, hormone thyroxin (T4), to help cut fat and normalize thyroid function when taking growth hormone and anabolic steroids. The thyroid gland releases thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Both hormones stimulate metabolism. T3 is more powerful than T4. Also, most T4 is converted to T3 in tissues outside thy thyroid gland. Metabolism decreases by 50 percent when your body can’t secrete these hormones. Likewise, metabolic rate increases 60-100 percent if your body secretes too much. Georgetown Medical School researchers found that levothyroxine increased levels of T4 and T3 in patients without thyroid glands. This study showed that taking levothyroxine by itself was sufficient for maximizing thyroid therapy and that it was not necessary to also take T3 medications such as cytomel. (Journal American Association, 299:769-777, 2008)

Inhaled insulin could cause lung cancer

People with type 1 diabetes and many people with type 2 diabetes need insulin injections to regulate blood sugar. The injections are relatively painless, but they are inconvenient and embarrassing. Pfizer Inc., Nektar Thepapeutics and Sanofi-Aventis SA developed in inhaled insulin product called exubera that effectively lowers blood sugar in type 1 diabetes who were taking low doses of injected insulin. The food and drug administration approved the drug in 1996, but the companies stopped clinical trials after reporting an increased incidence of lung cancer in patients using the drug. All patients who developed lung cancer smoked cigarettes and there were so few cases that it was difficult to say whether the drug triggered the cancer. Physicians have been reluctant to prescribe the drug, so it has not been the financial success that the companies had hoped. (Reuters, April 9, 2008)