{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T00:28:44Z","timestamp":1786580924170,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"The Endocrine Society","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774915200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"funder":[{"name":"Dutch Anti-Doping Authority"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Context<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Androgens are widely abused by recreational athletes to improve physique, yet the durability of body composition changes after cycle cessation is poorly characterized in prospective studies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To assess changes in body composition during and after self-initiated androgen cycles.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Prospective cohort study conducted between 2022 and 2024 with follow-up from baseline through three months after androgen cycle cessation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>General community.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Seventy-nine adult men (median age 30 years) planning a self-initiated androgen cycle.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Intervention(s)<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>No study-assigned intervention. Self-initiated androgen abuse cycle with a median duration of 10 weeks and a median weekly dose of 600 mg.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Main outcome measure<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Changes in total body weight, fat-free mass, and fat mass measured by dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline (T0), during the cycle (T1), and three months after cessation (T2).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>From T0 to T1, body weight increased by 4.9 kg (95% CI, 3.9-5.9) and fat-free mass by 4.4 kg (95% CI, 3.7-5.1; both P &amp;lt; .001). At T2, gains were markedly attenuated, with mean retention of 1.6 kg body weight (95% CI, 0.5-2.6) and 1.2 kg fat-free mass (95% CI, 0.4-2.0; both P &amp;lt; .001). Similar patterns were observed in intermittent and continuous androgen abusers. Fat mass remained unchanged at all time points.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Real-world androgen cycles produce marked short-term increases in fat-free mass, but most gains are lost within months after cessation. These findings challenge the assumption that androgen abuse results in substantial, durable improvements in body composition and contextualize the magnitude of the desired effects of androgen abuse relative to its well-documented health risks.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1210\/clinem\/dgag142","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T11:38:03Z","timestamp":1774957083000},"page":"e2127-e2134","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Effect of real-world androgen abuse on body composition: a prospective cohort study"],"prefix":"10.1210","volume":"111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9935-5968","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tijs Johannes","family":"Verdegaal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital , Tilburg, Doctor Deelenlaan 5, 5042 AD ,","place":["Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Performance- and Image-Enhancing Drugs Research, Android Health Clinic , Utrecht, Leidse Rijn 31, 3454 PZ ,","place":["the Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Spaarne Gasthuis , Haarlem, Boerhaavelaan 22, 2035 RC ,","place":["the Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC , Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ ,","place":["the Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Bond","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital , Tilburg, Doctor Deelenlaan 5, 5042 AD ,","place":["Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Performance- and Image-Enhancing Drugs Research, Android Health Clinic , Utrecht, Leidse Rijn 31, 3454 PZ ,","place":["the Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2224-8659","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Willem","family":"de Ronde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Spaarne Gasthuis , Haarlem, Boerhaavelaan 22, 2035 RC ,","place":["the Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC , Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ ,","place":["the Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1635-1203","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diederik Laurens","family":"Smit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital , Tilburg, Doctor Deelenlaan 5, 5042 AD ,","place":["Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Performance- and Image-Enhancing Drugs Research, Android Health Clinic , Utrecht, Leidse Rijn 31, 3454 PZ ,","place":["the Netherlands"]},{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Zaans Medical Centre , Zaandam, Koningin Julianaplein 58, 1502 DV ,","place":["the Netherlands"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"80","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"644","DOI":"10.1249\/01.mss.0000210194.56834.5d","article-title":"Anabolic androgenic steroids: a survey in 500 users","volume":"38","author":"Parkinson","year":"2006","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1186\/1747-597X-9-27","article-title":"The aetiology and trajectory of anabolic-androgenic steroid use initiation: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research","volume":"9","author":"Sagoe","year":"2014","journal-title":"Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy"},{"issue":"3","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13592","article-title":"Baseline characteristics of the HAARLEM study: 100 male amateur athletes using anabolic androgenic steroids","volume":"30","author":"Smit","year":"2020","journal-title":"Scan J Med Sci Sports"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM199607043350101","article-title":"The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men","volume":"335","author":"Bhasin","year":"1996","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"6","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E1172","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.2001.281.6.E1172","article-title":"Testosterone dose-response relationships in healthy young men","volume":"281","author":"Bhasin","year":"2001","journal-title":"Am J Physiology- Endocrinology And Metab"},{"issue":"9","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"931","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2012.227","article-title":"Effect of testosterone supplementation with and without a dual 5a-reductase inhibitor on fat-free mass in men with suppressed testosterone production: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"307","author":"Bhasin","year":"2012","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"3","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.1992.03480030075040","article-title":"Sequence of changes in body composition induced by testosterone and reversal of changes after drug is stopped","volume":"267","author":"Forbes","year":"1992","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1016\/S1440-2440(99)80007-3","article-title":"Muscular strength, body composition and health responses to the use of testosterone enanthate: a double blind study","volume":"2","author":"Giorgi","year":"1999","journal-title":"J Sci Med Sport"},{"issue":"5","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"560","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00616.2013","article-title":"Prohormone supplement 3b-hydroxy-5a-androst-1-en-17-one enhances resistance training gains but impairs user health","volume":"116","author":"Granados","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"413","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2007-1024704","article-title":"Influence of anabolic steroids on body composition, blood pressure, lipid profile and liver functions in body builders","volume":"12","author":"Kuipers","year":"1991","journal-title":"Int J Sports Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B11","first-page":"484","article-title":"Bodybuilders\u2019 body composition: effect of nandrolone decanoate","volume":"36","author":"Lichtenbelt","year":"2004","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"678","DOI":"10.1210\/jc.2004-1184","article-title":"Older men are as responsive as young men to the anabolic effects of graded doses of testosterone on the skeletal muscle","volume":"90","author":"Bhasin","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Clin Endocrinol Metab"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"880","DOI":"10.1093\/humrep\/deaa366","article-title":"Disruption and recovery of testicular function during and after androgen abuse: the HAARLEM study","volume":"36","author":"Smit","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Reprod"},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1111\/sms.13843","article-title":"Positive and negative side effects of androgen abuse. The HAARLEM study: a one-year prospective cohort study in 100 men","volume":"31","author":"Smit","year":"2021","journal-title":"Scand J Med Sci Sports"},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1093\/ejendo\/lvag002","article-title":"The efficacy of a harm reduction intervention for androgen abuse: a historically controlled trial","volume":"194","author":"Verdegaal","year":"2026","journal-title":"Eur J Endocrinol"},{"issue":"5","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnu.2004.06.004","article-title":"Bioelectrical impedance analysis\u2013part I: review of principles and methods","volume":"23","author":"Kyle","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clin Nutr"},{"issue":"10","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1617","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jada.2005.07.011","article-title":"Tanita foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis system validated in older adults","volume":"105","author":"Ritchie","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Am Diet Assoc"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B18","first-page":"295","article-title":"Comparison of bioelectrical impedance-based methods on body composition in young patients with obesity","volume":"8","author":"Thajer","year":"2021","journal-title":"Children (Basel)"},{"issue":"3","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.1093\/jat\/32.3.232","article-title":"Analysis of confiscated black market drugs using chromatographic and mass spectrometric approaches","volume":"32","author":"Thevis","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Anal Toxicol"},{"key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/frph.2021.732318","article-title":"Anabolic androgenic steroids induce reversible left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction. Echocardiography results of the HAARLEM study","volume":"3","author":"Smit","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Reprod Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e14372","DOI":"10.1111\/and.14372","article-title":"Prospective study on blood pressure, lipid metabolism and erythrocytosis during and after androgen abuse","volume":"54","author":"Smit","year":"2022","journal-title":"Andrologia"},{"key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Verdegaal T, Bond P, Smit DL, de Ronde W. Supplemental figure: effect of real-world androgen abuse on body composition: a prospective cohort study. Figshare. 2026. doi: 10.6084\/m9.figshare.31841026.v1.","DOI":"10.1210\/clinem\/dgag142"},{"key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1016\/j.steroids.2014.12.010","article-title":"Estrogen and bone health in men and women","volume":"99","author":"Cauley","year":"2015","journal-title":"Steroids"},{"issue":"12","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2853","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-022-01733-9","article-title":"Mechanisms of estrogen influence on skeletal muscle: mass, regeneration, and mitochondrial function","volume":"52","author":"Pellegrino","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1550-8528.1993.tb00618.x","article-title":"Androgen treatment of abdominally obese men","volume":"1","author":"M\u00e5rin","year":"1993","journal-title":"Obes Res"},{"issue":"9","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e105330","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0105330","article-title":"Effects of long term supplementation of anabolic androgen steroids on human skeletal muscle","volume":"9","author":"Yu","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"issue":"6","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"429","DOI":"10.1055\/s-2007-972873","article-title":"Body composition, cardiovascular risk factors and liver function in long-term androgenic-anabolic steroids using bodybuilders three months after drug withdrawal","volume":"17","author":"Hartgens","year":"1996","journal-title":"Int J Sports Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081219563852900_dgag142-B28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.3810\/psm.2001.01.316","article-title":"Androgenic-anabolic steroid-induced body changes in strength athletes","volume":"29","author":"Hartgens","year":"2001","journal-title":"Phys Sportsmed"}],"container-title":["The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &amp; Metabolism"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jcem\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1210\/clinem\/dgag142\/67696228\/dgag142.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"am","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jcem\/article-pdf\/111\/9\/e2127\/67696228\/dgag142.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jcem\/article-pdf\/111\/9\/e2127\/67696228\/dgag142.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T23:56:46Z","timestamp":1786579006000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jcem\/article\/111\/9\/e2127\/8566503"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1210\/clinem\/dgag142","relation":{},"ISSN":["0021-972X","1945-7197"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0021-972X","type":"print"},{"value":"1945-7197","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]]}}}