Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and can eventually lead to debilitation and some dysfunction in the normal physiologic process in the body.

Several of the common problems of AIDS patients were significant decrease in weight and muscle wasting. The wasting is due to the decrease in production of testosterone.

Testosterone is responsible for promotion of muscle growth as well as for development of sexual characteristics in male.

Researchers observed a group of adults infected with HIV for at least six weeks. Anabolic steroids were administered either orally or intravenously. Those in the control group, however, received placebo only. Those in the treatment group were found to have an increase in their weight by as much as 3 pounds.

Side effects include acne; mild increase in body hair; breast tenderness; increase in libido and aggressiveness; mood swings and mild to moderate abnormality in liver function tests.

Two anabolic steroids currently used to combat muscle wasting, increase weight and muscle mass are nandrolone decanoate and oxandrolone. These two were considered as prescribed drugs in the United States.

From The Medical News:

People with HIV who are treated with anabolic steroids to prevent AIDS wasting may realize modest gains in weight and muscle mass, a new review shows.

The review covered 13 studies of adults age 24 to 42 with HIV, 294 of whom received anabolic steroids for at least six weeks and 238 of whom received placebo. The average weight increase in those taking anabolic steroids was nearly three pounds.

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