The increasing rate of mortality among patients with kidney disease became the main concern of a recent study. Patients with kidney problems often experience malnutrition and loss of muscle mass due to the disease and its treatment called dialysis.

The study have found out that anabolic steroids can help increase lean body mass and significantly reduce fatigue in kidney disease patients receiving hemodialysis. The research team from the University of California San Francisco researchers, led by Kirsten L. Johansen, M.D, made an experiment among patients who receive dialysis and who suffer from malnutrition.

From Bio-Medicine:

Patients with kidney disease frequently experience malnutrition and an accompanying loss of muscle mass as a result of their illness and its lifesaving treatment called dialysis. These negative side effects are particularly concerning because they have been associated with increased mortality. However, a new study indicates that the use of anabolic steroids appears to increase lean body mass and significantly reduce fatigue (another common side effect) in kidney disease patients receiving dialysis.

In a randomized, double blind trial, 29 patients were given either the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanote or a placebo (dummy medication) for a six-month period. At the end of the trial, patients receiving the anabolic steroid gained an average of 5.7 pounds more lean body mass than the patients who got the placebo. Also, the patients who received the steroid reported less fatigue and scored better on physical performance tests.

In the study, 29 patients were randomly given either the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanote or a placebo for a six-month period. At the end of the study, patients who received anabolic steroid gained an average of 5.7 pounds more lean body mass than the patients who got the placebo. Also, the patients who received the anabolic steroid treatment exhibited less fatigue and scored better on physical performance tests.

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