An evaluation of organ volume in well-trained strength athletes

Well-trained strength athletes use exercise, diet and often androgenic-anabolic
steroids (AAS) to reduce fat mass and increase muscle mass and strength.
Therefore, pronounced muscle hypertrophy can be studied properly in
strength-trained athletes (e.g., weight lifters and bodybuilders). However, any
such research depends on accurate and reliable measurement of muscle size.
There are several imaging techniques available to evaluate muscle mass,
including (single slice) computed axial tomography (CT), bio-electrical
impedance analysis (BIA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual energy
X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). CT and DEXA are the most commonly used measurement
techniques to assess skeletal muscle mass. However, a drawback from both DEXA
and single slice CT scans is that it does not permit a distinction to be made
between individual muscle groups. This is important as various muscles may be
affected differently with resistance type exercise training. MRI is able to
directly and non-invasively measure whole-body muscle volume as well as measure
the volume of different muscle groups. Thereby it is of interest to quantify
whole-body and regional muscle volume in well-trained strength athletes and
compare this to recreationally active participants. In addition it is relevant
to compare common techniques, such as DEXA, BIA and CT, to the MRI scan and
assess whether these techniques correlate well in well-trained strength
athletes to determine their applicability as cheaper and quicker alternatives
to estimate (whole-body) muscle mass.
MRI is also able to directly measure organ volume. There has been amounting
(anecdotal) evidence regarding the potential of frequent and intense resistance
training, in combination with anabolic androgenic steroids, to increase organ
volume of resistance trained athletes and especially bodybuilders.

The aim of the present study is to assess the differences in (regional) muscle
and organ volume between well-trained strength athletes (using or not using
steroids) and recreationally active healthy males. A secondary aim is to assess
whether single slice CT, BIA, DEXA, and other practical and cheap alternatives
such as skinfold and tape measurement correlate well with MRI in terms of
evaluating whole-body muscle volume in a well-trained athletic population.

Observational cross-sectional study.

The risks involved in participating in this experiment are minimal. The
measurements that will be performed include skinfold measurement, tape
measurement, muscle strength, BIA, single slice CT scan, MRI scan, and DEXA
scan and it will involve food and activity diaries. There are no complications
associated with the procedure of a DEXA or a single slice lower limb CT scan.
The level of radiation emitted during each is very low; <1 µSv and 0.053 mSv,
respectively. There is no radiation during the MRI scan and this is also a safe
procedure with no complications. BIA, skinfold, tape measurement and strength
measures are completely safe. Subjects will always be checked for wearing
metals or have any other contra-indications before undergoing a scanning
procedure.
In terms of time burden: the subjects will have to invest 3 hours for the
screening session, half a working day (~5 hours) for the test day and invest
time in the keeping of a dietary intake and physical activity log for one week
(which will take less than 3 h in total for a week).