Effect of Glucocorticoids on Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To determine the effects of glucocorticoids in enhancing athletic performance. Design: At least 2 independent reviewers conducted study selection and extracted demographic and outcome data. Relevant outcomes were stratified by administration time frame and the specific type of drug used. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool and the Cochrane Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Education scale. Where appropriate, meta-analyses were performed. Data sources: Embase, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus were searched from their beginning to April 2020. Participants: Participants of any sex and training status aged 18 to 65 years were included. Interventions and Main Outcome Measures: Any type of published randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examined any enhancement in sport as well as aerobic, anaerobic, or body compositional parameters for glucocorticoids compared with placebo. Results: There is low-to-moderate evidence suggesting that the administration of glucocorticoids may be more beneficial than placebo in enhancing athletic performance. short-term administration of glucocorticoids significantly improved time to exhaustion, maximal force, and total distance travelled. By contrast, acute administration of glucocorticoids predominantly yielded no changes to athletic performance, except for reductions in total work and maximal power output. Conclusions: Although there is evidence suggesting glucocorticoids have ergogenic effects, these improvements may differ depending on the specific type of drug, dose, and the administration time frame and are also limited by small sample sizes. Therefore, there is a need for large, high-quality RCTs as this may influence future doping policy and athlete care.