Electrolytes Blood Markers

Essential electrolyte for fluid balance, nerve and muscle function.

PED: Water manipulation during contest prep can affect sodium levels. Generally stable on AAS. Stay hydrated and maintain electrolyte balance.

Essential electrolyte for heart function and muscle contraction.

PED: Diuretic use during contest prep can dangerously deplete potassium. Critical for heart function -- low potassium can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Monitor closely if using diuretics.

Electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and acid-base status.

PED: Generally stable on AAS. Can be affected by dehydration or excessive fluid intake. Follows sodium trends in most cases.

Key buffer in the blood that maintains acid-base balance. Low levels indicate metabolic acidosis.

PED: Can be affected by intense exercise (lactic acidosis lowers bicarbonate transiently). Generally not affected by AAS. Low values with high anion gap may indicate kidney issues.

Calculated value (Na - Cl - HCO3) that helps identify causes of metabolic acidosis.

PED: Can be transiently elevated after intense training due to lactic acid accumulation. Persistent elevation warrants investigation. Not directly affected by AAS.

Essential mineral for bones, muscles, and nerve function.

PED: Generally stable on AAS. Adequate vitamin D and calcium intake important for bone health and muscle function.

Calcium level adjusted for albumin concentration. More accurate than total calcium when albumin is abnormal. Formula: Corrected Ca = Total Ca + 0.02 × (40 - Albumin).

PED: More clinically meaningful than uncorrected calcium when albumin is low (e.g., during illness or liver stress from oral AAS). If total calcium appears normal but albumin is low, corrected calcium may reveal true hypercalcemia. Generally stable on AAS.

Essential mineral involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions.

PED: Many athletes are deficient despite adequate diet. Important for recovery, sleep, muscle function, and over 300 biochemical reactions. Heavy sweating depletes magnesium.

Mineral important for energy production and bone health.

PED: Generally not significantly affected by AAS or training. Part of the ATP energy system.