Oral Steroids: Convenience with Risks

Oral steroids are convenient but are c-17 alpha-alkylated, which makes them hepatotoxic. This modification allows the steroid to pass through the digestive system effectively, but also strains liver function by raising ALT and AST liver enzymes. In turn, this can impact both liver and heart health due to increased hepatic lipase activity that negatively affects cholesterol levels. As a result, oral steroids are recommended only for short cycles.