Szteroid

Szteroid is the Hungarian word for steroids, a broad class of organic compounds that share a common four-ring structure derived from cyclopentane perhydrophenanthrene. These compounds may be natural or synthetic and occur in the body as steroid hormones, or are used pharmacologically and industrially. The core skeleton allows various functional groups to be attached, yielding distinct substances with different biological effects.

Main groups include corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisone), anabolic-androgenic steroids (synthetic variants of testosterone used to promote muscle growth but associated with health risks), and steroid hormones (testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and others) that regulate development, metabolism, and reproduction. Cholesterol and bile acids are also steroidal, as are many plant and microbial metabolites.

In the body, steroids are lipid-soluble and can act by binding to nuclear receptors to regulate gene expression. They can be produced endogenously in organs such as the adrenal glands and gonads, or manufactured synthetically for medicines, cosmetics, or research. Administration routes include oral, topical, injectable, and others; oral steroids may be subject to hepatic first-pass metabolism.

Safety and regulation vary by substance and jurisdiction. Medical corticosteroids are widely used for inflammation and immune conditions, while anabolic steroids carry risks such as hormonal imbalance, liver toxicity, cardiovascular issues, and mood changes. The non-medical use of anabolic steroids is typically regulated or prohibited in many sports and jurisdictions.