The research details put forth at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Session, revealed that professional footballers who have larger bodies are not that prone to any risk of cardiovascular disease. Though the message was presented in a cautionary as well as hopeful manner but there is certainly good news for retired pro footballers and athletes, even though they consumed steroids during their active years.

The study showed that they do not increase the risk of the development of such a disorder. The study was conducted on a large number of 201 former NFL players in Dallas, Miami, Atlanta and San Fransisco.

From News-medical.net:

Compared to other men, retired National Football League (NFL) players had a significantly lower prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, sedentary lifestyles and metabolic syndrome. However, the NFL retirees had a higher prevalence of elevated cholesterol and impaired fasting glucose that could lead to diabetes.

The retired NFL players were assessed by a survey and health screening visit. Coronary atherosclerosis (buildups of fatty plaques that narrow the coronary arteries) was determined with computer tomography measurements of coronary artery calcium (CAC).

When researchers compared the former NFL players CAC scores to controls, they found little difference, with 46 percent of former players and 48 percent of controls having significant CAC scores. When compared to physically active Aerobic Center controls, retired NFL players had a greater body mass index (BMI) and waist size, but no difference in other cardiovascular risk factors or CAC scores.

The health of these players were then compared to those at the Dallas Heart Study and the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study during which the Coronary arthrosclerosis was determined by digital tomography measurements of the coronary artery calcium. The research details revealed that there is no difference in the amount of sub-clinical levels of arthrosclerosis in the ex-footballers as well as the ones kept in controlled environment. In this research, even the ethnicity and the lineman status was considered. This clearly showed that 46 percent of NFL players and 48 percent of Aerobic Centre Controls had no difference in the CAC scores or cardiovascular risk factors at all.

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