Protease inhibitors cause dyslipidemia which includes elevated triglycerides and cholesterol and redistribution of body fat centrally to produce the so-called "protease paunch", breast enlargement, facial atrophy, and "buffalo hump"

In 2004 the FDA requested companies to stop distributing products containing androstenedione. Studies have shown that it does not increase muscle mass and that it poses the same kind of health risks as anabolic steroids, including abnormal elevations in serum estrogen, increased risk of prostate, pancreatic and endometrial cancers, and increased cardiovascular disease risk.