What is ecdysterone and does it really help to pump up faster

What is ecdysterone

EcdysteroneOh Shuvalov, O. Fedorova, E. Tananykina. An Arthropod Hormone, Ecdysterone, Inhibits the Growth of Breast Cancer Cells via Different Mechanisms / Frontiers in Pharmacology (20‑hydroxyecdysone, 20E) is a hormone found in arthropods and secreted by some plants to protect against insects.

Food supplements with this substance doR. Lafont, L. Dinan. Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: and update / Journal of Insect Science from medicinal herbs - leuzea, sweet fern, Brazilian ginseng, tenacious Turkestan or cyanotis.

Ecdysterone is considered a "natural anabolic" - a tool that can increase strength and muscle mass, reduce fatigue and speed up recovery. Also, some manufacturers claim that it affects blood sugar levels, helps get rid of body fat, lowers cholesterol and protects against oxidative stress.

Due to possible anabolic effects World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is watchingMonitoring Program 2022 / Rusada

for research on ecdysterone and decides whether to put it on the banned list. The observation has been ongoing since 2019, and so far the substance has not been included in this list.

Does ecdysterone really help to pump up and become stronger?

In animal and muscle cell studies in vitro discovered1. J. Gorelick‑Feldman, D. Maclean, N. Ilic. Phytoecdysteroids increase protein synthesis in skeletal muscle cells / Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2. J. Gorelick-Feldman, W. Cohick, I. Raskin. Ecdysteroids elicit a rapid Ca2+ flux leading to Akt activation and increased protein synthesis in skeletal muscle cells / Steroids, 3. M. K. Parr, P. Zhao, O. haupt. Estrogen receptor beta is involved in skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by the phytoecdysteroid ecdysterone / Molecular nutrition and food researchthat ecdysterone accelerates protein synthesis, promotes muscle building and provides better results than testosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

In terms of research involving humans, we were able to find only three scientific papers, and those with opposite results.

In one experimentE. Isenmann, G. Ambrosio, J. F. Joseph. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans / Archives of Toxicology taking 12 or 48 mg of ecdysterone per day in combination with strength training helped men build 1.5 and 2 kg of muscle and increase the one-rep maximum in the bench press by 8 kg.

In another scientific work involving men and women over 50 years receptionS. Perez-Pinero, V. Ávila‑Gandía, J. A. R. Arias. A 12‑Week Randomized Double‑Blind Placebo‑Controlled Clinical Trial, Evaluating the Effect of Supplementation with a Spinach Extract on Skeletal Muscle Fitness in Adults Older Than 50 Years of Age / Nutrients 2 g of spinach extract per day (about 3 mg of ecdysterone) provided a greater increase in leg strength and power than exercise without supplements. In addition, the men gained more muscle during the 12 weeks of the experiment.

But in the third researchC. D. Wilborn, L. W. Taylor, b. I. Campbell. Effects of Methoxyisoflavone, Ecdysterone, and Sulfo‑Polysaccharide Supplementation on Training Adaptations in Resistance‑Trained Males / Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in young athletes, taking 30 mg of ecdysterone per day in addition to strength training did not provide any benefits in increasing strength and muscle volume over an 8-week experiment.

Despite the fact that the anti-doping agency is seriously interested in this substance, three studies are not enough to recognize it as an effective anabolic. Moreover, in one of the experiments, the supplement did not provide results, and in the other, spinach extract was used with a meager amount of ecdysterone.

Will ecdysterone help improve health

In numerous researchR. Lafont, L. Dinan. Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: and update / Journal of Insect Science on animals found that ecdysterone can:

• lower the level cholesterol;
• improve healing;
• stimulate the conversion of glucose into glycogen;
• improve glucose utilization and increase insulin sensitivity;
• protect the brain from the death of nerve cells;
• stimulate liver function;
• reduce inflammation;
• reduce oxidative stress.

However, none of these have been tested in humans. So the long lists of ecdysterone benefits that supplement manufacturers like to write have no scientific basis.

Should I try ecdysterone

At the moment, this substance is not included in the WADA prohibited list, and therefore even athletes can take it without fear of disqualification.

In addition, the supplement appears to be safe for health. At least 10 weeks of taking 48 mg of ecdysterone per day did not affectE. Isenmann, G. Ambrosio, J. F. Joseph. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans / Archives of Toxicology on the health of the liver and kidneys of the participants and did not affect the hormonal background.

However, given the lack of scientific evidence, the benefits of such a "natural anabolic" are questionable.

Moreover, in the above experimentE. Isenmann, G. Ambrosio, J. F. Joseph. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans / Archives of Toxicology noted that the actual dose of the substance in the supplement was many times lower than what was indicated on the packaging - 6 mg per capsule versus the declared 100 mg.

Thus, even if ecdysterone does help build muscle and increase strength indicators, no one guarantees that in the purchased supplement it will be exactly as much as it is written on packaging. Or whatever will happen.

It seems to make more sense to spend money on a proven nutritional supplement like protein or creatine, and find a good trainer if you don't already have one.

Iya Zorina