Introduction

This article provides a brief overview of ecdysterone, what it is, dosing, benefits, and side-effects.

Two good and in-depth articles on the topic include:

• ‘Practical Uses for Ecdysteroids in Mammals Including Humans: and Update‘ by R. Lafont and L. Dinan published on 01 January 2003.
• ‘Ecdysteroids‘ by Kamal Patel updated on 28 September 2022.

What is Ecdysterone?

• Ecdysterone is a type of ecdysteroid compound that is naturally found in some insects and plants, including spinach.
• It is a naturally occurring ecdysteroid, and not an anabolic-androgenic synthetic steroid.

What are Ecdysteroids?

• Ecdysteroids are a type of steroid hormone found in insects, certain water animals, and some plants.
• In insects, they control various life-cycle processes, such as ecdysis (moulting) and metamorphosis of arthropods.
• Ecdysteroids have a similar structure to the male hormone testosterone, but there is no evidence that it works like testosterone in humans.
• People use ecdysteroids for athletic performance, diabetes, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Other Terms

• Ecdysteroids
• Ecdysone
• Ecdysterone or beta-ecdysterone
• 20-Hydroxyecdysone, 20E, or 20HE
• Turkesterone
• Integristerone A
• 24(28)-dehydramanisterone A
• Viticonsterone E
• Sileneoside A and C
• Ponasterone A
• Cyasterone
• Phytoecdysteroids (are plant-derived ecdysteroids)

Dosing

• There is not enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of ecdysteroids might be.
• Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important.
• Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a medical/healthcare professional before using.
• With this in mind, many bodybuilders take between 500mg and 1,000mg per day.
  • However, your body might be more sensitive to ecdysterone than others.
  • Therefore it is recommended to begin with a small dose, such as 250 mg.
  • The maximum recommended dose is 1,000 mg.
  • There is no scientific evidence to support these doses.

Does it Enhance Performance?

There is evidence that ecdysterone does and does not improve performance.

• Results from a 2006 study by Wilborn et al. stated that it does not “not affect body composition or training adaptations nor do they influence the anabolic/catabolic hormone status or general markers of catabolism in resistance-trained males.”
• Results from a 2019 study by Isenmann et al. saw “significantly more pronounced increases in one-repetition bench press performance”. and “Significantly higher increases in muscle mass were observed in those participants that were dosed with ecdysterone.”

Does It Have Any Benefits?

• According to analysis by Lafont and Dinan (2003) this supplement has been shown to be an effective all round health booster, having positive effects on the cholesterol levels, brain tissue, blood glucose regulation as well as liver, kidney, lung, and immune function.
• Claimed benefits include:
  • Improved muscle gains.
  • Boosts to strength and athletic performance.
  • Improved recovery.
  • Supports immune function.
  • Improved insulin sensitivity.
• Benefits seem to show at doses around 10mg/kg.

Is Ecdysteone Banned, Especially for Athletes?

It is not currently a banned substance, although many researchers and experts suggest it should be.

It is currently on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) 2023 monitoring programme. The World Anti-Doping Code (Article 4.5) states: “WADA, in consultation with Signatories and governments, shall establish a monitoring program regarding substances which are not on the Prohibited List, but which WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.”

Are There Any Side-Effects?

• It is not considered to carry toxicity side effects, say many retailers of the product.
• However, there is not enough research on ecdysterone to determine whether it has any negative side effects or how severe they might be.
• On 31 December 1998, IC Biochemicals performed a safety test to determine ecdysterone’s toxicity levels.
  • The data showed that you would have to consume 6,400 mg/kg to reach a toxic point.
    • Injected at a dose of 6,400 mg per kg of body weight or 9,000 mg per kg of body weight when taken orally.
    • If you took 800 mg, it would be about 10 mg per kg for a 180 lb man.
  • Therefore, the average person would have to take 4,121 times the recommended dosage to be in danger.
  • Thus, the toxicity levels are considered very low.

Of course, you should always speak to medical/healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, and this is even more prevalent if you have underlying health or medical concerns.