Ecdysterone

How You May Benefit:

Boost immune functioning
Theoretically improve immunity with effects similar to growth hormone in humans, though this isn't proven
Increase oxygen uptake
Potentially enhance the development of mature red blood cells (erythrocytes)
Combat muscle wasting
Potentially increase muscle tissue by increasing nitrogen retention and protein synthesis in insects, not humans
Burn bodyfat
Possibly stimulate the metabolism to help support fat loss—again only in insects

Overview

If you search through Medline™ or some other scientific research database looking for information on ecdysterones, you're going to be disappointed... because there's nothing to support that it really works for anything. While it might be all the rage among entomologists (insect experts) for performance supplementation and trying to build muscle or lose fat, it just doesn't live up to its claims. Clearly, not a supplement to get excited about... unless you're using it, in which case you should be furious for wasting your hard-earned money.

Usage

Amount: The recommended amount of ecdysterone is around 500 mg per day, which is the amount used in studies. But, we've heard anecdotal reports of people using as much as 1,200 mg safely per day. Typically, though, most products contain about 75 to 100 mg per day, which might be an ineffective range.

Timing: Ecdysterone is recommended to be taken with large amounts of protein (ideally, 30 to 50 grams).

Athletes have tried supplementing with ecdysterones to get ripped, to increase muscle, and to have the strength-to-weight ratio of an ant. But all they get is "ripped off." Flat out, until good, solid clinical research (on humans) can show us otherwise, we'll lean to the side of "this stuff is worthless." Save your money, please.

Safety Information

Safety:
Ecdysterones appear to be quite safe. Plants use them as natural insecticides, although humans do not. Contrary to theory, ecdysterones don't influence testosterone production, so they don't come with androgen-related negative side effects either.

Toxicity:
None known.

Bans and Restrictions:
None reported.

References

Arletti, R., et al., "Stimulating Property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata Extracts on the Sexual-Behavior of Male Rats," Psychopharmacology 143.1 (1999) : 15-9.

Azizov, A.P., "Effects of Eleutherococcus, Elton, Leuzea, and Leveton on the Blood Coagulation System During Training in Athletes," Eksp Klin Farmakol 60.5 (1997) : 58-60.

Chermnykh, N.S., et al., "The Action of Methandrostenolone and Ecdysterone on the Physical Endurance of Animals and on Protein Metabolism in the Skeletal Muscles," Farmakol Toksikol 51.6 (1988) : 57-60.

Chiang, H.C., et al., "Immunomodulating Effects of the Hydrolysis Products of Formosanin C and Beta-Ecdysone from Paris Formosana Hayata," Anticancer Res 12.5 (1992) : 1475-8

Fomovskaia, G.N., et al., "Immunomodulating Effect of Ecdysterones," Ukr Biokhim Zh 64.2 (1992) : 56-61.

Gadzhieva, R.M., et al., "A Comparative Study of the Anabolic Action of Ecdysten, Leveton and Prime Plus, Preparations of Plant Origin," Eksp Klin Farmakol 58.5 (1995) : 46-8.

Slama, K., et al., "Insect Hormones in Vertebrates: Anabolic Effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Japanese Quail," Experientia 52.7 (1996) : 702-6.

Syrov, V.N., "Mechanism of the Anabolic Action of Phytoecdisteroids in Mammals," Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki .11 (1984) : 16-20.

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