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Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans
- Source :
- Archives of toxicology. 93(7)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Recent studies suggest that the anabolic effect of ecdysterone, a naturally occurring steroid hormone claimed to enhance physical performance, is mediated by estrogen receptor (ER) binding. In comparison with the prohibited anabolic agents (e.g., metandienone and others), ecdysterone revealed to be even more effective in a recent study performed in rats. However, scientific studies in humans are very rarely accessible. Thus, our project aimed at investigating the effects of ecdysterone-containing products on human sport exercise. A 10-week intervention study of strength training of young men (n = 46) was carried out. Different doses of ecdysterone-containing supplements have been administered during the study to evaluate the performance-enhancing effect. Analysis of blood and urine samples for ecdysterone and potential biomarkers of performance enhancement has been conducted. To ensure the specificity of the effects measured, a comprehensive screening for prohibited performance-enhancing substances was also carried out. Furthermore, the administered supplement has been tested for the absence of anabolic steroid contaminations prior to administration. Significantly higher increases in muscle mass were observed in those participants that were dosed with ecdysterone. The same hypertrophic effects were also detected in vitro in C2C12 myotubes. Even more relevant with respect to sports performance, significantly more pronounced increases in one-repetition bench press performance were observed. No increase in biomarkers for liver or kidney toxicity was noticed. These data underline the effectivity of an ecdysterone supplementation with respect to sports performance. Our results strongly suggest the inclusion of ecdysterone in the list of prohibited substances and methods in sports in class S1.2 “other anabolic agents”.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Adult
Male
Anabolism
sports performance
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Ecdysterone
medicine.medical_treatment
Metandienone
Estrogen receptor
Urine
Performance-Enhancing Substances
010501 environmental sciences
Pharmacology
Athletic Performance
Toxicology
01 natural sciences
Anabolic Agents
Cell Line
Myoblasts
03 medical and health sciences
Mice
Young Adult
Double-Blind Method
Doping
medicine
Animals
Humans
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
business.industry
ecdysterone
humans
resistance training
spinach extract
Resistance Training
General Medicine
Steroid hormone
030104 developmental biology
Dietary Supplements
business
Anabolic steroid
Biomarkers
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14320738
- Volume :
- 93
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Archives of toxicology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2ad3817a6e10a612c2af8cc57507641e