Androsterone is an anabolic steroid used by bodybuilders and athletes alike to increase lean muscle mass and improve physique for competitions. The latter is a huge goal for both men and women that run in these circles.
What is Androsterone?
Androsterone (also called 1-androsterone) is used to boost the production of the male sex hormone testosterone. By doing so, Androsterone is said to have the ability to:
- Enhance athletic performance
- Build muscle
- Reduce body fat
- Boost energy
- Keep red blood cells healthy
- Increase sexual desire and performance
Androsterone became popular as a supplement used by Mark McGwire, the baseball homerun hitter, as well as another professional athletes. However, in January 2005 in the US, some legislation came into effect called the Anabolic Steroid Control Act 2004. Now, this piece of legislation changed the bodybuilding and sports world as steroids such as Androsterone were reclassified from dietary supplement to an anabolic steroid (a schedule III controlled substance).
Also Read: Are steroids legal in the USA?
Often referred to as ‘1-Androsterone’ (1-androstene 3b-ol, 17-one), or 1-andro, Androsterone is a metabolite of 1-DHEA, a member of the somewhat ‘designer’ steroid hormones.
Is Androsterone legal?
Androsterone is considered a banned substance by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Not only that, but in the United States, it is illegal to include anabolic steroids in dietary supplements and they’re also banned by the World Anti Doping Agency.
All anabolic steroids including 1-androsterone are banned by the likes of the Anti Doping Agency because there is insufficient evidence surrounding their effectiveness. As there isn’t much research into what Androsterone can do, there is a concern around it being possibly unsafe. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of the more experienced users or a beginner, taking special precautions and ensuring you’re health isn’t at risk should be a top priority.
The anabolic steroid act is there for a reason, and anabolic steroids aren’t approved by the food and drug administration either. Your health and safety is more important muscle building and fat loss. If you’re in the right crowd of bodybuilders then we’re sure they’ll tell you all the best ways to raise testosterone levels with “dietary supplements” and give you an exercise program that’ll have you boasting about your muscle size in no time.
How does Androsterone work?
Once taken, whether oral androstenedione administration or otherwise, it needs to be processed by the liver. Here it will gain the enzyme it needs to become a steroidal compound and promote the anabolic benefits.
This is how some prohormones avoid the illegal status of other designer steroids. Prohormones do not become active until they have passed through the liver. Whereas, anabolic steroids start working immediately and don’t need any other enzyme to create an effect on your androgenic hormone or testosterone levels.
In the body, 1-androsterone is a prohormone produced by the adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries. The body then metabolizes the androstenedione into testosterone, the male sex hormone, as well as into the estrogens, estrone and estradiol. This subsequently creates an increase in testosterone levels as well as estradiol levels. It is also said that androsterone may be used to increase plasma testosterone levels.
Androsterone or 1-androsterone contains a chemical called 4-DHEA, which is similar to our naturally occurring prohormone. However, there isn’t much study into it and related compounds have been known to prevent aromatization. Doing so it stops the body from converting testosterone into estrogen and can have an effect on sexual function and bone growth.
Androsterone benefits
When used as a part of a healthy diet and exercise program, 1-androsterone may promote the following benefits:
Muscle growth
Subjects taking 330 mg per day of 1-andro while completing a 4-week training program showed significant improvements in body composition, but researchers caution that the damage done to the body far outweighed the gains the subjects experienced.
Also Read: Legal Steroid Alternatives That Work Fast
There have been studies to show that androsterone has been successful in promoting lean muscle gains. The participants were taking 330mg per day of 1-androsterone whilst also completing a four-week training program and the results showed a massive improvement in body composition. However, researchers cautioned that the damage done to the body far outweighs any benefits to gain.
Fat loss
Whilst more experienced users of prohormones will need to supplement with a cutting or bulking supplement, androsterone seems to void the need for separation. Others claim that they’re capable of burning huge amounts of body fat whilst building lean mass. There has been research to back this up and it suggests that anabolic steroids prime the body for protein synthesis and fat loss.
Strength enhancement
That same study discovered that the participants taking androsterone managed to improve their back squat and workload overall. Whilst the strength levels of the subjects did increase, there is insufficient evidence to state whether the gains were able to be maintained. Additionally, the adverse effects of 1-androsterone made any muscle growth seem irrelevant.
Androsterone side effects
Women might develop masculine traits including deepening of the voice, facial hair, acne, male-pattern baldness, and coarsening of the skin. Women may also experience abnormal menstrual periods and depression. Androstenedione can increase the chances of getting cancers of the breast, prostate, or pancreas; and it is poisonous to the liver.
Oral androstenedione is potential quite unsafe, the androsterone side effects men have experienced include:
- Reduced sperm production
- Shrunken testicles
- Painful erections
- Gynecomastia (manboobs)
- Heart disease
- Changes in behavior, aggression, etc
Women taking Androsterone may develop masculine traits, such as:
- Deepening of the voice
- Facial hair
- Acne
- Male pattern baldness
- Coarser skin
Professional medical advice indicates that women who are pregnant or breast feeding should avoid Androsterone and probably anabolic hormones altogether. Due to the fact that 1-androsterone is changed by the body into hormones and likely creates increased testosterone, this could cause harm to pregnant women, unborn babies and breast feeding infants. You and your baby (if you’re pregnant or breast feeding, obviously) are way more important than athletic performance and muscle building.
Postmenopausal women also need to approach Androsterone with caution. Androgens are a really important part of women’s health, they’re responsible for sexual wellbeing and the structure of the genitourinary tract. Now, post menopause women have increased luteinizing hormone to induce androgen secretion from the ovaries and adrenal glands. There have been studies to suggest that high levels of Androsterone in the body can increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
It’s also really important to note that Androsterone side effects can be way more serious. There are some concerns that androstenedione supplementation increases the risk of developing breast cancer, prostate cancer as well as pancreatic cancer. It’s also poisonous to the liver.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, it is said that the strength and purity of some androsterone products may not match the product labels. It’s no wonder that the Anabolic Steroid Control Act exists nor why the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved the likes of Androsterone or other “dietary supplements” for use.
Depression
There is concern that androstenedione supplements might make depression worse in women. This is because some women with severe major depression have naturally high levels of androstenedione, so some people think there may be a connection. However, it is not known if taking androstenedione supplements causes depression.
There is the potential that androstenedione supplements may cause a significant increase in depression in women. This is because some women who suffer from severe depression have naturally high levels of 1-androsterone. It has led to some believing that there is a connection. However, again due to insufficient evidence it is not clear if androstenedione administration causes depression.
Hormone-sensitive cancers and conditions
Androstenedione is the steroid hormone used by the body to make testosterone and estrogen. Taking 1-androsterone can apparently increase estrogen levels. Those men and women that suffer from hormone-sensitive conditions should avoid androsterone. Some of these conditions include:
- Breast cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
Liver disease
There is some concern that androstenedione may harm the liver. As far as we’re aware, no cases have actually been reported, however, steroids similar to 1-androsterone have been linked to liver problems. We’d advise that you don’t take androstenedione if you have any type of liver disease or other liver condition. Even if you don’t have liver disease, it’s best to get liver function tests if you take androstenedione.
Due to the fact that androstenedione supplementation has the potential to cause harm to your liver, chronic androstenedione intake could create a whole world of problems. If you ever get to this point with Androsterone or any other steroids, seek professional medical advice.
Prostate cancer
There is some concern that androstenedione has the potential to increase the chances of developing prostate cancer. Developing research suggests that androstenedione can encourage prostate tumor cell growth and prostate enlargement. If you have prostate cancer, we’d advise against androstenedione supplementation.
Other potential health risks include:
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Mood swings
- Kidney disease
- Liver toxicity
- Weight gain
- Loss of muscle mass
- Decrease in HDL cholesterol
If you’re someone that suffers from high cholesterol, you may put yourself at further risk of strokes, heart attacks, and potentially even death.
What’s the appropriate dose of Androsterone?
The appropriate dose of 1-androsterone is dependent on several factors such as the user’s age, health, as well as other conditions. As it currently stands there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for androsterone. 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 your doctor or other healthcare professional before using.
A typical cycle of androsterone should last 4 weeks, but there are anecdotal reports of more experienced users being able to take it for up to 8 weeks. A starting dosage for beginners is 300 mg per day, and the maximum dosage is said to be 1,000 mg per day, but this is for those users who have completed several cycles of 1-androsterone.
So, if you’re an anabolic beginner and you’ve never used a prohormone before, it’s highly recommended to start with a very low dosage and slowly increase it each week. Here’s a breakdown of a beginner-friendly dosage schedule of 1- androsterone:
- Week 1: 200 mg
- Week 2: 250 mg
- Week 3: 300 mg
- Week 4: 325 mg
The bottom line
Whilst prohormones such as androsterone or 1-androsterone may make big promises to promote muscle growth and give you that increased testosterone that rival designer steroids, the truth of the matter is that any gains you may see quickly fade away after the cycle ends. After which what you are left with is a grocery list of side effects that could potentially require medical advice diagnosis or treatment.
So why would you take the risk? Instead, go for steroid alternatives or natural muscle building supplements and pair them with a comprehensive exercise program and dietary plan.
Get RIPPED the safe way
When you’re looking to pack on some serious muscle size, it can be tempting to look to anabolic steroids that promise to help you gain lean muscle, enhance your muscle size and boost endurance… But sadly, the side effects can be pretty damn daunting.
Is it worth it? We think not. 1-androsterone can also lead to an imbalance in your estrogen levels, totally sabotaging your efforts in the gym. But there is another way to get STACKED.
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- Boost your testosterone levels
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- Increase strength
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