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Androsterone

Synonyms: 1-DHEA, 1-Androsterone, 1-Andro

What is androsterone?

Androsterone, also known as 1-DHEA, 1-Androsterone or 1-Andro, is a steroid prohormone that is metabolized in the body to a form of testosterone known as 1-testosterone or dihydroboldenone. Androsterone has a weak androgenic effect and its potency is estimated to be about one-seventh that of testosterone. It is produced in the human body as a metabolic product of testosterone, but also occurs naturally in the pollen of certain pine trees (1).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is generous with naturally occurring plant ingredients and therefore, despite the fact that it acts in the same way as an anabolic steroid, this ingredient can be legally sold as a supplement in America. A number of supplement manufacturers have taken advantage of this regulation and incorporated androsterone into a range of products. In other countries, prohormones are treated in the same way as anabolic steroids, meaning that in these countries the sale and sometimes possession or use may be illegal.

Why should you use androsterones?

Because prohormones are legal in some countries, or have been in the past, and can be legally incorporated into their products by major companies in the US and other countries, many users believe that prohormones like androsterones are safer and more harmless than anabolic steroids. Similar to steroids, prohormones such as Androsterone are used to increase strength and muscle mass, reduce fat and shorten recovery time. Androsterone is known for its anti-oestrogenic effects and is therefore often used in combination with prohormones, which are converted into oestrogen in the human body. This property also makes Androsterone a popular choice during a fat loss cycle. Androsterone is also unique in that it can cross the blood-brain barrier and act as a positive modulator of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain (2). Androsterone users report that this active ingredient can produce a feeling of well-being.

Androsterone side effects

The side effect most commonly reported by Androsterone users is a pronounced lack of energy. This may have something to do with its role in increasing GABA levels, which is associated with relaxation and sleep (2). Since this substance is legally available in America, it has been relatively well studied and there is reliable data showing a negative impact on cardiovascular health and metabolic health (3). Other reported side effects include reduced libido, increased anxiety and aggression, and hair loss. As with other anabolic steroids, users of androsterone risk their body reducing its own testosterone production in response to the presence of this exogenous hormone. This means that in the long term, low testosterone levels could be a possible side effect of Androsterone, especially if Androsterone is used over a long period of time, in high doses or not cyclically.

Androsterone alternatives

There are a large number of safe, non-hormonal testosterone boosters on the market that are completely legal in most countries. These differ from Androsterone in that they maximize the body's own natural testosterone production rather than supplying the body with foreign hormones. These active ingredients include Tribulus Terrestris, a popular and effective plant extract, and D-Aspartic Acid, a natural amino acid that stimulates the body's own hormone release. People looking for a product to lower oestrogen levels will also find a whole range of safe and natural alternatives on the market.

References

  1. Simons, R. G., & Grinwich, D. L. (1989). Immunoreactive detection of four mammalian steroids in plants. Canadian Journal of Botany.67, 288-96.
  2. Reddy DS (2010). "Neurosteroids: endogenous role in the human brain and therapeutic potentials". Prog. Brain Res. 186: 113-37
  3. Grandos. J, Gillum. T, Hodges. C, Kuennen. M. 3-hydroxy-5alpha-androst-1-en-17-one Enhances Muscular Gains but Impairs the Cardio-metabolic Health of Resistance Trained Males. International Journal of Exercise Science.