spec sheet11 rows
Ecdysterone, also known as 20-hydroxyecdysone, is a naturally occurring steroid of the ecdysteroid class that serves as a molting hormone in insects and is also produced by many plants. Sold as a dietary supplement to athletes, it has drawn attention as a possible non-conventional anabolic agent. A controlled human study reported gains in muscle mass and strength, prompting researchers to recommend its addition to sports doping-control lists.
- one of the few non hormonal muscle builders with a human trial
- more muscle mass than placebo in a controlled training study
- bench press strength gains in that same trial
- works through ERbeta, not the androgen receptor
- does not aromatize to estrogen
- no liver or kidney toxicity markers in the human trial
Overview
Ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) is the most common ecdysteroid, a family of polyhydroxylated steroids that act as molting hormones in insects and crustaceans. Many plants also synthesize it, apparently as a defense against insect herbivores, and it occurs in edible species such as spinach and quinoa as well as in herbs like Rhaponticum and Cyanotis that are used to make concentrated extracts [2]. Chemically it is built on the ecdysteroid skeleton and is quite distinct from the anabolic-androgenic steroids derived from testosterone.
Ecdysterone is marketed as a dietary supplement, frequently labeled a natural anabolic and aimed at strength and physique athletes. Interest in it grew out of animal work suggesting it can stimulate protein synthesis and muscle growth without the androgenic effects that accompany classic anabolic steroids [2].
A ten-week controlled study in resistance-training men reported that participants given ecdysterone-containing supplements gained significantly more muscle mass and improved bench-press performance more than controls, with no rise in markers of liver or kidney stress; on this basis the authors recommended that ecdysterone be added to the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances under the heading of other anabolic agents [1]. The overall body of human evidence remains small, and the actual ecdysterone content of commercial products varies widely.
Ecdysterone is not an approved medicine; it is treated as a dietary supplement ingredient and is legal to sell in many countries. Its potential to enhance athletic performance has nonetheless made it a subject of anti-doping scrutiny [1].
Mechanism
Unlike anabolic-androgenic steroids, ecdysterone does not appear to act through the . Laboratory studies indicate that its muscle-building effect is mediated by the receptor, and specifically by estrogen receptor beta (ER-beta); in muscle cells ecdysterone activates ER-beta signaling to drive hypertrophy, an effect that can be blocked by an estrogen-receptor but not by an anti-androgen [2]. Downstream, ecdysterone treatment has been associated with increased protein synthesis and higher levels of -like growth factor-1 () [2], and in humans supplementation was linked to measurable gains in muscle mass and strength [1]. In insects, by contrast, the same molecule works through a separate nuclear ecdysone receptor to control molting and development.
receptor fingerprint
receptor beta (ERbeta)Acts as an ERbeta agonist to drive muscle hypertrophy
and signalingEngages downstream anabolic protein-synthesis pathways
Does not bind or activate it
Dosingtypical ranges, not medical advice
interested in protocols and clinical dosages? make an account to see them! ^_^
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
Ecdysterone has looked well tolerated in the short-term human studies run so far; a 10-week supplementation trial found no biomarker signals of liver or kidney toxicity, and no serious acute or chronic adverse events have been documented. Because it acts on estrogen receptors rather than androgen receptors and does not aromatize, it lacks the acne, virilization, gynecomastia and HPTA-suppression risks of anabolic-androgenic steroids and SARMs. The main honest caveat is that long-term safety data simply do not exist; it is a relatively new supplement with limited follow-up. Reported user complaints are mild, dose-dependent and typically tied to exceeding label doses. Athletes should also note that ecdysterone has been flagged for anti-doping monitoring, so competitive testing status is worth checking.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
One of the very few non-hormonal muscle-building supplements with an actual controlled human trial behind it, and it looks well tolerated without the androgenic baggage of SARMs. Just be clear the case rests largely on that single trial, so expect a modest edge rather than a transformation.
Where to buy
1 other outlet
Suppliers
Vendors carrying Ecdysterone, with live product details and codes. Links are affiliate links that support the wiki at no cost to you.
Amazon
Ecdysterone
iHerb
Ecdysterone
Research
- 1.Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans
- 2.Estrogen receptor beta is involved in skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by the phytoecdysteroid ecdysterone
2 listed here; entry last updated August 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
Is ecdysterone a steroid or hormone?
It is a plant ecdysteroid that does not bind the androgen receptor or aromatize; its anabolic effect appears to run through estrogen receptor beta, which is technically hormonal but different from anabolic steroids.
How good is the muscle evidence?
There is one encouraging 46-person human trial showing muscle and strength gains, but it is a single small study, so treat it as promising rather than proven.
Why split the dose through the day?
Its plasma half-life is only a few hours and oral bioavailability is low, so spreading intake helps maintain exposure.
Is it banned in sport?
The human trial authors recommended adding it to WADA's prohibited list as an other anabolic agent, so competitive athletes should check current rules.
Limitations of the evidence
- Human safety data remain limited
- Long-term effects are not well studied
Notes and cautions
- Supplement content and purity vary widely between products
- May be prohibited in competitive sport as an anabolic agent