Description
Ecdysterone is widely marketed to athletes as dietary supplement, advertising to increase strength and muscle mass during resistance training, to reduce fatigue and to ease recovery.
Uses
Ecdysterone is a type of ecdysteroid compound that is naturally found in some insects and plants, including spinach. It’s primarily taken in supplement form to improve muscle gains and athletic performance.
Some research suggests it can help people put on lean muscle mass and increase strength and power more easily within about two to three months.
Ecdysterone supplements also go by several other names, including spinach extract, 20-hydroxy-ecdysterone, beta-ecdysterone and alfa-ecdysone.
Side effects
Ecdysterone is considered to be generally safe as long as it’s not overused. In the U.S., it’s currently not banned or treated like a steroid, however it is on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2021 Monitoring Program list, which means WADA intends to gather more information about the substance to determine if it should be prohibited or not.
One of the most reliable studies mentioned above found that taking it in supplement form did not lead to symptoms of liver or kidney toxicity. It also seems to lead to fewer side effects compared to other steroid drugs, such as changes in appetite, mood, libido, hair growth and sleep.
Source
Ecdysterone is a natural type of steroid that is derived from certain plants, including spinach and quinoa. It’s technically a type of phytoecdysteroid.
Keep in mind that “steroids” are organic compounds and not necessarily the same thing as synthetic anabolic steroids (variations of the male sex hormone testosterone).
