Ecdysterone: history, description, use in bodybuilding

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Sports nutrition that contains phytoecdysterone is produced under the name Ecdysterone (as well as Ecdisten). This substance is found in plants such as safflower leuzea, Turkestan tenacious and Brazilian ginseng. Basically, all modern dietary supplements are based on the first one.

Ecdysterone is believed to have biological effects in humans. But in scientific circles there is heated debate on this issue and there is no clear opinion yet about the effectiveness of drugs on this basis. Available objective studies confirm the positive effects, but all of them were conducted on animals. There is no evidence of any effect of ecdysterone on libido or the ability to have an erection. However, since the product is relatively safe, it can be used as a nutritional supplement for athletes if the athlete himself feels improvements and shows good results.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Pharmacodynamics

A drug with a steroid structure obtained from the roots of Leuzea safflower. It has a tonic effect, increases performance and enhances protein synthesis processes. Positively affects memory and the ability to remember information.

Unlike synthetic anabolic steroids, it does not have an androgenic, antigonadotropic effect, and does not affect the function of the adrenal cortex and thymus. Under its influence, the effect of sleeping pills is shortened.

Pharmacokinetics

Not represented.

The benefits and harms of ecdysterone

Based on the analysis of serious sources of information, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. No studies have been published on the effects of beta-ecdysterone on human performance.
2. There are no negative side effects.
3. There are no negative hormonal interactions.
4. Very low level of toxicity.
5. Helps regulate the synthesis of specific nucleic acids, helping muscles produce more protein, which allows the body to build muscle more efficiently.
6. Binds to muscle cell receptors, consistently affecting the body in much the same way as steroids and testosterone.
7. A notable difference between beta-ecdysterone and anabolic steroids is the apparent lack of androgenic effects.
8. There is not enough research to accurately determine whether this ecdysteroid is an effective anabolic agent.
9. In fact, it is so good that it may soon be included in the list of prohibited substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Indications for use

• long-term intoxication, infections;
• rehabilitation in the postoperative period;
• neurasthenia;
• asthenic syndrome;
• mental and physical fatigue;
• arterial hypotension (with combination therapy);
• intensive training for athletes in the presence of signs of myocardial overstrain, increased protein breakdown, in order to increase strength qualities in preparation for competitions.

Note

While taking Ecdysterone, the athlete must carefully monitor the quality of his diet. It is important to consume enough proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Since the product to some extent promotes muscle mass gain, it is necessary to provide the cells with additional building material.

Intense training combined with supporting the body with zinc, magnesium, omega-3,6,9 acids, protein and calcium gives the best results and keeps the athlete healthy.

Contraindications

The drug Ecdisten is contraindicated in:

• mental agitation;
• insomnia;
• epilepsy;
• exacerbation of peptic ulcer;
• arterial hypertension;
• hyperkinesis;
• epilepsy;
• fructose intolerance;
• pregnancy;
• under 18 years of age;
• hypersensitivity.

Sources[edit | edit code]

1. Slama K, Koudela K, Tenora J, Mathova A: Insect hormones in vertebrates: anabolic effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Japanese quail. Experientia 1996, 52(7):702-6.
2. Slama K, Kodkoua M: Insect hormones and bioanalogues: their effect on respiratory metabolism in Dermestes vulpinus L. (Coleoptera). Biol Bull 1975, 148(2):320-32.
3. Tashmukhamedova MA, Almatov KT, Syrov VN, Sultanov MB, Abidov AA: . Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki 1985(9):37-9.
4. Syrov VN: . Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki 1984(11):16-20.
5. Kholodova Y: Phytoecdysteroids: biological effects, application in agriculture and complementary medicine (as presented at the 14th Ecdysone Workshop, July, 2000, Rapperswil, Switzerland). Ukr Biokhim Zh 2001, 73(3):21-9.
6. Toth N, Szabo A, Kacsala P, Heger J, Zador E: 20-Hydroxyecdysone increases fiber size in a muscle-specific fashion in rat. Phytomedicine 2008, 15(9):691-8.
7. Wilborn C, Taylor L, Campbell B, Kerksick C, Rasmussen C, Greenwood M, Kreider R: Effects of methoxyisoflavone, ecdysterone, and sulfo-polysaccharide supplementation on training adaptations in resistance-trained males. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2006., 3(2).

Instructions for Ecdisten (Method and dosage)

The drug is taken orally, before meals, 1-2 tablets 3 times a day for 15-20 days. After a week's break, treatment can be repeated.

In sports medicine - 2-4 tablets 3 times a day. The maximum single dose is 0.025 g (5 tablets), daily dose is 0.1 g (20 tablets). To achieve an anabolic effect, you simultaneously need to receive increased amounts of protein, B vitamins and minerals from food.

The use of the drug does not affect the ability to drive.

Recommended dosage

Dietary supplements with ecdysterone are actively used by Western athletes to build muscle mass in complex courses as a natural alternative to steroids. At the same time, beta-ecdysterone has almost as many fans as skeptics. According to some reviews, the compound increases lean muscle mass within a few days. Others argue that the doses included in the supplements are too small to be effective.

Studies have shown that beta-ecdysterone supplements are completely safe at a dosage of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight. However, most food companies use significantly lower doses: only about 50-90 mg. Accordingly, to obtain impressive results, a much larger dosage will be required than that indicated in the manufacturer's instructions. Recommended doses of beta-ecdysterone for optimal results range from 300 to 500 mg/day.

Ecdisten in bodybuilding

Anabolic drugs have different structures and origins. One of the representatives of this group is the drug Ecdisten (from the grass and roots of the safflower plant). It has an anabolic effect, in the absence of side effects of anabolic steroids. The main effect of this drug is an increase in muscle mass, eliminating muscle fatigue during strenuous physical activity. In this connection, it has found application in bodybuilding. However, the effectiveness is 2 times less than that of steroids.

Herbal preparations are not doping. Rational application schemes have been worked out in detail and tested in various sports. During aerobic developmental exercise, take 2 tablets 3 times a day. With intense athletic activity, the dose is increased to 0.05 g 3 times a day. For bodybuilders, it is recommended to take 1-3 tablets 2-3 times a day during periods of intense work with heavy weights and during periods of developmental loads (a sharp increase in the volume of exercise). The duration of treatment ranges from 10 to 21 days. 3-4 courses are carried out with breaks of 10 days. Before using this drug, it is better to consult a sports physician.

History of the discovery of ecdysterone

Ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) was discovered in 1976 in the morphological structure of moulting insects, plants and some aquatic animals. The discovery was made by a group of Russian chemists under the leadership of Professor V. Syrov and with the participation of A. Kurmukov.

It was found that the plant steroid is contained in more than 150 plants. The highest content: leuzea, spinach, Brazilian ginseng root and sum. Since the beginning of the 21st century, it has been used in the production of dietary supplements proposed to improve athletic performance and general well-being of a person.

Reviews about Ecdisten

Only a few people took this drug for asthenia to increase physical activity and performance. More often there are reviews about its use in bodybuilding. Since it is a natural anabolic, even long-term use (1-2 months) of 10 tablets per day has no effect on the liver and does not cause hormonal disorders. Many people believe that the drug is effective if they have not previously taken anabolic steroids of chemical origin. It is believed that it simply increases physical activity and endurance.

“The drug works, but not very effectively. Greatly increases appetite"

“The effect is not worth the money spent”

“I think the drug is bad in terms of effect/price ratio”

Information from the book “Sports Pharmacology”[edit | edit code]

The drug ecdysterone or ecdisten (registered as a dietary supplement in Ukraine) is a natural compound with a steroid structure; it is obtained from plants widely used in folk medicine - Rhaponticum carthamoidis (Wild) Jilin (synonym: Leuzea carthamoidis DC) and Turkestan tenacious - Ajuga turkestanica (Rgl.) Brig, growing in Central Asia. The chemical properties and pharmacological action of ec-disthene have been studied by Japanese, Uzbek and Russian scientists. The chemical structure of the drug resembles the molting hormone of insects. Available in tablets of 5 mg (the content of the active substance is 98%, in addition they contain turkesterone and cyasterone, which enhances the effect of the main active ingredient).

Experimental studies have shown that the drug is low-toxic and has a wide range of biological effects. When it is introduced into the body of animals, a pronounced tonic and restorative effect is noted. Increases the adaptive capabilities of the animal body in relation to stressful environmental factors, improves their dynamic performance. Comparative studies indicate that in terms of general tonic effects, ecdisthene is superior to the drug saparal (a sum of triterpene glycosides from Manchurian aralia) widely used for these purposes.

An essential point in the mechanism of action of ecdisthene is its ability to activate the processes of protein biosynthesis in various organs and tissues, similarly to the well-known steroidal anabolic drugs (Nerobol, Retabolil). However, having a fundamentally different mechanism of anabolic action, this drug, unlike anabolic androgenic steroids, does not have their inherent hormonal effects (androgenic, thymolytic, antigonadotropic, etc.), which often complicate the use of these drugs, especially in women and children. In addition to protein metabolism, ecdisthene also has a positive effect on carbohydrate-phosphorus and lipid metabolism. Under its influence, accumulation of glycogen and high-energy phosphorus compounds (ATP and creatine phosphate) is observed in organs and tissues, and a clear hypocholesterolemic hypotriacylglycerolemic effect is noted.

Ecdysterone significantly improves the well-being of patients, increases general tone, enhances performance, increases body weight with reduced nutrition as a result of disruption of protein-synthesizing processes of various etiologies. Has a positive effect on the metabolic parameters of the heart muscle. Ecdisthene was found to have a hypoglycemic effect in patients with severe forms of diabetes, which made it possible to reduce the dose of insulin. Good results were observed in the treatment of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers, hepatitis of various etiologies.

In all cases of use of the drug, no side effects were noted, and no negative effects on the functions of the adrenal cortex and other endocrine glands were observed. Studies have noted a fairly pronounced general tonic effect on the body, especially in athletes during intense training loads. Moreover, when tested on athletes, 89% of those examined who received ecdisten noted a faster passing of the feeling of fatigue, apathy, improved exercise tolerance in sports such as athletics (jumping, middle-distance running), swimming, figure skating, speed running skating, cross-country skiing. It should be noted that in these sports, a similar effect when using saparal was observed in only 9% of athletes. When there was a need for a significant increase in the dose of ecdisten (observation of athletes - throwers and weightlifters, where the drug was used at a dose of up to 100 mg per day), the positive specific effect was not accompanied by any toxic phenomena.

The anabolic manifestations of ecdisthene in all cases were confirmed by clinical and laboratory studies (increase in body weight, hemoglobin and erythrocyte content, total protein in the blood serum, decrease in urea concentration). Anthropometric studies of individuals who repeatedly took ecdisten showed an increase in muscle mass with a slight decrease in the amount of total and subcutaneous fat. As a result of testing ecdisten in the practice of clinical and sports medicine, it has been established that it is advisable to prescribe it to patients who have neurotic conditions, hypotension, general weakness, vegetative-vascular dystonia, as well as somatic patients with asthenic and asthenodepressive conditions associated with a weakening of protein synthesizing processes in body. The use of ecdisthene for certain disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism has proven promising.

The drug is indicated for athletes specializing in many sports where it is necessary to improve speed and strength qualities and increase the functional state of the muscular system.

Actively influencing metabolic processes in organs and tissues, ecdisten is an effective means for preventing and eliminating myocardial overstrain syndrome after intense physical activity and promotes rapid recovery between competitions. It is advisable to use ecdisten by practically healthy people to prevent excessive mental and physical fatigue, as well as to correct the figure, especially in the complex of sports and recreational activities.

Thus, based on the results of the study of ecdisthene, the following conclusions can be drawn.

• Ecdisten is an original herbal preparation that has no analogue among approved drugs; recommended as a general tonic with a simultaneous anabolic effect.
• The therapeutic effect of ecdisten is most clearly manifested in asthenic and asthenodepressive conditions associated with a weakening of protein-synthesizing processes in the body, with reduced mental and physical performance, as well as with neurasthenia, neuroses, hypotension, increased fatigue, reduced adaptive capabilities of the body, impaired metabolic processes in organs, deterioration of adaptation and recovery processes after maximum and submaximal physical activity. The drug is well tolerated by patients, including the elderly. It is usually used 5-10 mg (1-2 tablets) 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 15-20 days, if necessary it can be repeated after a 1-2 week break. It is advisable to combine the intake of ecdisten with the consumption of protein preparations and B vitamins.
• Ecdisten is also effective in the practice of medical and biological correction of sports activity, especially in those cases where it is necessary to improve speed and strength qualities and increase the functional state of the muscular system. Its use by athletes does not contradict the requirements of anti-doping control.
• In terms of general tonic effects on the body, ecdisten is superior to saparal and (unlike the latter) has pronounced anabolic activity.
• Unlike anabolic steroid drugs (methylandrostenediol, nerobol, nerobolil, etc.), ecdisten, while providing an anabolic effect, does not exhibit their characteristic hormonal effects (primarily androgenic) and can be recommended in cases where the administration of steranobols is undesirable.

Based on the above, the Pharmacological Committee of the USSR Ministry of Health, by its Resolution dated July 5, 1984 (protocol No. 15), recommended ecdisten for medical use. By order of the USSR Ministry of Health No. 848 dated June 30, 1987, ecdisten is approved for widespread use (registration certificate of the USSR Ministry of Health No. 87/848/2). In 1998, the drug was re-registered in the Main Directorate for Quality Control of Medicines and Medical Equipment of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan under the same number 87/848/2. In Ukraine, ecdisten is registered as a dietary supplement and is therefore available today to Ukrainian athletes.

Sports nutrition

A person involved in sports wants to be resilient, gain muscle mass, and get rid of excess fat. Special nutritional supplements can help with this. To achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to use Ecdisten, the best drug for training with low intensity, but with a large volume of work, after high-intensity training.

The drug is of plant origin and by the way it acts it is clear that the effect of the herbal product is less than when using synthetic analogues. But it is not prohibited, without side effects.

To avoid negative consequences on the body, you need to know how to use the product correctly and adhere to the dosage regimen. The annotation indicates the exact dosage recommended for use. For weight gain in bodybuilding, it is recommended to take up to 120 mg per day; in extreme cases, the dosage can be increased to 600 mg.

You should not start using it immediately with a large dosage; each person has their own characteristics; it is necessary to check how the body reacts to this drug.

According to reviews from beginners, it turned out that with a large dosage side effects occurred: red spots and skin rashes appeared on the body. To avoid such manifestations, take the supplement correctly. The course of treatment is up to 15 days, then a break is taken for 10 days. Apply in cycles.

It is advisable to combine it with protein intake and a specially developed vitamin complex. Do not forget also about a properly balanced diet, include protein-rich foods in your diet. To speed up muscle gain and prevent muscle breakdown, take supplements containing more than 75% protein.

How to take Ecdisten correctly

The use of Ecdysterone in bodybuilding gives positive results:

• will help in pumping up muscles;
• increase testosterone levels;
• endurance will increase;
• promotes rapid recovery after a hard workout;
• there is no predisposition to addiction.

According to manufacturers, it has a powerful effect on the metabolic processes of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The active substances contained in the drug help muscles begin to grow and develop faster.

Many people are interested in the question of what is better to use tribulus or ecdysterone. This issue has not been fully studied; each dietary supplement has its supporters and opponents, who remain faithful to their favorite drugs.