Ecdysteroids are found in some muscle building supplements these days, and they have done what few ingredients manage to do in this business – they’ve changed status from confusing gimmick to legit anabolic muscle enhancer.
The important part of this story is that scientists now know what these mysterious compounds do in the human body.
You’ll notice that the word ‘ecdysteroids’ contains ‘steroids’, which is down to their chemical structure. The ‘ecdy’ bit relates to the molting process in insects – ecdysis but they are found in plants too. Basically, ecdysteroids are growth hormones for insects and plants. Bug hormones!
Don’t get too weirded out (or excited) just yet though, you’re not going to turn into a bug-related superhero if you take these supplements.
It turns out we humans have receptors which accept some of these ecdysteroids. Common ones include 20-hydroxecdysone, ecdysterone, turkesterone and ecdysone.
When scientists first found this out, and saw that the chemical structure was similar to androgenic hormones, they looked for androgenic effects. However, they didn’t find them.
This meant that they couldn’t be marketed as the natural anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), and therefore can’t be hailed as a testosterone booster, so if that’s what you’re looking for – a test boost – you’re SOL with ecdysteroids.
However, ecdysteroids can increase protein synthesis in humans, without the need for the androgenic pathway.
This actually means they don’t cause negative side effects. And considering many people using something like this would be looking for the protein synthesis (and thus, muscle growth) effect anyway…these compounds appear to have been given a second chance.
Muscle, Yes. Testosterone, No
Researchers now believe these compounds act in a similar way to anabolic steroids, but without the androgenic effects.
The most famous androgenic hormone we have is testosterone.
The initial problem with ecdysteroids was that they were prematurely billed as being the next big T boosters, and when this was found to be false, these compounds suffered the fate of many other ingredients in this industry – they were laughed out of the forums.
It was only when the scientists cleared their throats and said that ecdysteroids might not boost testosterone but they do trigger protein synthesis, and sometimes on a level with synthetic steroids, the bodybuilding world started listening again.
Protein synthesis is the production of the building blocks of muscle tissue; a process that most people who frequent the weights area of the gym are interested in speeding up.
Some opt for illegal, or shady, methods, while others go the natural route. Wouldn’t it be something if both groups could have their way, legally, and safely?!
Early Days for Ecdysteroids
Scientific research, while looking promising, is in its early days yet. Human trials are thin on the ground and even rarer are those studies where experienced weight lifters are the subjects, to see if these substances can still elicit muscle growth in gym veterans.
Either way, there appears to be only positive effects of ecdysteroids like 20-Hydroxyecdysone: including reduction of bad cholesterol, regulation of glucose, improvement of liver and intestinal health. It might even protect the brain.
The one you’re interested in is protein synthesis though. Here’s an interesting study.
Product Recommendation
And with that we’ll tell you about a cutting edge product we’ve found that actually contains one of these compounds.
D.Bal.Max owes the provenance of its name to the original oral anabolic steroid Dbol, short for Dianabol (methandrostenolone). There are several huge differences between the two of course – D.Bal.Max is safe for a start, and doesn’t affect your natural testosterone production (whereas Dianabol would shut it down!).
We have written a complete review of D.Bal.Max on our site, which you can read by following the link below.
Remember us when you’re a muscle-bound demigod, and the insect ‘roids we told you about!
Click here to read the D Bal Max Review
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