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Androstenediol
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Main functions
- Natural anabolic steroid.
- Increases muscle mass.
Theoretical foundations
Androstenediol is a precursor for testosterone synthesis.
Although androstenediol is a steroid, it is currently unknown whether oral doses of this supplement can significantly increase testosterone levels. Testosterone synthesis is only one of several pathways through which androstenediol is converted. Most of these reactions are dependent on enzyme activity and rely on a complex feedback mechanism that is not yet fully understood.
Research results
Androstenediol was synthesized in 1932. Experiments conducted in 1935 on castrated dogs found a mild anabolic effect. Androstenediol was virtually forgotten until 1962, when androstenediol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplements were given to women (n = 4) to determine whether their testosterone levels would increase [9]. Doses of 100 mg of both drugs produced a temporary increase in testosterone levels. No measurements of strength or athletic performance were made.
King et al. evaluated the effects of androstenediol supplementation (300 mg/day) in untrained men during 8 weeks of resistance training. Serum testosterone and estrogen levels, muscle size and strength, serum lipids, and markers of liver function were measured before and during the study in the supplemented (n = 10) and placebo (n = 10) groups. No differences in serum testosterone, muscle size, or strength were found between the androstenediol group and the placebo group. However, the androstenediol supplemented group had significantly reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and significantly increased serum estrogen levels, which may have detrimental health consequences with long-term supplementation.
Recommendations
Androstenediol is a legal dietary supplement, but it is banned by several sports governing bodies, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the National Football League (NFL), and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Other sports governing bodies are evaluating androstenediol and may ban it as well. That hasn’t diminished its appeal to young athletes. And while the supplement’s makers claim it is safe, there is no scientific evidence to support that claim.
If androstenediol does indeed increase testosterone levels like a banned anabolic steroid, the same harmful side effects may occur. Pregnant women, adolescents, and individuals with certain medical conditions (such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, or an enlarged prostate) should not take this supplement. Due to the lack of safety data and the high potential for health risks associated with androstenediol use, it is not recommended as a dietary supplement for athletes.
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