[P-a-n-1-c]

Ecdysterone

Recently, plant sterols, in particular Ecdysterone based
supplements, have been making a come back. Some may
recall plant sterols such as Beta Sitosterol, Diosterol,
Gamma Oryzanols, Smilax, Stigmasterol and other plant
sterol products were heavily marketed some years back.
They dropped out of favor with athletes due to the fact they
didn't work in increasing muscle mass and lacked any hard science to justify their
use. As is common, a compound will pop up, get a lot of press in the magazines,
then disappear for a few years where it will pop up again after people have
forgotten it didn't work the first time.
Ecdesterone appears to be the latest plant sterol of choice. A plant sterol Is
basically a compound derived from plants that has structural similarities to that of
human steroids such as testosterone or other hormones.
Ecdysterone is in the phytoecdysteroids family of which there are approximately
200 plant steroids related in structure to the invertebrate steroid hormone 20-
hydroxyecdysone.
Though similar in structure as steroids found in humans (i.e. testosterone) close
does not cut it in reality. As the saying goes, “other than horse shoes and hand
grenades, close does not count.” What this means is that a steroid hormone has a

very specific lock and key fit to its receptor and just because something looks like
the same key does not mean it will fit the lock.
As a rule, western scientists have generally dismissed plant sterols as having any
anabolic (muscle building) effects in the human body and consider the sale of such
products as a scam and snake oil.
However, researchers in places like Japan, Russia and various eastern block
countries have had a much more positive view of Ecdysterone and have come to
the conclusion that they do have biological effect in humans and might be useful to
athletes. Several Russian scientists I know, and various athletes, swear by certain
products whose main ingredient are plant sterols, in particular, Ecdysterone.
Though there is little doubt that most plant sterols have no anabolic effects in
humans, does that mean all plant sterols have no effects in humans? Did we throw
out the baby with the bath water by deciding all plant sterols had no effects in
people? It's possible.
There is some research on Ecdysterone (beta-ecdysterone) that suggests it may
increase protein synthesis in people and has been shown to improve performance
in athletes.
It has also been shown to increase protein synthesis in some animal's models.
However, it should be clearly noted that this research is from the aforementioned
countries and has never been confirmed by western research, which is considered
far more stringent. Not to mention the fact that animals are not people.

So what’s the bottom line? At this time I see no reason to start running to the store
to buy Ecdysterone or any other product containing plant sterols for anabolic
purposes.
However, it might also be wise to not close the door on this topic and be prepared
to keep an open mind to the possibilities that some plant sterols could, in particular
Ecdysterone, be found to have some beneficial effects in humans. Much more
research is needed however.
Truth be told regarding this writers feelings on the matter, I would not be holding
my breath... For building muscle, ecdysterone gets a thumb's down at this time.
Slama, K. and K. Koudela, et al. "Insect hormones in vertebrates: anabolic effects
of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Japanese quail," Experientia 52 (1996), p. 702-706.
Syrov, V. N. “Phytoecdysteroids: their biological effects in the body of higher
animals and the outlook for their use in medicine,” Exp. Clin. Pharm. 57/6 (1994),
p. 57-60., Dinan, L. "Phytoecdysteroids: biological aspects," Phytochemistry 57/3
(2001), p. 325-3