Testosterone prohormone supplements

Testosterone prohormones such as androstenedione, androstenediol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have been heavily marketed as testosterone-enhancing and muscle-building nutritional supplements for the past decade. Concerns over the safety of prohormone supplement use prompted the United States F...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2006-08, Vol.38 (8), p.1451-1461
Main Authors: BROWN, Gregory A, VUKOVICH, Matthew, KING, Douglas S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androstenediols - adverse effects
Androstenediols - pharmacology
Androstenedione - adverse effects
Androstenedione - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
Dehydroepiandrosterone - adverse effects
Dehydroepiandrosterone - pharmacology
Doping in Sports - legislation & jurisprudence
Drug and Narcotic Control
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Substance Abuse Detection
United States
Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
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Summary:Testosterone prohormones such as androstenedione, androstenediol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have been heavily marketed as testosterone-enhancing and muscle-building nutritional supplements for the past decade. Concerns over the safety of prohormone supplement use prompted the United States Food and Drug Administration to call for a ban on androstenedione sales, and Congress passed the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, which classifies androstenedione and 17 other steroids as controlled substances. As of January 2005, these substances cannot be sold without prescription. Here, we summarize the current scientific knowledge regarding the efficacy and safety of prohormone supplementation in humans. We focus primarily on androstenedione, but we also discuss DHEA, androstenediol, 19-nor androstenedione, and 19-nor androstenediol supplements. Contrary to marketing claims, research to date indicates that the use of prohormone nutritional supplements (DHEA, androstenedione, androstenediol, and other steroid hormone supplements) does not produce either anabolic or ergogenic effects in men. Moreover, the use of prohormone nutritional supplements may raise the risk for negative health consequences.
ISSN:0195-9131
1530-0315
DOI:10.1249/01.mss.0000228928.69512.2e