Ecdysterone

Ecdysterone Dosage

What this means for men who take ecdysterone is that they are exposing themselves to potential health risks if they take more than a couple of grams of ecdysterone a day. High dosage use can lead to plaque on the heart, clogged arteries and more. This is a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease.

Ecdysterone is easily found in foods. Essentially, if you eat green vegetables, then you are ingesting ecdysterone. In fact, most people get 3 to 4 time of the amount of ecdysterone needed in the foods that they eat. The risk of heart problems when getting ecdysterone through food is non-existent.

Ecdysterone Weight Loss and Muscle Growth

Ecdysterone is often billed as a weight loss supplement. However, a recent study showed that ecdysterone has no benefit on the body for weight loss or muscle gain. There were three control groups in this study, those who were on ecdysterone supplements, those who were taking placebo and those who were getting ecdysterone from their diet.

All of the groups studied followed the same workout regimen each day. The results showed no difference in weight loss and muscle gain between groups. The conclusion was that ecdysterone has no benefit at all when it came to muscle mass or weight loss.

Of course, this is just one study and it is not uncommon for different studies to net different results. Just be aware of the current background, and use your own judgment to assess the results of whatever supplement you decide to use.

Ecdysterone and Science

Unfortunately, there is very little science to back up the claims that supplement companies make regarding ecdysterone. They will quote studies conducted in the early 1970s as proof of the benefits of ecdysterone.

The bottom line is that these studies were poorly conducted, were conducted in Russia, and the studies were conducted on insects, rats and quail. That’s right, there were no human studies conducted.

It stands to reason that injecting an insect with ecdysterone would produce a steroidal effect simply because this is something that is naturally produced in their bodies. Ecdysterone isn’t naturally produced in the human body, and with the exception of the lowered cholesterol benefit, there aren’t any studies supporting ecdysterone for other uses.

This steroidal effect is not something that is reproduced in humans. There have been no human studies showing the benefits of ecdysterone. In fact, the study mentioned earlier, which was conducted by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, is the only published human study for ecdysterone. The final conclusion for the study was that “…they have no teratogenic, sex-hormonal, anabolic, or analgesic properties”

While it often takes dozens of human studies to determine the benefit or non benefit or an herb, compound, supplement and so on, in this case you will need to look at the lack of studies to determine whether or not ecdysterone is right for you. There have been a couple of studies conducted in China, however, the focus wasn’t on weight loss or muscle gain. Instead, these studies focused on the possible health benefits of ecdysterone. One study showed that ecdysterone could help lower blood sugar levels.

Ecdysterone Benefits

So, what does this mean for the ecdysterone supplement? It can be relied upon to lower your cholesterol, and probably your blood sugar levels. However, any use for muscle gain or weight loss is largely unproven. There are many other supplements, like creatine , that have far more research supporting the benefits in this area.

Ecdysterone Side Effects

The only reported side effects of ecdysterone is that is causes stomach upset which can include gas and bloating. However, it is usually human trials of a product that brings out the most side effects. That is because scientists can assess from a large group of people common complaints to determine what the side effects of a product are.

Without human studies, it is difficult to determine what the side effects and interactions of ecdysterone might be. That is why it is important that if you are on any medication or have any health issues that you contact your doctor before you take ecdysterone or any other supplements.

If you do decide that this supplement meets your needs, keep your doctor informed and pay attention to all changes in your body. If you need some further information, take a look at the comprehensive list of options on the nutrition page. Use the supplement finder  to point you in the right direction now!