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Anabolic effect of ecdysterone strong enough to put it on the doping list

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Anabolic effect of ecdysterone strong enough to put it on the doping list

Ecdysterone, a steroid-like substance found in spinach, quinoa and bodybuilding supplements, has a stronger anabolic effect than scientists suspected. German biochemists have worked out how ecdysterone makes muscle fibres bigger and stronger – and they think that this natural steroid can help the elderly to maintain muscle strength. And that ecdysterone should perhaps be placed on the doping list.

Alpha and beta estrogen receptors
The female sex hormone estradiol attaches itself in cells to its estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta. Via the alpha receptor estradiol stimulates the growth of the fatty layers on the hips and breasts, and aggression; via the beta receptor it keeps bones strong, maintains a healthy cholesterol balance and keeps the blood vessels supple – and muscle mass up to the mark.

The latter has been known more or less for sure since molecular scientists at the German Sport University in Cologne published an animal study in FASEB Journal, in which they gave castrated male a compound [Beta], which attaches itself specifically to the estrogen-beta-receptor. [FASEB J. 2012 May;26(5):1909-20.] The figure below shows the effect of injections of the substance on the Levator ani muscle.

TP = testosterone propionate; Flu = flutamide [a substance that blocks the effect of testosterone]; Intact = untreated, non-castrated rats; Orchi = untreated castrated rats.

The Japanese also observed that in rats with a normal intake of vitamin B5, their vitamin B5 levels decreased as a result of the combination of frequent physical exercise and a high fat diet. The effect was less pronounced however than what we've shown above.

Vitamin B5, the testosterone vitamin
"The requirement for pantothenic acid in rats is synergistically increased with the combination of exercise and a high-fat diet", the Japanese researchers wrote. "These results suggest that pantothenic acid intake should be increased in the presence of exercise or a high-fat diet, and especially when these conditions are combined. Intake of adequate pantothenic acid may prevent disorders characterized by a lack of pantothenic acid."

The figures on the right show what happened to rats' testosterone level when they were given food that contained no vitamin B5 [PaA]. [J Vet Med Sci. 2009 Nov;71(11):1427-32.] It decreases. This is probably because of something that happens in the testes, as the absence of vitamin B5 in the diet has no effect on the secretion of the messenger hormones LH and FSH.

The researchers suspect that the decline in the testosterone level that results from a vitamin B5 deficiency occurs because of a decrease in the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the testes. The testes make testosterone from cholesterol.

Wild speculation on our part
It may just be the case that some athletes on a low-carb (and thus fat-rich) diet can boost their testosterone levels by a teeny weeny bit by taking vitamin B5. This would certainly be the case for vegetarian or vegan athletes who get no cholesterol from their diet.

Source: J Vet Med Sci. 2009 Nov;71(11):1427-32.
 

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