Supplements essays

Supplements essays The effects of Androstenedione vs. DHEA supplementation in men. Androstenedione is a popular and widely used supplement among body builders and athletes. Dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA is a wellknown precursor to testosterone, as well as a special interest as an anti aging supplement. Both supplements have been criticized for their ineffectiveness or lack of proof. Androstenedione has become extremely popular since, once home run, king Mark Mc Gwire admitted to using it during his extremely popular home run race in 1998. The NFL, the International Olymipic Committee and NHL have banned the use of it. Androstenedione is a natural precursor to testosterone. The adrenal glands and gonads produce Androstenedione. In the liver Androstenedione can be converted to testosterone and back depending on the need (1). The anabolic effects that testosterone displays are what is desired by users. Androstenedione can also be converted to estrone, a predominantely female hormone (2). This conversion is responsible for many of the possible negative side effects. The recommended dosage of androstenedione is 25mg to 100mg daily. Most supplement companies have made claims that androstenedione can boost testosterone. There have been no studies done to date that androstenedione boosts testosterone enough to achieve any anabolic effects. There have been many independant studies that claim a 211% to 337% raise in serum testosterone levels but only for a limited amount of time. In a study called the acute effects of androstendione supplementation in healthy young they examined the effects of andr o supplementation on the hormone profile of 10 young males and its interaction males with resistance exercise. The test subjects were given 200mg of androstenedione for 2 days and then 2 weeks later they were given either androstenedione or a placebo. On the second day they performed resistance exercises. There was a 2-3 fold increase in an...