Understand What Ecdysteroids Are

Understand What Ecdysteroids Are

Athletes are constantly seeking ways to improve performance, speed recovery, and optimise training outcomes. This pursuit has led many into the world of dietary supplements, where a wide variety of ingredients—ranging from vitamins to hormone-like compounds—are marketed as legal shortcuts to elite performance.

One such group of compounds generating buzz in athletic circles is ecdysteroids. Although not currently banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, ecdysteroids are under active surveillance by WADA through its Monitoring List. This means athletes need to stay informed and cautious.

This article provides a step-by-step explanation of what ecdysteroids are, their effects on the human body, and what athletes should know before considering any product containing them.

Step 1: Understand What Ecdysteroids Are

Ecdysteroids are steroid-like compounds naturally found in insects, certain plants, and fungi. They are best known for their role in insect growth and development, where they regulate moulting and metamorphosis.

Ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone or 20E)

Turkesterone

Ecdysone

In insects, ecdysteroids are essential for survival and growth. In plants, they serve a different function, acting as a defence mechanism against pests and environmental stress.

Although structurally similar to human steroids, ecdysteroids are not produced in mammals, and their biological effects in the human body remain under investigation.

Step 2: Learn Where Ecdysteroids Are Found

You may be consuming small amounts of ecdysteroids unknowingly in your everyday diet.

Foods such as

Spinach

Quinoa

Asparagus

Suma root

Leuzea (Maral root)

Contain natural ecdysteroids, though at levels not typically considered anabolic or performance-enhancing.

The concern arises from highly concentrated supplements, which are formulated to deliver much larger doses. These supplements are often marketed to athletes and bodybuilders with promises of lean muscle gain, improved strength, and better endurance, similar to traditional anabolic steroids, but are legally sold under the category of “natural products.”

Step 3: Know How Ecdysteroids Are Marketed to Athletes

Supplements containing ecdysteroids are often labelled as

“Natural anabolic boosters”

“Plant steroids”

“Safe alternatives to steroids”

“Testosterone-free muscle builders”

Products might claim

Increases in muscle protein synthesis

Enhancements in lean muscle mass

Reductions in fat mass

No side effects or hormonal disruption

Despite these claims, scientific consensus is still forming. Some small-scale studies suggest potential anabolic activity, but the data are limited, and real-world effects can vary based on dosage, purity, and individual biology.

Step 4: Assess the Science: What Do We Know About Human Effects?

Historically, scientists believed that ecdysteroids had no impact on humans due to structural differences from human hormones. Specifically, they were thought not to bind to human androgen receptors, which are responsible for most anabolic effects in the body.

However, recent research has challenged this assumption. A few studies have shown that:

Ecdysteroids may interact with estrogen receptors, although not in the same manner as estrogen itself.

Supplementation with ecdysteroids (especially ecdysterone) may increase protein synthesis in muscles, contributing to muscle growth under resistance training.

These effects were observed in both animal models and small-scale human trials, but larger studies are needed for confirmation.

Step 5: Check the WADA Status

As of April 2025:

Ecdysteroids are NOT prohibited by WADA.

However, since 2020, ecdysteroids have been placed on the WADA Monitoring List, which means WADA is closely observing their use and gathering data.

This is a critical step in determining whether they should eventually be added to the Prohibited List.

What is the WADA Monitoring List?

The Monitoring List includes substances not currently banned but suspected of:

Offering performance enhancement

Posing health risks

Being widely used in sports settings

Monitoring helps WADA collect usage data and evaluate whether regulation is warranted. If you're an athlete subject to anti-doping rules, stay updated, because what is legal today might be banned tomorrow.

Step 6: Understand the Risks of Supplement Use

Supplements are poorly regulated in many countries, including the U.S. This means:

Ingredients may not match the label

Cross-contamination with banned substances is common

Some ecdysteroid supplements have been found to contain anabolic steroids or SARMs not listed on the label

Athletes should use only supplements that are third-party tested and certified for purity and banned-substance-free assurance.

Tools to Stay Safe

Supplement Connect

NSF Certified for Sport

Informed-Sport

Even with certifications, zero risk is impossible, but using tested products greatly reduces the likelihood of ingesting a banned or harmful substance.

Step 7: Know the TUE Rules

A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is not required for ecdysteroids because:

They are not on the WADA Prohibited List

Therefore, no permission or paperwork is needed to use them under anti-doping rules

However, if ecdysteroids were to become prohibited in the future, that could change, so athletes must remain vigilant.

Step 8: Understand the Medical Status of Ecdysteroids

As of 2025:

No FDA-approved medications contain ecdysteroids

There are no official medical uses recognised in Western medicine

Research is ongoing for potential therapeutic roles in:

Muscle wasting diseases

Osteoporosis

Recovery support after injuries

Currently, ecdysteroids remain a non-pharmaceutical, supplement-only compound.

Final Thoughts: What Should Athletes Do?

Ecdysteroids occupy a grey area in sports science—not illegal, not fully proven, and not risk-free. Here’s a quick guide for responsible athletes:

✅ Do

Stay informed about the latest WADA updates

Use only third-party tested supplements

Track your supplement use in a journal or app

Consult a sports dietitian or medical professional

❌ Don’t

Assume “natural” means “safe”

Use products with unclear labelling or no certifications

Ignore WADA Monitoring List substances

Believe every marketing claim without evidence

Conclusion

Athletes are responsible for what enters their bodies. Ecdysteroids may appear attractive as “natural muscle boosters,” but their status remains scientifically uncertain and subject to regulatory change. Staying educated and cautious is your best performance-enhancing strategy in the long run.