Ecdysteroids are gaining popularity in the fitness world, being referred to as a “natural product with anabolic effect”. These ecdysteroids are found in insects, where they perform functions related to growth and reproduction. Ecdysteroids can also be found in plants and vegetables, such as spinach. Here too, ecdysteroids play the role of growth and repair. Spinach plants that are more damaged in their growth therefore also contain more ecdysteroids.[1]*
Ecdysteroids were first found in Japanese cancer research, beginning in 1968. The researchers extracted the ecdysteroids and administered them to mice to see their effects. It improved protein synthesis.[2]*
Ajuga Turkestanica
In the mountains on the border of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the Ajuga Turkestanica plant grows, which resembles the zenegroen, which is better known in the Netherlands. The plant was known among the population there as a plant with healing powers. In the 1980s, researchers Usmanov et al. found out that this plant contains a lot of ecdysteroids, and the new ecdysteroid Turkesterone was obtained from this plant.[3] This acquisition process was later perfected.[4] It was later discovered that Turkesterone is the strongest variant of all ecdysteroids, although all ecdysteroids are very similar and do not differ much in terms of physical binding and effect.[5]*
A Russian Secret
In higher sports circles, ecdysteroids slowly became better known as sports enhancers. During the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, there was a strong suspicion that the Soviet Union, where Uzbekistan and Tzadjikistan were located at the time, administered ecdysteroids to their athletes.[6] However, this has never been proven. The Soviet Union and East Germany won by far the most medals in these Games.[7] Ecdysteroids are sometimes still referred to as “a Russian secret” in the sports world.*
Rome
Research was conducted in Rome in 2019 into ecdysteroids, with a supplement containing 100mg Ecdysterone from spinach and 100mg leucine per capsule. While the athletes' blood values remained the same, the groups that took the supplement had significantly more growth in strength, muscle growth and muscle recovery. Ecdysteroids do not act on the androgen receptors and therefore do not have the typical side effects of steroid use, such as hair loss and blurred vision. The use of the supplement is also not reflected in the blood test. [8] It could be speculated that this is the reason why doping use among Soviet athletes in 1988 could not be demonstrated.*
The 2019 Rome study was conducted on 46 athletes, and the results were such that the researchers proposed including ecdysteroids in List S1 “Anabolic Agents” of the World Anti-Doping Agency. However, this has not happened, because ecdysteroids are currently only on a watch list - perhaps because they do not immediately have the same effects as other steroids, which are often coarser.*
Possible Side Effects
To date, there is no research showing any strange side effects of supplementing with Turkesterone and Ecdysterone. For athletes using androgen-acting steroids or SARMS, Turkesterone/Ecdysterone is a promising alternative.[9]*
Signals from the Sports World
Although long-term studies are still lacking, the effects of Ajuga Turkestanica extracts with Ecdysterone and Turkesterone are again and again healthy when it comes to muscle growth and muscle recovery. The signals we receive from the sports world are that the supplement has a particular effect on the kilos that can be lifted in the gym. There is no mention of bad side effects by athletes at the doses we use.*
Purchase
Our Ajuga Turkestanica extracts are quality controlled. We therefore recommend that you buy your Turkesterone and Ecdysterone supplementation from Apex, and not from suppliers who may underdose.
* Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with your healthcare professional before starting any new dietary supplement.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0981942808001022
[2] https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/cpb1958/16/2/16_2_384/_article/-char/ja/
[3] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00580923
[4] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02249133
[5] https://turkesterone-europe.nl/blogs/nieuws/de-voordelen-van-turkesterone-voor-atleten
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447764/
[7] https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/seoul-1988
[8] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00204-019-02490-x#Fig6
[9] https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cmc/2008/00000015/00000001/art00006