What the evidence says. Graded preliminary: one small WADA-funded RCT showed real muscle/strength gains, but an earlier RCT and a 2025 training study found no benefit, and many supplements are grossly under-dosed — so the human signal is suggestive, not convincing. (Preliminary evidence: Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.)
What is Ecdysterone?
Ecdysterone (20-Hydroxyecdysone) is a performance supplement used for muscle mass support. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) is a steroid-like compound found in spinach, quinoa and certain herbs, sold as a 'natural anabolic' that works through estrogen receptor beta rather than androgen receptors. The strongest human data is a single 10-week WADA-funded RCT (n=46) reporting larger gains in muscle mass (~2 kg) and bench-press performance versus placebo in resistance-trained men, with a dose-response pattern. However, an earlier 8-week RCT found no effect on strength, body composition or hormones, and a 2025 12-week trial of a commercial product also found no benefit over placebo — partly because the product contained almost none of its labelled ecdysterone. Independent analyses repeatedly show supplements are mislabelled or under-dosed. The mechanism is biologically plausible and short-term tolerability looks good, but the human evidence is small, mixed, and not yet replicated. Note: ecdysterone is on WADA's Monitoring Program.
Purported Benefits
✓Muscle mass support
✓Strength gains
✓Resistance-training adaptation
✓Marketed steroid alternative
Evidence by outcome
The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.
No established dose; trials used ~100–800 mg/day standardized ecdysterone over 8–12 weeks, though most commercial products contain far less than labelled.
Short-term human trials report good tolerability with no consistent rise in liver or kidney markers and no androgenic steroid-profile changes, but no long-term safety data exist. Because it acts on estrogen receptor beta, theoretical caution applies in hormone-sensitive conditions; data on pregnancy, breastfeeding and drug interactions are essentially absent. Product quality is a real hazard — independent testing repeatedly finds supplements grossly under-dosed or, conversely, spiked with undeclared compounds, so contamination with banned anabolics is a documented risk. Ecdysterone is on the WADA Monitoring Program, so competitive athletes should treat it cautiously. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Ecdysterone with any medicine.
Ecdysterone is most often taken for Muscle mass support, Strength gains, Resistance-training adaptation, Marketed steroid alternative. Plant steroid marketed as a 'natural anabolic' for muscle gain.
Does Ecdysterone work — what does the evidence say?
Preliminary evidence. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive. Ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) is a steroid-like compound found in spinach, quinoa and certain herbs, sold as a 'natural anabolic' that works through estrogen receptor beta rather than androgen receptors. The strongest human data is a single 10-week WADA-funded RCT (n=46) reporting larger gains in muscle mass (~2 kg) and bench-press performance versus placebo in resistance-trained men, with a dose-response pattern. However, an earlier 8-week RCT found no effect on strength, body composition or hormones, and a 2025 12-week trial of a commercial product also found no benefit over placebo — partly because the product contained almost none of its labelled ecdysterone. Independent analyses repeatedly show supplements are mislabelled or under-dosed. The mechanism is biologically plausible and short-term tolerability looks good, but the human evidence is small, mixed, and not yet replicated. Note: ecdysterone is on WADA's Monitoring Program.
What is the typical dose of Ecdysterone?
No established dose; trials used ~100–800 mg/day standardized ecdysterone over 8–12 weeks, though most commercial products contain far less than labelled.
Is Ecdysterone safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Short-term human trials report good tolerability with no consistent rise in liver or kidney markers and no androgenic steroid-profile changes, but no long-term safety data exist. Because it acts on estrogen receptor beta, theoretical caution applies in hormone-sensitive conditions; data on pregnancy, breastfeeding and drug interactions are essentially absent. Product quality is a real hazard — independent testing repeatedly finds supplements grossly under-dosed or, conversely, spiked with undeclared compounds, so contamination with banned anabolics is a documented risk. Ecdysterone is on the WADA Monitoring Program, so competitive athletes should treat it cautiously.
How many studies support Ecdysterone?
NutriDex cites 8 sources for Ecdysterone, graded "Preliminary".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Ecdysterone (20-Hydroxyecdysone): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/ecdysterone
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_ecdysterone,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Ecdysterone (20-Hydroxyecdysone): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/ecdysterone},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.