NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Ecdysterone

20-Hydroxyecdysone

Plant steroid marketed as a 'natural anabolic' for muscle gain.

Preliminary evidence ⚡Performance

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Preliminary
Research weight
Citations
7 verified / 7
Classification
Performance
❝
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.

OutcomeEvidenceEffectStudies
Increase muscle mass with resistance trainingOne WADA-funded RCT showed ~2 kg gain, but two other RCTs found no effect; products often under-dosed. Mixed ↔ mixed 3
Improve strength/bench-press performanceSingle positive RCT vs two null RCTs; one null trial's product had <0.1% of labelled ecdysterone. Mixed ↔ mixed 3

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
No established dose; trials used ~100–800 mg/day standardized ecdysterone over 8–12 weeks, though most commercial products contain far less than labelled.
Active Compounds
20-Hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone)Polypodine BRelated phytoecdysteroids

Safety & Cautions

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.

Key Studies

RCT Dissemond 2025 ✓ PubMed
12-wk RCT (n=24): commercial phytosteroid product showed no muscle/strength benefit vs placebo; product had <0.1% of labelled ecdysterone.
RCT Isenmann 2019 ✓ PubMed
10-wk WADA-funded RCT (n=46): high-dose ecdysterone + training raised muscle mass ~2 kg and 1-RM bench press vs placebo, dose-responsively.
Safety Ambrosio 2020 ✓ Full text
Analysis of ecdysterone supplements found actual content frequently far below the labelled amount, exposing poor quality control across products.
RCT Wilborn 2006 ✓ PubMed
8-wk RCT (n=45 trained males): 200 mg/day 20-hydroxyecdysone did not improve strength, body composition or anabolic/catabolic hormones vs placebo.
Review Tariq 2025 ✓ Full text
Molecular modelling: ecdysterone preferentially binds estrogen receptor beta (not androgen receptor or ERα), supporting an ERβ-mediated anabolic mechanism.
Review Todorova 2024 ✓ Full text
Narrative review (Nutrients): animal/in-vitro data abundant but robust human RCTs few; ecdysteroids regarded as safe and well tolerated short-term.
Review Parr 2015 ✓ PubMed
Preclinical work: ecdysterone produced strong hypertrophy of rat soleus fibers, exceeding metandienone and a SARM; acts via estrogen receptor beta.
7 sources cited · 7 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Ecdysterone

What is Ecdysterone used for?

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 7 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 26 Jun 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 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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