Androstenedione hormone information, benefit, safety, review and side effects by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Androstenedione is a natural steroid hormone that was available over the counter as a supplement up to March 2004. There are still at least three other hormones available over the counter including melatonin, DHEA, and pregnenolone. The FDA has banned the sale of androstenedione as an over the counter supplement. However I still get emails from raw material suppliers trying to sell the following, so I'm not sure what is going on.

1, (5 alpha) Androstene -3,17 diol
1,(5 alpha)- Androstenedione
1,4- Androstadiene 3B, 17B dione
1,4-Androstadiene-3,17, diol
19 Nor Androstenediol
3,6 17 Androstenedione
4-Androstenediol
5-alpha-Androstanediol 
5-Androstenediol
5-Androstenedione
6-Bromoandrostenedione

The metabolism of androstenedione to testosterone
Basically pregnenolone, the grandmother of all steroid hormones, is converted into DHEA, which in turn is converted into androstenedione, which can then be converted into testosterone and estrogens. Hence, androstenedione side effects are likely to be similar to the side effects of DHEA, testosterone, or other androgens, and perhaps partially similar to estrogen side effects.
   Androstenedione is mostly made in the adrenal glands and testicles but can also be made in other parts of the body. It is banned by the International Olympics Committee, professional tennis, the National Football League and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. It remains legal in professional baseball, where McGwire's admission (a few years ago) to using it during the season when he hit a record 70 home runs boosted its popularity.

Benefits
Some body builders report anecdotally that they notice increased strength on the days they work out when they use it. Others use it occasionally to boost sex drive or wellbeing. Those who are young and already have high levels of testosterone or androstenedione in their system are not likely to notice much of a sex boosting effect. Middle aged and older individuals may notice the benefits more easily. It is potentially an alternative to DHEA or testosterone as a form of androgen replacement in aging men or women.

A highly publicized study indicates that androstenedione may not live up to its hype. The study published in the June 2, 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association compared 300 mg with a dummy pill in 20 men ages 19 to 29 during an eight-week weightlifting program. Researchers found no difference in strength between the two groups of men.

Passion Rx, Medical Doctor formulated to boost libido in men and women

This herbal sex booster provides results that are sometimes seen within hours, but continue to improve the next day, and over several days of use. Our feedback thus far indicates more than 85% user satisfaction. This natural product supports and enhances healthy: Libido and sexual thoughts; Erectile function; Orgasms and climaxes; Energy and stamina. In recent years science has made breakthroughs in the understanding of sexual dysfunction. But, for hundreds of years, civilizations around the world have known about locally grown herbs that achieve wonderful results with far fewer side effects than prescription drugs. Now, renowned physician and herbal expert Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., author of Natural Sex Boosters, has discovered a combination of exotic herbs from the Amazon jungle, India, China, Malaysia, and Africa, that provides a natural solution for those seeking an alternative to synthetic drugs.

The effective herbal extracts include Ashwagandha herb, Catuaba, Cnidium, Horny goat weed , Maca, mucuna pruriens, Muira puama, Passion flower, rhodiola herb, Tribulus terrestris, and Tongkat ali.

Androstenedione side effects, safety, risks, danger
Androstenedione can have androgenic side effects that include acne, scalp hair loss, facial hair growth in women, aggressiveness, and irritability. Chronic use can also raise levels of estrogen, something that could lead to enlarged breasts and an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Prostate enlargement could be a concern in older men. Long-term side effects with regular use for months or years are currently not fully known.

Hepatotoxicity of androstenedione in pregnant rats.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2005.
Androstenedione, a naturally occurring steroid hormone, is a dietary supplement used to enhance athletic performance. Little is known, however, about the safety of androstenedione use by young adults including women of child bearing age. To test the possible hepatotoxic effects of androstenedione use, this study was undertaken using a rat model. Pregnant rats (six rats/dose) were exposed to androstenedione in corn oil by gastric intubation beginning 2weeks before mating and continuing through gestation day 19. On gestation day 20, blood and livers were collected from the pregnant rats for analysis of hepatotoxicity endpoints: serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), total microsomal P450, nuclear DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. Under these experimental conditions, no significant differences were observed in any of these biomarkers over the concentration range examined.

I have noticed my 21-year-old's personality to have completely changed after several months of weightlifting and changing to a high protein diet. In addition to that, he takes Ripped Fuel, creatine, androstenedione and Xenadrine RFA-1 (ephedrine). He's aggressive, somewhat confused and has recently even broken up with his girlfriend of seven years, among other things. Just last week, I witnessed him pulling out his eyebrows and eating them. When I questioned him, he said, "It's protein." I do not know how he is taking these supplements or if he even takes them simultaneously. At one point, he was taking Human Growth Factor 1 as well. I spoke with our doctor about the changes in his behavior and she believes it's the changes he's made in his diet and the supplements. He says doctors don't know what they're talking about. He has definitely developed muscles (pumped up, if you will), but it seems like it's at the expense of his disposition. Have you heard of this happening to others?
   Yes, it’s most likely due to the androgens along with other stimulants.

Future potential
Doctors sometimes prescribe DHEA or testosterone to middle-aged and older men and women in order to increase libido and wellbeing, along with bone strength. Androstenedione, the father of testosterone, may be an alternative.

Summary and review
At this point, based on our limited knowledge of androstenedione, it is difficult to make any firm recommendations. If you are planning to take androstenedione, either for its body-building potential (which is not proven), or its sex boosting effects (which not everyone notices), limit your dosage to less than 20 mg, and take it only temporarily, that is, for a few days at a time. Have off periods of a few weeks or months between use in order to minimize any potential side effects. Androstenedione may be beneficial to those who are found to be deficient in testosterone. It may perhaps be an alternative to testosterone replacement. You may still have access to it by prescription through compounding pharmacies.

You mention that it may still be available through a doctor / RX. I have been searching and can't see to find where or who may prescribe it and where to buy androstenedione. Can you be more specific?
   Androstenedione is available through compounding pharmacies, you can do an internet search for them and then you need a doctor's prescription to get it filled in order to buy it. These are special pharmacies.

Research
Androstenediol administered sublingually with cyclodextrin bypasses first-pass hepatic catabolism and increases serum androstenedione, free testosterone, total testosterone, and estradiol concentrations.

Prohormones and sport.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002.
Several precursors of testosterone and nandrolone introduced on the nutritional supplement market as performance enhancing drugs are banned in sports. Until now they are legally sold without a prescription in the US. Results of excretion studies with related compounds including 7-keto-DHEA and 1-androstenediol are presented. The main metabolites of 7-keto-DHEA are 7-hydroxylated compounds. The commercial 1-androstenediol preparation was contaminated with several other anabolic steroids. Oxidation of 1-androstenediol to 1-androstenedione seems to be the major renal metabolic pathway. Additionally contaminated nutritional supplements containing banned substances not indicated on the label were administered. The results of the excretion studies indicate that after the intake of amounts substantially lower than the recommended dose athletes can fail a doping test for periods up to 120 h.