Role in Body
Androstenedione is a steroid hormone which is naturally produced in the body. Androstenedione does not have any biological effect on its own, but it is an important precursor for both male and female sex steroids. Androstenedione is made by both the adrenal glands and the gonads (ovaries or testis) through a series of chemical reactions that convert cholesterol into androstenedione. Androstenedione can then be converted through another series of chemical reactions into either estrogen or testosterone. An 1988 article in the "Journal of Biological Chemistry" explains that testosterone can also be converted by enzymes in the liver to form androstenedione.
As A Supplement
Androstenedione has been marketed and sold as a supplement for athletes. This compound, often referred to as "andro," can be used to help build muscle mass. Supplementation of androstenedione works to cause the body to make more testosterone, because the two hormones have to be at an equilibrium in the body--if you add more of one, the body will make more of the other. Testosterone has many effects on the human body, but of primary interest to athletes is its promotion of lean muscle growth.
Clinical Effects
A study published in the February 2000 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association" found that regular use of androstenedione could elevate testosterone levels in healthy young males, but only when high levels (300mg per day) were taken. The FDA has also taken action against companies that sell androstenedione as a supplement because there are concerns over the compound's safety. In high doses, androstenedione can disrupt the body's hormonal balance; because androstenedione can be converted both to estrogen and testosterone, it can cause levels of estrogen to rise in males (resulting in testicular atrophy and impotence). It can also cause females to develop masculine characteristics, such as increased body hair, a lower voice and male pattern baldness.
