Is Ecdysterone Dangerous?

Ecdysterone is a plant sterol widely used to build and maintain muscle mass. Ecdysterone results in fewer side effects than many other muscle-building methods, but still has some inherent dangers when consumed.

Dangers

• Ecdysterone can cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, nausea and even diarrhea. In women, ecdysterone can cause masculine changes such as a deeper voice, facial hair growth and additional body hair.

Reasons

• Ecdysterone's side effects exist because it increases the levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a metabolite.

Dosage

• The accepted dosage for consumption is around 5 mg per kg of body mass per day. Ecdysterone becomes lethal if taken at a rate of 6,400 mg per kilogram of body mass daily.

Origin

• Ecdysterone is a natural hormone that controls the moulting of arthropods and can be found in insects, crabs and other creatures. It also exists in plants to disrupt and prevent the reproduction of insects and pests.

Diet

• Much like many steroids and muscle-building products, the muscle mass increase associated with ecdysterone becomes enhanced further when supplemented with a high-protein diet.