The supplement industry never ceases to disappoint or find opportunities to cash in by overhyping understudied ingredients to unknowing consumers.
The supplement industry never ceases to disappoint in finding opportunities to cash in. By overhyping understudied ingredients to unknowing consumers.
We’ve seen dozens of these instances over the years. Including testosterone boosters such as D-Aspartic acid and Tribulus Terrestris. And scores of “exotic” stimulants that continue to show up in pre-workout supplements.
One of the newer trendy ingredients is turkesterone. A compound that’s being touted by some entities in the industry to be as powerful as anabolic steroids.
But, does it live up to the hype?
Let’s discuss...
Turkesterone is one of the primary bioactive compounds naturally occurring in Ajuga turkestanica -- a plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine for its anabolic, adaptogenic, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic activity.
In Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan, in particular, the plant has been valued for its beneficial effects on muscle strength and stomach aches as well as its protective action against heart diseases.[1]
Turkesterone belongs to a family of compounds known as ecdysteroids -- anabolic compounds found in plants, arthropods, and certain fungi that regulate moulting and metamorphosis in insects and may also play a role in reproduction.[2]
Turkesterone Supplement is an analog of 20-hydroxyecdysone.
Turkesterone and Ecdysterone are the two major ecdysteroids found in Ajuga turkestanica, each accounting for ~0.2–0.4% of dry weight of aerial parts.[3]
Previous research has shown that extracts of Ajuga turkestanica may:
● Exert antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects[4]
● Support wound healing[5]
● Reduce hyperglycaemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats[6]
● Increase lactation in female rats[7]
● Immunostimulating effects[8]
Researchers attribute the majority of these effects to the presence of ecdysteroids.[9]
On its own, those activities make Ajuga turkestanica a botanical worth investigating. But why are more and more advertisements starting to pop up touting the plant? More specifically turkesterone, as a “muscle building supplement?”
For starters...
The name turkesterone sounds a lot like the king of all anabolic hormones, testosterone. Making it all the more enticing for consumers to want to try.
Second...
Ecdysteroids are responsible for growth (in plants & insects) and have a steroid backbone. containing a Cis A/B ring junction, a 7-ene-6- one chromophore, and a 14α-hydoxyl group.
Third...
Ecdysteroid-enriched extracts of Ajuga. Turkestanica (as well as pure turkesterone) have shown to display anabolic effects on muscles.[10,11,12]
Fourth...
Turkesterone as well as Ecdysterone. have anti-stress effects[8]. Which can support muscle building via optimizing cortisol levels in the body.
Fifth...
Extracts of ajuga turkestanica have shown to activate Notch receptors in skeletal muscle cells. which helps stem cells to develop into new muscle cells.[13]
Sixth...
In vitro studies suggest that when muscle cells are exposed to Ajuga turkestanica ecdysteroids. Myostatin expression is reduced[14]. FYI, myostatin is a protein in the body that limits muscle growth. This same study also found that ecdysteroids were more effective myostatin inhibitors than methandienone. the active compound in Dianabol.[14]
First, there are no human studies to date on turkesterone. All research to date is in cell cultures and animals. Not to mention that because something works in vitro or in rats. That it means that the same effects will translate on a 1:1 basis when ingested orally in humans.
But, for fun, let’s say that turkesterone may work when taken orally.
This brings us to the second issue with turkesterone supplements on the market... They’re underdosed.
Lets assume a human equivalent dose from the animal studies. Puts the dosage around 400mg of ajuga turkestanica extract standardized to 40% ecdysteroids. With the ecdysteroid content slanted in the favor of 20-hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone) NOT turkesterone.[14]
Finally. The vast majority of Ajuga turkestanica extracts available only contain ~20% ecdysteroids. meaning that you’re not getting a whole lot of turkesterone (or ecdysterone for that matter.
To put everything into perspective. Using the numbers we have to date on turkesterone and ajuga turkestanica extract. If you weigh 180 lbs, you’d need to consume over EIGHT GRAMS of the extract daily!
Consider that most supplements only provide between 250-500mg of Ajuga turkestanica extract... You start to see that you’re getting ripped off.
The good news is that there already is another option that’s accessible... not over-priced... and (best of all) is supported by human research... turkesterone’s big brother...ECDYSTERONE!
As we mentioned above. Ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) is a naturally occurring steroid found in plants. belonging to a family of compounds called ecdysteroids.
Human research has shown that resistance-training individuals given ecdysterone. 12mg per day for 10 weeks, experienced greater gains in hypertrophy and strength compared to those receiving placebo.[16]
Ecdysterone promotes lean mass gains via estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) activation.[17]
This is noteworthy since ERβ signaling is involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. By stimulating anabolic pathways, activating satellite cells, and modulating immune function.[20]
Furthermore. Ecdysterone has also shown to support muscle protein synthesis. Via direct or indirect stimulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.[18,19]
Most importantly, ecdysterone does NOT interact with the androgen receptor. Meaning it will not cause suppression or any other unwanted side effects found with AAS usage.[17,18]
Researchers found that ecdysterone supplementation in healthy human subjects resulted in no elevation in biomarkers. That would show liver or kidney toxicity from ecdysterone supplementation. Providing evidence that ecdysterone is not only effective, but SAFE!
The results from ecdysterone supplementation were strong enough for researchers to conclude:
“These data underline the effectivity of an ecdysterone supplementation on sports performance. Our results suggest the inclusion of ecdysterone in the list of prohibited substances and methods in sports in class S1.2 'other anabolic agents.'[16]"
In other words... The gains in muscle size and performance accompanying ecdysterone supplementation. Were significant enough for the researchers to suggest that ecdysterone be added to the list of WADA’s banned substances!
And, remember, ecdysteroids do not increase blood pressure. And despite their anabolic activities. They do not possess androgenic, estrogenic, or anti-estrogenic) effects.[21]
Turkesterone does have some impressive research behind it. Those studies are done in animals (rats) and cell cultures. Which do not translate on a 1:1 basis to healthy human subjects taking the supplement orally. Furthermore, the vast majority of turkesterone supplements on the market are underdosed. They contain a very small percentage of actual turkesterone. They are generic ajuga turkestanica extracts.
Ecdysterone has studies in healthy humans. That shoe it to be effective and SAFE. When taken orally and used in combination with resistance training.
For these reasons, we’ve followed the science and created AstroFlav EcdySterone (20-hydroxyecdysone). which supplies 500mg beta-ecdysterone (exceeding 95% purity derived from Cyanotis Arachnoidea) per capsule. To aid muscle protein synthesis and lean mass gains.
Each serving of AstroFlav Ecdysterone also includes 2,000IU of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin that serves many roles in the body. Including hormone production (e.g. testosterone), bone health, cell growth, neuromuscular function, and immune function.
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