Effects of Androstenedione-Herbal Supplementation on Serum Sex Hormone Concentrations in 30- to 59-Year-old Men

Abstract

The effectiveness of a nutritional supplement designed to enhance serum testosterone concentrations and prevent the formation of dihydrotestosterone and estrogens from the ingested androgens was investigated in healthy 30- to 59-year old men. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume DION (300 mg androstenedione, 150 mg dehydroepiandrosterone, 540 mg saw palmetto, 300 mg indole-3-carbinol, 625 mg chrysin, and 750 mg Tribulus terrestris per day; n = 28) or placebo (n = 27) for 28 days. Serum free testosterone, total testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and lipid concentrations were measured before and throughout the 4-week supplementation period. Serum concentrations of total testosterone and PSA were unchanged by supplementation. DION increased (p < 0.05) serum androstenedione (342%), free testosterone (38%), dihydrotestosterone (71%), and estradiol (103%) concentrations. Serum HDL-C concentrations were reduced by 5.0 mg/dL in DION (p < 0.05). Increases in serum free testosterone (r2 = 0.01), androstenedione (r2 = 0.01), dihydrotestosterone (r2 = 0.03), or estradiol (r2 = 0.07) concentrations in DION were not related to age. While the ingestion of androstenedione combined with herbal products increased serum free testosterone concentrations in older men, these herbal products did not prevent the conversion of ingested androstenedione to estradiol and dihydrotestosterone.

The aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the androgen production in young men

“…Although different effects of TT on animals (Gauthaman et al, 2002;Gauthaman et al, 2003;Arcasoy et al, 1998) and men (Brown et al, 2000;Brown et al, 2001;Kohut et al, 2003;Antonio et al, 2000) have been evaluated and many active compounds from TT extract have been established (Huang et al, 2003;De Combarieu et al, 2003;Cai et al, 2001;Conrad et al, 2004) the mode of its action and efficacy remains uncertain and controversial. It is widely believed that TT affects strongly the androgen metabolism increasing significantly testosterone or testosterone precursor levels.…”

Nutraceuticals for Fertility and Erectile Health: A Brief Overview of What Works and What Is Worthless

“…In fact, the only adequate clinical trials where a dose of Tribulus (750 mg or more) appears to increase testosterone is when it is combined with 150 mg of DHEA and 300 mg of androstenedione [224][225][226][227]. And drops of 5.0 mg/ dl in HDL or "good cholesterol" were observed which have to be somewhat concerning [225], but again was probably due to the DHEA and androstenedione components. Preliminary clinical trials have failed to demonstrate an impact of Tribulus on body composition or exercise performance and no impact on hormone levels.…”

Steroid Prohormones: Effects on Body Composition in Athletes

“…On the other hand, ingesting 100 mg of androstenedione t.i.d. for 28 days increases serum-free testosterone concentration by 40% (Brown et al 2000;Brown et al 2001), while 200 mg of androstenediione increases testosterone area under the curve by approximately 15% during the 90 min post-administration . In recent study (Ostojic et al 2010) intake of DHEA resulted in significant increase of total testosterone in treated subjects after 28-days of supplementation.…”

“…In the past 2o years, different steroid prohormones or prosteroids (e.g. androstenedion, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenediol, 19-nor androstenediol, 19-nor androstenedione, 1-testosterone) have been developed and aggressively marketed in athletic environment as legal nutritional supplements that are expected to convert to active anabolic steroid hormones in the body and enhance exercise performance Brown et al 2000;Earnest et al 2000;Leder et al 2000;Brown et al 2001;Kanayama et al 2001). The efficacy and safety of these prohormones are not well established but are highly promoted to have the same androgenic effects on building muscle mass and strength as AAS (Baulieu et al 2000;Brown et al 2006).…”