The Acute Effects of Androstenedione Supplementation in Healthy Young Males
Abstract
We examined the effects of androstenedione supplementation on the hormonal profile of 10 males and its interaction with resistance exercise. Baseline testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and androstenedione concentrations were established by venous sampling at 3 hr intervals over 24 hr. Subjects ingested 200 mg of androstenedione daily for 2 days, with second and third day blood samples. Two weeks later, they ingested androstenedione or a placebo for 2 days, in a double-blind, cross-over design. On day 2, they performed heavy resistance exercise with blood sampled before, after, and 90 min post. The supplement elevated plasma androstenedione 2--3-fold and luteinizing hormone approximately 70% but did not alter testosterone concentration. Exercise elevated testosterone, with no difference between conditions. Exercise in the supplemented condition significantly elevated plasma estradiol by approximately 83% for 90 min. Androstenedione supplementation, thus, is unlikely to provide male athletes with any anabolic benefit and, with heavy resistance exercise, elevates estrogen.
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Long-term safety concerns for androstenedione, such as secondary conversion to estrogen, testicular atrophy, and impotence, remain unaddressed.
“Longterm safety concerns (e.g.secondary conversion to estrogen, testicular atrophy, impotence) remain unaddressed.[49][50][51]”
From A systematic appraisal of emerging alternative therapies in men’s health and wellness (2025) · cites this paper as [50]
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ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations
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A systematic appraisal of emerging alternative therapies in men’s health and wellness
Qaoud, Y., Morcos, M., Macdonald, M., Shoeib, A., Qureshi, Y., Mak, M., Ross, A., Vigil, H., & Witherspoon, L. (2025) · Canadian Urological Association Journal · doi:10.5489/cuaj.9368 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ballantyne, C. S., Phillips, S. M., Macdonald, J. R., Tarnopolsky, M. A., & Macdougall, J. D.
- Affiliations
- McMaster University (CA)
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2000-02-01
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 68-78
- ISSN
- 1066-7814 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2014424979
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 5.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- resistance training, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, anabolic steroids, male athletes, acute hormonal response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Androstenedione, Double-Blind Method, Estradiol, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone, Male, Reference Values, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Testosterone, Exercise, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements
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