Androstenedione

Androstenedione is a weak androgen steroid hormone and is an antecedent of testosterone. This hormone causes increased production of testosterone and results in dramatically enhanced athletic performance, helps to build muscle, results in reduced body fat, increases the energy of the body, keeps red blood cells of the body healthy, and enhances sexual desire and performance.

Biosynthesis:

Androstenedione is synthesized under the influence of the ACTH hormone of the anterior pituitary gland, in gonads and adrenal glands. Steroid hormone is secreted by ovaries but its secretion gets reduced after menopause, therefore secretion of androstenedione is also reduced after menu-pause in women.

This hormone can be synthesized in two pathways.

• Primary Pathway
• Secondary Pathway

Primary Pathway

In the primary pathway of androstenedione synthesis, first of all, hydroxypregnenolone is converted to dehydroepiandrosterone which is then converted to androstenedione with the help of enzyme hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Secondary Pathway

In the secondary pathway, hydroxyprogesterone is converted to androstenedione with the help of the lyase enzyme. Hydroxyprogesterone is a forefather of cortisol.

Pharmacology

If taken 300mg/day, this hormone evidently increases serum testosterone levels (over 8 hours period).

Uses of Androstenedione as Supplement

This hormone was legal in North America in the 90s and was even used by world champions of baseball and was very widely used. In 2002, a drug control act was approved and over the counter purchase of androstenedione was prohibited because any anabolic effect of androstenedione was not evident, and there was no proof to support the theory that in enhances muscle growth.

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