Ecdysterone
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Ecdysterone is a plant and insect steroid-like compound marketed for strength and lean mass gains. Human evidence is limited and product quality is a major concern, with some studies finding label inaccuracies. Competitive athletes should note that ecdysterone is on the WADA 2026 Monitoring Program, not the Prohibited List, and should still check sport-specific rules and contamination risk before use.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
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This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Ecdysterone is an other most often used for may support lean mass or strength in limited human research, non-stimulant performance supplement, may influence protein synthesis signaling in preclinical studies. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging. A typical adult dose is 100-500 mg/day ecdysterone is common in supplements, but product content is often unreliable, commonly taken as third-party-tested product with verified ecdysterone content. This profile indexes 3 sources.
- GI upset
- Headache
- Unknown endocrine or long-term effects
- Competitive athletes should check current WADA and sport-specific rules before use
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data
The bottom line
Evidence rating emerging. Most-documented uses: may support lean mass or strength in limited human research, non-stimulant performance supplement, may influence protein synthesis signaling in preclinical studies. 3 sources indexed (2015–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Ecdysterone does not act like classic androgenic anabolic steroids, but preclinical work suggests effects on estrogen receptor beta, PI3K/Akt signaling, and protein synthesis pathways. Human data are sparse and complicated by supplement standardization problems. Potential anabolic signaling does not establish long-term safety or freedom from anti-doping concerns.1,2
Dosing & protocol.
Human pharmacokinetics and optimal timing are not well established. Take with food for tolerability and use only verified products.1
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Verified ecdysterone capsule.
Assayed products cost more; unverified inexpensive products may not contain label-claimed ecdysterone. Updated 2026-06-04.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- GI upset
- Headache
- Unknown endocrine or long-term effects
- Risk of adulteration or inaccurate label content
- Potential anti-doping concern for tested athletes
Contraindications
- Competitive athletes should check current WADA and sport-specific rules before use
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data
- Hormone-sensitive conditions should use caution because human endocrine safety is not well defined
- Adolescents should avoid anabolic-marketed supplements1,2
- Avoid products without independent testing3
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Randomized controlled trials
1- 1Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humansIsenmann E et al. · Archives of Toxicology · 2019
Ecdysterone supplementation was associated with performance and body composition changes, but supplement content and regulatory implications require caution.
Reviews & position papers
1- 2Ecdysteroids: a novel class of anabolic agents?Parr MK et al. · Biology of Sport · 2015
Review summarized anabolic potential and the rationale for anti-doping monitoring.
Reference material
1- 3The 2026 Monitoring ProgramWorld Anti-Doping Agency · WADA · 2026
Ecdysterone is monitored for misuse potential in 2026 but is not listed as prohibited by WADA.
Common questions.
Quick answers about Ecdysterone, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Ecdysterone?
Ecdysterone is a plant and insect steroid-like compound marketed for strength and lean mass gains. Human evidence is limited and product quality is a major concern, with some studies finding label inaccuracies. Competitive athletes should note that ecdysterone is on the WADA 2026 Monitoring Program, not the Prohibited List, and should still check sport-specific rules and contamination risk before use.
What is Ecdysterone used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Ecdysterone include: May support lean mass or strength in limited human research; Non-stimulant performance supplement; May influence protein synthesis signaling in preclinical studies; Often positioned as a non-androgenic anabolic aid. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging.
What is a typical dose of Ecdysterone?
A typical adult dose of Ecdysterone is 100-500 mg/day ecdysterone is common in supplements, but product content is often unreliable. The commonly recommended form is Third-party-tested product with verified ecdysterone content. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Ecdysterone?
Reported side effects include gi upset, headache, unknown endocrine or long-term effects, risk of adulteration or inaccurate label content, potential anti-doping concern for tested athletes. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Ecdysterone?
NutriStack rates this as Emerging, meaning early RCT signal, mechanistic data, or limited human evidence. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Ecdysterone in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.