ANDROSTENEDIOL CHANGES BLOOD HORMONES BUT DOES NOT ENHANCE PERFORMANCE

Brown, G. A., Drouin, J. M., & McKenzie, D. (2005). Resistance exercise does not change the hormonal response to sublingual androstenediol intake. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), Supplement abstract 217.

"Ingesting androstenediol or androstenedione does not increase serum testosterone concentrations in men, but does elevate serum estradiol concentrations. Sublingual administration of androstenediol acutely increases serum testosterone concentrations" (p. S40). This study evaluated the effects of a single session of resistance exercise on the hormonal response to sublingual androstenediol. Resistance trained males (N = 6) were administered sublingual placebo or 21.4 mg androstenediol before a single full body resistance exercise program or no exercise. Blood samples were collected a 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 hours post-supplementation.

There were no differences in the total weight lifted or repetitions for either the placebo or experimental conditions. Serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations were elevated significantly but did not translate into any performance enhancement. The change in serum hormones lasted less than 8 hours.

Implication. The prohormone androstenediol when administered sublingually elevates serum testosterone and estradiol but does not translate into performance enhancement.

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