1-Androsterone

Racer Ephedra offers 1-Androsterone supplements in the form of the prohormone 1-androstene-3b-ol-17-one (1-DHEA). 1-androsterone is a prohormone which means it changes chemically in the body into a new compound. There are many different prohormone compounds though are the term is commonly referred to when compounds are converted into muscle building hormones like testosterone in the body.

1-Androsterone and Testosterone

1-androstene-3b-ol-17-one converts in the liver to 1-testosterone. 1-testosterone has been shown to have a high androgenic and anabolic potency even without being metabolized. 1-testosterone binds very selectively to androgen receptor creating a favorable androgenic ratio of 200 to 100. This androgenic ratio is what allows 1-androstene-3b-ol-17-one to have less side effects than previous banned compounds. (1)

Is 1-Androsterone a Steroid?

The quick answer is no. Steroids are synthetic compounds resembling hormones like testosterone. 1-androsterone is a prohormone which means it is precursor compound to converting into hormones within the body. There are three prohormones for the compound 1-testosterone which are 1-androstenedione, 1-androstenediol and 1-Androsterone.

Is 1-Androsterone an androgen?

No, an androgen is a group of hormones that work with the body to effect male health and reproductive processes. The primary androgens are testosterone and androstenedione. Prohormones are precursors to androgen hormones which is why information about prohormones talks about their androgenic abilities.

1-Androsterone and Bodybuilding

As a prohormone to testosterone, 1-androsterone is considered to be an effected bodybuilding supplement. 1-androstene-3b-ol-17-one is considered a dry prohormone with ability to support significant gains in lean muscle mass and strength. Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals claims a clinical study at the West Texas A&M University, the California Baptist University and the University of Texas at Austin showed lean muscle mass gains of 10.4lbs and overall strength gains of 92.2lbs. I was not able to find a link to this exact study though Hi Tech claims to use the same dosage of 1-androstene-3b-ol-17-one in their two prohormone products of 1-AD and 1-Testosteorne.

Prohormones Banned

The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 and the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014 banned many of the popular prohormones on the market. The new version of legal prohormones on sale at Racer Ephedra are plant based. These legal prohormones are often referred as plant steroids and are currently legal to buy for bodybuilding supplementation. (2)