Stark Pharm Ecdysterone (60 capsules) (ecdysterone extract, root, natural steroid)

Description

Stark Ecdysterone is an adaptogen, which is a powerful compound of steroid structure. According to scientific research, the drug allows you to maximize your genetic athletic potential. And the best thing is that ecdysterone is safe and effective for men, women and even teenagers.

Description of properties and action

After conducting more than 50 studies on ecdysterone, scientists made one big statement: "The supplement is safe and improves almost all body functions without any side effects." What exactly does it have?

• Helps achieve positive nitrogen balance and supports a higher rate of protein synthesis
• Improves nervous system function
• Functions as an anabolic steroid, increasing muscle mass in vertebrates, including humans
• Increases total protein and glycogen content in muscles.
• Suppresses hypoglycemia while effectively stabilizing blood sugar levels
• An excellent regulator of glycemic status, ensuring your energy and well-being
• Stimulates the incorporation of glycogen into protein tissues such as: liver and muscles
• Prevents high blood sugar and insulin levels, thereby inhibiting fat formation.
• Directs nutrients to muscle tissue and organs, ensuring better muscle growth and recovery
• Has a good effect in terms of lowering cholesterol levels
• Stimulates phospholipids, which are very important for our health
• Lowers cholesterol levels, providing a powerful hepatoprotective effect
• Stabilizes the cell membrane
• Antiarrhythmic stabilizing properties
• Restorative effect in atherosclerosis
• Antioxidant effect

Anti-inflammatory properties:

• Acts as an anti-catabolic drug against high cortisol levels
• Beneficial effect on skin condition: keratinization, differentiation
• Improves athletic performance by increasing performance, body mass, vital lung capacity and maximal oxygen consumption. At the same time, it enhances CO2 excretion
• Reduces fatigue and lethargy while increasing speed and strength

Is ecdysterone harmful? What are the side effects?

Ecdysone has not been reported to have any side effects, making it completely safe.

• Lack of masculinization
• No conversion to estrogenic compounds
• Lack of hepatotoxicity
• Absence of high blood pressure
• No testicular shrinkage
• No effect on the hormonal system of mammals, including humans
• Incredibly low toxicity levels

How are all these positive effects achieved without significant side effects? The secret is hidden in the drug itself.

The only significant factor in accelerating muscle mass gain is an anabolic environment. The action of ecdysterone, in addition to other positive effects, is aimed at creating an "ideal" environment for muscle building. This involves maintaining a positive nitrogen balance and increasing protein synthesis, which, along with intensive training and a balanced, protein-rich diet, provides perfect conditions for muscle mass gain.

It has long been established that maximum muscle growth is achieved by maintaining an ideal anabolic environment in the body. The challenge was to maintain nitrogen balance and increase protein synthesis without the associated side effects. That is why researchers became so interested in ecdysterone when in 1963 Dr. Burdett discovered that this substance increases the rate of protein synthesis. This led to over 50 studies demonstrating the outstanding effects of ecdysterone on the body without the side effects.

The most famous studies

Ecdysterone has been studied in a number of scientific studies for its effects on performance, immune function, lean body mass, and fat burning. Most studies have shown an increase in lean body mass in participants. The best results have been achieved when ecdysterone is used in conjunction with a diet high in calories and protein.

Studies conducted in the USSR in 1988 showed that ecdysterone helps “increase protein synthesis in the liver and achieve a positive nitrogen balance.” The more nitrogen in the body, the higher the rate of protein synthesis, the greater the mass gain.

V. Smetanin, a researcher at the Smolensk State Medical Academy in Russia, suggests that ecdysterone reduces the concentration of urea in the body and increases hemoglobin levels. This occurs by increasing erythropoiesis. Erythropoiesis is the formation of mature red blood cells. This leads to the stimulation of anabolic processes.

Increase in lean muscle mass while simultaneously reducing fat.

The most cited scientific study on ecdysterone was published in the Scientific Sports Bulletin in 1988. The author of the study is S. Simakin. The purpose of Simakin's famous study was to determine the effect of ecdysterone on muscle and fat mass while simultaneously studying hormonal changes in volunteers (78 athletes).

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This study used three control factors: placebo, protein, and ecdysterone combined with protein. The results favored the third option. Those who consumed only protein experienced only a slight increase in muscle mass over 10 days. Participants using placebo experienced a slight loss of lean muscle mass. People taking protein in combination with ecdysterone experienced a 6-7% increase in lean muscle mass with an approximately 10% reduction in fat! At the same time, safety studies were conducted, which showed no changes in the hormonal balance of the subjects.

Increased vitality, endurance and energy.

In 1986, ecdysterone was the subject of another study. This study examined the performance, body weight, vital capacity of the lungs, and maximal oxygen consumption of professional speed skaters. The results speak for themselves: while taking ecdysterone, improvements were observed in all of these parameters. More oxygen was delivered to the athletes' muscle cells. This shortened the recovery period and increased the effectiveness of training.
Impressive results were obtained during the study of B.G. Fadeev, conducted in Russia with the participation of 112 athletes. However, by that time, such results were no longer perceived as something amazing. 89% of people taking ecdysterone had less fatigue, higher performance, greater motivation, speed and strength indicators. After how long did the positive dynamics of these effects appear? In months? Weeks? No, in 5 days. At the same time, there were no side effects.

How to take it? What are the maximum doses?

As you already know, no negative side effects or hormonal disorders were detected during scientific research. In addition, the low toxicity level of the drug was confirmed. During the research by ICN Biochemicals on December 31, 1998, a full range of tests was performed to determine the toxicity threshold. As a result, the researchers did determine the dose of ecdysterone at which it begins to have a toxic effect on the body - 6.4 grams per 1 kg of weight. A person weighing 70 kg would have to take 448 g of the drug at one time. This is a thousand times higher than the recommended dose! Moreover, the endocrine system test showed that ecdysterone does not have any effect on the hormonal system of mammals. For this, the indicators of testosterone, cortisol, insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone and luteinizing hormone were measured. hormone levels did not go beyond normal limits.

The recommended dose of ecdysterone is 80-120 mg per day. It should be taken before meals. Acceptable dose: 400-800 mg per day. Remember that for optimal results, ecdysterone should be taken in combination with protein-rich food!

You can familiarize yourself with other special supplements and nootropics in the catalog of the online sports nutrition store "Proteininkiev".

Scientific review of available literature from March 2018

Ecdysterone: non-standard, effective, safe!

Custom-made by Stark Pharm

The modern sports nutrition market offers a variety of supplements for muscle building and active longevity. It is important for each athlete to find the optimal personal balance of effectiveness, risk of side effects and cost of the pharmaceutical support used. In this regard, ecdysterone, a natural hormone-like steroid, stands out especially favorably. According to the results of the work of German and Italian scientists [1], ecdysterone turned out to be more effective than the well-known and long-used drugs methandienone, trenbolone and SARM S1. The study was conducted on rats for 3 weeks, the dosage of all substances was the same and was 5 mg per 1 kg of body weight.

However, as of March 2018, no pronounced negative side effects have been described.

Over the past 10-15 years, the following key facts about ecdysterone have been highlighted in English-language professional scientific journals:

• anabolic, which allows you to quickly build muscle;
• prevents muscle loss;
• safe for men and women;
• accelerates recovery;
• anti-inflammatory factor;
• effective neuroprotector;
• antioxidant;
• It has a positive effect on the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and in particular has antidiabetic activity [2].

Ecdysterone was originally discovered as a molting hormone in silkworms and other arthropods. It turned out that there is a whole group of substances with a similar structure in nature, and they were combined into the category of ecdysteroids. Modern sports supplements use ecdysteroids of plant origin, in particular, an extract of safflower-like Leuzea.

Ecdysterone and muscles

Consider the anabolic effect of ecdysterone. The results of a joint study by German and Chinese scientists [3] are very indicative. Thus, the use of ecdysterone for 21 days caused an increase in the size of muscle fibers by almost twofold, mainly type 2b, although the effect on type 2a was also noted. Muscle fibers 2b have maximum strength, these are the main fibers in bodybuilding and other sports. Classic sports steroids affect mainly type 1 fibers, which is not so effective [4]. The same work noted an increase in the level of insulin-like growth factor (anabolic), a decrease in the levels of estradiol and corticosterone. Corticosterone is an inducer of catabolic processes in skeletal muscles. No differences were found in testosterone levels, as well as there were no manifestations of feminization of males.

Ecdysterone is capable of selectively activating estrogen receptors of the beta type, which are also involved in the regulation of muscle growth in both men and women. Attention! Activation of estrogen receptors and the action of the hormone estrogen are not the same thing. Ecdysterone is safe for both sexes.

Another work describes the same molecular mechanisms of action of ecdysterone – an increase in the level of calcium inside the cell, activation of the protein kinase cascade, which results in a sustained increase in protein biosynthesis [5].

Ecdysterone affects multiple metabolic pathways and signaling cascades. Another animal study demonstrated an increase in physical performance in rats by up to 20% even without training and described a novel mechanism – through the phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory protein cascade [6].

The preservation and growth rate of muscle mass are influenced by two main processes: synthesis and destruction of muscle protein. In general, the system of protein degradation in the cell is quite simple - first, a "death mark", another protein ubiquitin, is attached to the protein, and then the formed protein complex enters a special structure - the proteasome, where the actual destruction takes place. American scientists have shown that ecdysterone is able to significantly inhibit the ubiquitination system of muscle proteins [7]. In addition, the anti-catabolic effect of this substance is due to the interaction with the regulatory cascade of protein kinase (Akt protein). One explanation for the anabolic properties was the effect on another regulatory system of the cell - mTOR.

Ecdysterone is considered a potential treatment for sarcopenia, the muscle atrophy that occurs with aging and certain diseases [8].

Thus, ecdysterone has a complex effect on muscles, ensuring the enhancement of the synthesis of new proteins and the preservation of existing ones.

Ecdysterone and other aspects of sports

Typical companions of sports are injuries of varying severity, among which microtraumas are often found. Ecdysterone is able to influence regeneration in general, including wound healing. Ecdysterone interacts with the epidermal growth factor receptor and triggers cellular signaling cascades that increase the activity of NO synthase. This protein synthesizes one of the main substances of the cells of the vascular walls – NO, it is nitric oxide. NO, in turn, stimulates the growth of blood vessels (angiogenesis), regulates vascular tone, and participates in immune reactions. All these processes are critically important for healing. A 2016 study [9] indicated that ecdysterone ultimately enhanced the division, growth, and migration of connective tissue cells (fibroblasts).

Another difficulty in sports activities should be recognized as unwanted inflammation. For athletes, joint problems, such as osteoarthritis, are especially relevant in this regard. A 2014 study demonstrated that the use of ecdysterone caused a decrease in the rate of cell death of chondrocytes (cartilage cells) and a decrease in inflammation in general [10]. At the same time, ecdysterone affected a number of regulatory systems of the cell, including caspase 3, metalloproteinases, cyclooxygenases, nuclear factor kv, etc. All of the above factors are strongly associated with inflammation and cell death.

Ecdysterone and aging

The positive effects of ecdysterone are manifested in the sports sphere. The neuroprotective (protective) properties of this substance have also been actively studied in the last 5-6 years. The health of the nervous system, especially the brain, is considered one of the most important factors in ensuring high-quality active longevity in modern conditions.

During the aging process, there is a gradual deterioration of functional activity and death of nerve cells, which ultimately leads to multiple serious disorders of mental activity. In addition, The number of patients with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc. diseases is increasing worldwide. The World Health Organization recognizes the problem of neurodegeneration as one of the key public health priorities of the 21st century.

The aforementioned disorders of the nervous system have an important common feature – symptoms only begin to appear when many (in some cases up to 80%) of the neurons have degenerated. These destructive processes can begin at a young age and last for years. That is why the search for protective substances is so urgent.

The use of ecdysterone for just 7 days provided a significant improvement in the functional state of nerve cells even after an induced stroke (acute cerebral circulatory disturbance) in laboratory animals [11]. Accelerated neuronal recovery, microcapillary growth, and astrocyte activation were observed. Astrocytes are the second most important brain cells (after neurons themselves), and in humans they account for about 40% of the total number of cells in the central nervous system. It is astrocytes that are responsible for the nutrition, protection, support, and recovery of neurons. Ecdysterone stimulated the synthesis and release of neurotrophic substances, which ultimately affected the survival and regeneration of neurons, as well as the formation of connections (synapses) between them.

Another study demonstrated the crucial role of ecdysterone in restoring cognitive functions and the positive effect of this substance on thinking and memory processes [12]. Another mechanism of action was revealed - participation in the deactivation of the previously mentioned caspase 3, one of the most important proteins of the signaling pathways for triggering cell death (apoptosis). As a result, in the group that took ecdysterone, the number of dead neurons was several times lower, which ensured better test results.

One of the most recent studies [13] describes the effect of ecdysterone on another key factor – mTOR, an important regulator of cell growth and division. Scientists managed to significantly suppress toxic glutamate cascades. These processes are associated with both normal aging of the central nervous system and with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, ecdysterone-induced prevention of cell loss in the hippocampus, one of the most important brain structures involved in memory formation, was observed.

Ecdysterone also affects other organs and systems. One of the universal mechanisms of aging has long been recognized as oxidative stress - multiple cell damage due to the destructive action of reactive oxygen species, including free radicals and peroxides. The main cellular structures in these processes are mitochondria, cell organelles, where the processes of ATP synthesis, the "energy currency" of the cell, take place. Scientists have found significant changes for the better in the protein profile of mitochondria after exposure to ecdysterone [14]. In this case, ecdysterone is an antioxidant. The work itself concerned oxidative damage in the cells of the human lens of the eye. The accumulation of such damage is responsible for the development of another age-related disease - cataracts (clouding of the lens) and subsequent blindness.

Ecdysterone and carbohydrate metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is of great importance for overall health. Ecdysterone lowers blood glucose levels without affecting insulin secretion [15], thus exhibiting antidiabetic activity. Moreover, the substance prevents the development of insulin resistance, a metabolic disorder associated with a variety of disorders, including type 2 diabetes.

The detailed mechanisms of this phenomenon were deciphered in 2017. Ecdysterone acts on the IRS-1/AKT/GLUT4 and IRS-1/AKT/GLUT2 signaling cascades, which are associated with glucose transporter proteins. After just 4 weeks of regular use of ecdysterone, a decrease in body weight, hyperglycemia and insulin levels, as well as an improvement in lipid metabolism in serum and liver were observed [16].

Conclusion

In summary, ecdysterone should be considered as a high-quality, safe way to build muscle mass and a worthwhile supplement for a pleasant, active longevity.

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, as of March 2018, ecdysterone is a legal substance [17], which means it can be used by professional athletes to prepare for various competitions.

Since ecdysterone is a serious anabolic and provides significant benefits, in recent years there has been debate about including this substance on the list of prohibited additives [1].

Seize the moment!

References:

1. Parr M, Botre F, Naß A., et al. Ecdysteroids: A novel class of anabolic agents? Biology of Sport. 2014; 32 (2): 169-173.
2. Bathori M, Toth N, Hunyadi A. and others. Phytoecdysteroids and Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids - Structure and Effects on Humans. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2008; 15 (1): 75-91.
3. Parr M, Zhao P, Haupt O. et al. Estrogen receptor beta is involved in skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by the phytoecdysteroid ecdysterone. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2014; 58 (9): 1861-1872.
4. Herbst K, Bhasin S. Testosterone effects on skeletal muscle. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2004; 7 (3): 271-277.
5. Gorelick-Feldman J, Cohick W, Raskin I. Ecdysteroids elicit a rapid Ca2+ flux leading to Akt activation and increased protein synthesis in skeletal muscle cells. Steroids. 2010; 75 (10): 632-637.
6. Gorelick-Feldman J, MacLean D, Ilic N. Phytoecdysteroids Increase Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle Cells. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2008; 56 (10): 3532-3537.
7. Zwetsloot K., Shanely A., Merritt E. et al. Phytoecdysteroids: A Novel, Non-Androgenic Alternative for Muscle Health and Performance. Journal of Steroids & Hormonal Science. 2013; s12 (01).
8. Hirunsai M, Yimlamai T, Suksamrarn A. Effect of 20-Hydroxyecdysone on Proteolytic Regulation in Skeletal Muscle Atrophy. In Vivo. 2016; 30 (6): 869-878.
9. Omanakuttan A, Bose C, Pandurangan N., et al. Nitric Oxide and ERK regulate the regulation of ecdysterone-mediated processes. Experimental Cell Research. 2016; 346(2): 167-175.
10. Zhang X, Xu X, Xu T., et al. β-Ecdysterone Suppresses Interleukin-1β-Induced Apoptosis and Inflammation in Rat Chondrocytes Decreases NF-κB Signaling Pathway. Drug Development Research. 2014; 75 (3): 195-201.
11. Luo C, Yi B, Fan W., et al. Enhancement of angiogenesis and astrocyte activation by ecdysterone in focal cerebral ischemia rat model. Cerebral vasospasm. 2011;:151-155.
12. Wang W, Wang T, Feng W. et al. Ecdysterone protects gerbil skin from thermal global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via preventing neuron apoptosis and deactivating astrocytes and microglia cells. Neuroscience Research. 2014; 81-82: 21-29.
13. Wu J, Gao L, Shang L., et al. Ecdysterones from Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin reduce hippocampal excitotoxic cell loss and upregulate mTOR signaling in rats. Fitoterapia. 2017; 119: 158-167.
14. Feng C, Huang X, Qi M., et al. Mitochondrial proteomic analysis of ecdysterone protection against oxidative damage in human lens epithelial cells. International Journal of Ophthalmology. 2014; 7 (1): 38-43.
15. Chen Q, Xia Y, Qiu Z. Effect of ecdysterone on glucose metabolism in vitro. Life Sciences. 2006; 78 (10): 1108-1113.
16. Chen L, Zheng S, Huang M. β-ecdysterone from Cyanotis arachnoidea extract hypoglycemic effects via activating IRS-1/Akt/GLUT4 and IRS-1/Akt/GLUT2 signal pathways in KK-Ay mice. Journal of Functional Foods. 2017; 39:123-132.
17. https://www.wada-ama.org