Turkesterone Myths: Separating Hype from Evidence
Turkesterone burst onto social media as a "natural anabolic" that supposedly builds muscle like steroids without side effects. It belongs to a family of plant compounds called ecdysteroids, and the claims have far outpaced the science. Our editorial team examines the most common myths and what the research actually supports.
What turkesterone is
Turkesterone is a phytoecdysteroid, a plant compound structurally related to the moulting hormones of insects. It is extracted mainly from Ajuga turkestanica, a plant native to Central Asia. Its close relative, ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone), is found in spinach, quinoa and several medicinal plants.
Dinan, a leading researcher in the field, has reviewed the many roles proposed for phytoecdysteroids. In plants they likely deter insect predators by disrupting moulting. In mammals they appear to have low acute toxicity and a range of reported effects in animal studies.
In the UK, turkesterone is sold as a food supplement. It is not a licensed medicine, and its marketing is subject to general food law, including the prohibition of unauthorised health claims.
Importantly, most of the human research on ecdysteroids has used ecdysterone, not turkesterone. Claims about turkesterone are often borrowed from that wider literature.
Myth 1: Turkesterone is a natural steroid that works like testosterone
Although ecdysteroids share a steroid backbone, they do not bind meaningfully to the androgen receptor, the target of testosterone and anabolic steroids. Parr and colleagues proposed that ecdysterone may instead act via the oestrogen receptor beta, based on laboratory and animal work.
That means turkesterone should not suppress the HPG axis in the way androgens do, but it also means it should not be expected to produce steroid-like gains.
Calling it a "natural steroid" is technically true chemically and deeply misleading pharmacologically. Cholesterol and vitamin D are also steroid-structured molecules.
Myth 2: Studies prove it builds muscle
The study most often cited is by Isenmann and colleagues, a ten-week trial in young men doing resistance training. Participants taking ecdysterone-containing products gained more muscle mass and strength than those on placebo. The authors used this to argue that ecdysterone should be considered for anti-doping monitoring.
However, this was a single, relatively small study of ecdysterone, not turkesterone, and some dose comparisons within it were not clear-cut. Replication by independent groups is needed.
An earlier trial by Wilborn and colleagues tested a supplement containing ecdysterone in resistance-trained men and found no significant effect on training adaptations, body composition or hormones.
For turkesterone specifically, robust published human trials are lacking. Most claims rest on rodent studies, small reports from the former Soviet Union and anecdote.
Myth 3: It is completely safe and allowed in sport
Short-term ecdysteroid studies have not revealed serious adverse effects, but long-term safety data in humans are limited. "Natural" does not mean risk-free, and supplements can contain undeclared ingredients.
| Claim | What the evidence suggests |
|---|---|
| No side effects | Few reported in short studies; long-term data lacking |
| Not detected in drug tests | Ecdysterone has been included in WADA’s Monitoring Program |
| Labels are accurate | Analyses of ecdysteroid products have found inconsistent content |
| Equal to steroids | No evidence; mechanism and magnitude differ fundamentally |
The World Anti-Doping Agency included ecdysterone in its Monitoring Program, which tracks substances that may be considered for future prohibition. It is not on the Prohibited List at the time of writing, but status can change, so athletes should check current lists and UK Anti-Doping guidance.
Product quality is a real concern. Supplements sourced online can be mislabelled or contaminated with prohibited substances. Tested athletes should use batch-tested products, for example those certified by Informed Sport.
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking hormone-related medicines or managing chronic conditions should consult a doctor before using any ecdysteroid product.
Myth 4: More is better
Dosing claims online often escalate, with users increasing amounts in search of effects. There is no evidence that higher intakes produce greater benefits, and the economic cost rises quickly.
If a supplement has a real effect, it should be demonstrable at reasonable doses in controlled trials. The absence of such trials for turkesterone is the key point.
- Focus on progressive resistance training and adequate total protein.
- Prioritise sleep and recovery.
- Use evidence-based supplements such as creatine monohydrate if appropriate.
- Treat turkesterone as experimental, not foundational.
Ultimately, the cost of an unproven supplement is better spent on food quality or coaching for most people.
Conclusions of the editorial team
Turkesterone is a plant ecdysteroid that does not act like testosterone. Calling it a natural anabolic steroid is misleading.
The best human evidence concerns ecdysterone, not turkesterone, and consists of one positive trial and one negative trial. Robust turkesterone data are lacking.
Long-term safety, product quality and anti-doping status all warrant caution, especially for tested athletes.
Further reading on our site includes the HPG axis explained, ZMA and testosterone, and glutamine forms.
References
- Isenmann E, Ambrosio G, Joseph JF, et al. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans. Arch Toxicol. 2019;93(7):1807–1816.
- Parr MK, Botrè F, Naß A, et al. Ecdysteroids: a novel class of anabolic agents? Biol Sport. 2015;32(2):169–173.
- Wilborn CD, Taylor LW, Campbell BI, et al. Effects of methoxyisoflavone, ecdysterone, and sulfo-polysaccharide supplementation on training adaptations in resistance-trained males. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2006;3(2):19–27.
- Dinan L. The Karlson Lecture. Phytoecdysteroids: what use are they? Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2009;72(3):126–141.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. Monitoring Program. Montreal: WADA (updated annually).
