Plant and insect steroid-like compounds, led by ecdysterone, promoted as natural muscle-builders without anabolic-steroid hormone effects. Promise is genuine but unsettled: a purified form modestly preserves mobility and muscle in older adults, while muscle gains in healthy trainees conflict. Early hints for body fat and insulin. Main problems: underdosed products and anti-doping monitoring. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Creatine Kinase (CK) | Men ~40–200 U/L; women ~30–150 U/L | Detects muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) risk |
| ALT / AST | ALT <25 U/L; AST <25 U/L | Screens for liver stress |
| Creatinine / eGFR | eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73m² | Screens kidney filtering capacity |
| Fasting Insulin | 2–6 µIU/mL | Tracks the insulin-sensitivity benefit signal |
| HbA1c | <5.4% | Longer-term glucose control |
| Estradiol (E2, men) | ~20–30 pg/mL | Screens for hormonal shifts / possible product contamination |
| Total Testosterone (men) | ~600–900 ng/dL | Confirms no unexpected hormonal effect / contamination |
Cadence: Safety labs at 8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months; body composition and performance every 4–8 weeks