A Siberian root whose main plant steroid enlarges muscle fibres without acting on the same receptor as testosterone. One training study found greater muscle and pressing-strength gains; another found none. Animal work on blood sugar, blood fats and blood-vessel inflammation has almost never been repeated in people. Products routinely contain far less than labelled, and some carry undeclared drugs. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | ALT 10–26 U/L; AST 10–26 U/L | Detects liver stress from an unregulated botanical or an undeclared contaminant |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and creatinine | eGFR above 90 mL/min/1.73 m² | Clearance is predominantly renal, so kidney function sets exposure |
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | Tracks the metabolic claim seen in animal work |
| Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) | 4.8–5.3% | Three-month average glucose; the stable counterpart to a fasting reading |
| Fasting insulin | 2–5 µIU/mL | The earliest marker to move if insulin sensitivity improves |
| High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) | Below 0.5 mg/L | Tests the anti-inflammatory claim |
| Triglycerides and LDL cholesterol | Triglycerides below 80 mg/dL; LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL | Tests the lipid claim from the rodent metabolic work |
| Total testosterone and estradiol | Men: testosterone 600–900 ng/dL, estradiol 20–30 pg/mL | Confirms the absence of the hormonal shift seen with anabolic steroids |
| Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) | Mid-to-upper half of the age-specific reference range | The one hormone that separated groups in the human training study |
| Resting blood pressure | Below 120/80 mmHg | The one traditional contraindication with a plausible mechanism |
| Lean body mass (DXA) | No established target; track change from the individual's own baseline | The primary endpoint the human evidence rests on |
Cadence: Baseline one to two weeks before starting; liver and kidney panel repeated at 6–8 weeks; full set at 6 months and every 6–12 months thereafter if use continues; body composition and strength at 12 weeks; home blood pressure twice weekly for the first month.