All you need to know about Turkesterone

What is Turkesterone?

Turkesterone is an ecdysteroid, which is a hormonal steroid that is found in plants. Ecdysteroids can be compared to testosterone, due to their ability to induce growth. However, unlike testosterone, ecdysteroids do not bind to androgen receptors, and therefore do not cause any steroidal side effects (1), such as gynecomastia and hair loss. Although stimulating different anabolic pathways to androgenic steroids, turkesterone seems to be the most anabolic (muscle building) out of all the ecysteriods (2, 3). Turkesterone Supplement is an analog of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Moreover, Turkesterone and ecdysterone are the two major ecdysteroids found in Ajuga turkestanica, each accounting for ~0.2–0.4% of the dry weight of aerial parts. 

Previous research has shown that extracts of Ajuga turkestanica may:

          ● Exert antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects[4]

          ● Support wound healing[5]

          ● Reduce hyperglycaemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats[6]

          ● increase lactation in female rats[7]

          ● Immunostimulating effects[8]

Researchers attribute the majority of these effects to the presence of ecdysteroids.[9]

On its own, those activities make Ajuga turkestanica a botanical certainly worth investigating, but why specifically are more and more advertisements starting to pop up touting the plant, and more specifically turkesterone, as a “muscle building supplement?” For starters, the name turkesterone sounds very similar to the king of all anabolic hormones — testosterone, making it all the more enticing for consumers to want to try.

How Does Ecdysterone Work?

Ecdysterone promotes lean mass gains via estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) activation.[10]

This is noteworthy since ERβ signalling is involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and regeneration by stimulating anabolic pathways, activating satellite cells, and modulating immune function.[11]

Furthermore, ecdysterone has also been suggested to support muscle protein synthesis via direct or indirect stimulation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.[12]

Most importantly, ecdysterone does NOT interact with the androgen receptor, meaning it will not cause suppression or any other unwanted side effects commonly found with AAS usage.[13]

Researchers found that ecdysterone supplementation in healthy human subjects resulted in no elevation in biomarkers that would indicate liver or kidney toxicity from ecdysterone supplementation, providing evidence that ecdysterone is not only effective but SAFE!

Turkesterone Benefits

There have only been a handful of studies conducted on Turkesterone thus far, however, the results have been encouraging. These studies have indicated that Turkesterone may help promote lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, improve protein synthesis, aid muscle hypertrophy & increase strength.

The major advantage of Turkesterone supplements is that they are much safer than anabolic steroids, as although suggestively behaving in a similar way, it does not bind to androgen receptors. As mentioned before, Turkesterone also enhances muscle repair and growth by increasing muscle protein synthesis (14). It’s able to do this by optimising the mRNA translation process (15) and promoting leucine uptake into muscle cells (16). Due to this effect on protein synthesis, a positive nitrogen balance is attained, which also prevents muscle breakdown (17). There is also evidence to suggest that ecysteriods, such as turkesterone, are able to increase muscle ATP content (18), which translates to increased muscular energy and endurance during exercise. 

Turkesterone also has adaptogenic properties, which has beneficial effects on mental health, by alleviating anxiety and mental burnout. Another advantage of using Turkesterone is that it does not require post-cycle therapy (PCT), as it doesn’t amplify testosterone levels. Therefore no suppression occurs following Turkesterone use, which eliminates the risk of side effects and promotes muscle gain retention.

Turkesterone Side Effects

Alongside the muscle-building effects of Turkesterone, it also induces multiple beneficial side effects. Turkesterone can help optimise hormonal levels and strengthen your immune system, which is essential for any active individual. Ecysteriods are also promoted as being healthy for the liver and intestines, as well as being able to lower cholesterol and regulate blood glucose. There is research to suggest that Turkesterone also has protective effects on brain health, through enhancing neurotransmitter activity. However, it is important to avoid taking Turkesterone on an empty stomach as it can cause nausea, which is a common side effect of capsulated supplements. 

Turkesterone Dosage & Cycle

The effective dose of Turkesterone for humans is uncertain.

However, an initial human study showed that athletes who consumed 800mg of Turkesterone per day for a total of 10 weeks reported an increase in muscle hypertrophy & strength, gaining an average of 3.2kg of lean muscle mass over the 10 week period (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31123801/).

Most supplement brands currently marketing Turkesterone are recommending a daily dose between 500mg – 1000mg per day. Swiss Pharma Turkesterone recommends 2 capsules daily (500 mg)

Due to the lack of scientific consensus on the recommended dosage, it is advised to err on the side of caution and stick to a dose of approximately 10mg of Turkesterone per kilogram of lean body weight per day.

To attain the muscle-building benefits from Turkesterone it is common for users to run an 8-12 week cycle. However, as this supplement is not androgenic and doesn’t cause suppression, you can run it indefinitely. Although, we do advise an 8-12 week cycle. No PCT is required. The appropriate Turkesterone dosage is 500mg per day. 

Where To Buy Turkesterone

At Nutrition First, we offer a turkesterone supplement by Swiss Pharma, which is one of the most effective natural muscle building supplements on the market. It is Swiss Pharma, so you can be sure that it is a high-quality product and a little bit more expensive. Despite Turkesterone’s ability to promote muscle growth, it is not androgenic, and therefore does not cause steroidal side effects, such as gynecomastia, hair loss, mood swings or acne. Alongside its muscle-building properties, Turkesterone also comes with a host of beneficial side effects, such as an increased sense of well-being and a strengthened immune system.