How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study
Introduction Phytosteroids like 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and diosgenin (DSG) have shown promising anabolic and performance-enhancing effects in in vitro, animal, and human studies. Combining phytosteroids is common in supplements, with early in vitro research suggesting additive effects via distinct...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2540408 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849243164794159104 |
|---|---|
| author | Joshua Dissemond Tim Havers Steffen Held Stephan Geisler Tihomir Kostov Patrick Diel Svea Türschmann Maria K. Parr Eduard Isenmann |
| author_facet | Joshua Dissemond Tim Havers Steffen Held Stephan Geisler Tihomir Kostov Patrick Diel Svea Türschmann Maria K. Parr Eduard Isenmann |
| author_sort | Joshua Dissemond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Phytosteroids like 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and diosgenin (DSG) have shown promising anabolic and performance-enhancing effects in in vitro, animal, and human studies. Combining phytosteroids is common in supplements, with early in vitro research suggesting additive effects via distinct signaling pathways. However, human studies on the combined effects of 20E and DSG are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the anabolic and performance-enhancing potential of a commercially available 20E and DSG supplement.Methods Twenty-eight resistance-trained young men were recruited for this study. Participants were randomized into two groups: a 20E and DSG (EcDi) group, and a placebo (Plac) group. Both groups performed free-weight resistance training three times per week for 12 weeks. The EcDi group received a commercially available phytosteroid product three times a day (as recommended on the label), while the Plac group received a placebo product. Assessments were conducted at four time points (T0, T1 [4 weeks], T2 [8 weeks], T3 [12 weeks]) and included measurements of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) for the squat (SQ) and bench press (BP) exercises, as well as body weight (BW), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM), fat mass (FM), and muscle thickness of the pectoralis major (PM) and the proximal, middle and distal regions of the anterior (i.e. M. rectus femoris and M. vastus intermedius) and lateral quadriceps femoris (i.e. M. vastus lateralis and M. vastus intermedius). Liver and kidney function, along with endocrine parameters, were measured via blood samples pre- and post-intervention. Additionally, the concentration of 20E and DSG in the product was measured by LC-MS/MS, and its biological activity was evaluated using C2C12 cells after the intervention. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model (LMM).Results Twenty-four participants completed the study successfully. Significant improvements in 1-RM SQ and BP were observed across both groups, indicating a time but no specific group effect. Similarly, significant time effects without group effects were found for FFM, MM, FM and muscle thickness (anterior quadriceps femoris at 30%, lateral quadriceps femoris at 50% and PM). Subsequent analyses of the supplement revealed that less than 1% of the claimed 20E concentration and 10.4% of the claimed DSG concentration were present in the capsules. In addition, no biological activity or hypertrophic effects were detected in the C2C12 cells.Conclusion This study demonstrated that the prescribed resistance training protocol resulted in significant anabolic and performance-enhancing effects that did not differ between groups. The lack of group-specific differences suggests that the tested phytosteroid supplement did not provide additional benefits. The significant discrepancy between the claimed and actual 20E and DSG concentration resulted in the lack of biological activity in C2C12 cells and likely contributed to the absence of measurable group-specific effects. To enhance the reliability of future phytosteroid research, we strongly recommend: (1) verification of active compound concentrations in supplements, its actual content and absence of potential contamination with prohibited substances, (2) confirmation of their biological activity using in vitro models. Implementing these measures will help to minimize inconsistencies and enhance the reliability of future studies on phytosteroids. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5c8f6b8c6cbc4b948246e016e0b1c6b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1550-2783 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-5c8f6b8c6cbc4b948246e016e0b1c6b32025-08-20T03:59:35ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832025-12-0122110.1080/15502783.2025.2540408How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training studyJoshua Dissemond0Tim Havers1Steffen Held2Stephan Geisler3Tihomir Kostov4Patrick Diel5Svea Türschmann6Maria K. Parr7Eduard Isenmann8IST University of Applied Sciences, Department of Fitness and Health, Duesseldorf, GermanyIST University of Applied Sciences, Department of Fitness and Health, Duesseldorf, GermanyIST University of Applied Sciences, Department of Sport and Management, Duesseldorf, GermanyIST University of Applied Sciences, Department of Fitness and Health, Duesseldorf, GermanyGerman Sports University Cologne, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Cologne, GermanyGerman Sports University Cologne, Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, Cologne, GermanyFreie Universitaet Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry (Pharmaceutical Analysis), Berlin, GermanyFreie Universitaet Berlin, Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry (Pharmaceutical Analysis), Berlin, GermanyIST University of Applied Sciences, Department of Fitness and Health, Duesseldorf, GermanyIntroduction Phytosteroids like 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and diosgenin (DSG) have shown promising anabolic and performance-enhancing effects in in vitro, animal, and human studies. Combining phytosteroids is common in supplements, with early in vitro research suggesting additive effects via distinct signaling pathways. However, human studies on the combined effects of 20E and DSG are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the anabolic and performance-enhancing potential of a commercially available 20E and DSG supplement.Methods Twenty-eight resistance-trained young men were recruited for this study. Participants were randomized into two groups: a 20E and DSG (EcDi) group, and a placebo (Plac) group. Both groups performed free-weight resistance training three times per week for 12 weeks. The EcDi group received a commercially available phytosteroid product three times a day (as recommended on the label), while the Plac group received a placebo product. Assessments were conducted at four time points (T0, T1 [4 weeks], T2 [8 weeks], T3 [12 weeks]) and included measurements of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) for the squat (SQ) and bench press (BP) exercises, as well as body weight (BW), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM), fat mass (FM), and muscle thickness of the pectoralis major (PM) and the proximal, middle and distal regions of the anterior (i.e. M. rectus femoris and M. vastus intermedius) and lateral quadriceps femoris (i.e. M. vastus lateralis and M. vastus intermedius). Liver and kidney function, along with endocrine parameters, were measured via blood samples pre- and post-intervention. Additionally, the concentration of 20E and DSG in the product was measured by LC-MS/MS, and its biological activity was evaluated using C2C12 cells after the intervention. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model (LMM).Results Twenty-four participants completed the study successfully. Significant improvements in 1-RM SQ and BP were observed across both groups, indicating a time but no specific group effect. Similarly, significant time effects without group effects were found for FFM, MM, FM and muscle thickness (anterior quadriceps femoris at 30%, lateral quadriceps femoris at 50% and PM). Subsequent analyses of the supplement revealed that less than 1% of the claimed 20E concentration and 10.4% of the claimed DSG concentration were present in the capsules. In addition, no biological activity or hypertrophic effects were detected in the C2C12 cells.Conclusion This study demonstrated that the prescribed resistance training protocol resulted in significant anabolic and performance-enhancing effects that did not differ between groups. The lack of group-specific differences suggests that the tested phytosteroid supplement did not provide additional benefits. The significant discrepancy between the claimed and actual 20E and DSG concentration resulted in the lack of biological activity in C2C12 cells and likely contributed to the absence of measurable group-specific effects. To enhance the reliability of future phytosteroid research, we strongly recommend: (1) verification of active compound concentrations in supplements, its actual content and absence of potential contamination with prohibited substances, (2) confirmation of their biological activity using in vitro models. Implementing these measures will help to minimize inconsistencies and enhance the reliability of future studies on phytosteroids.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2540408Phytosteroidsecdysteronediosgeninhypertrophyresistance training |
| spellingShingle | Joshua Dissemond Tim Havers Steffen Held Stephan Geisler Tihomir Kostov Patrick Diel Svea Türschmann Maria K. Parr Eduard Isenmann How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Phytosteroids ecdysterone diosgenin hypertrophy resistance training |
| title | How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study |
| title_full | How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study |
| title_fullStr | How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study |
| title_full_unstemmed | How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study |
| title_short | How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study |
| title_sort | how reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product a 12 week randomized double blind training study |
| topic | Phytosteroids ecdysterone diosgenin hypertrophy resistance training |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15502783.2025.2540408 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joshuadissemond howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT timhavers howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT steffenheld howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT stephangeisler howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT tihomirkostov howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT patrickdiel howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT sveaturschmann howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT mariakparr howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy AT eduardisenmann howreliableisthelabelingofacommercialphytosteroidproducta12weekrandomizeddoubleblindtrainingstudy |