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Clinical Chemistry 49: 167-169, 2003; 10.1373/49.1.167
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(Clinical Chemistry. 2003;49:167-169.)
© 2003 American Association for Clinical Chemistry, Inc.

Technical Briefs

Effect of Androstenedione Ingestion on Plasma Testosterone in Young Women; a Dietary Supplement with Potential Health Risks

Andrew T. Kicman1a, Thomas Bassindale1, David A. Cowan1, Sian Dale1, Andrew J. Hutt1 and Anthony R. Leeds2

1 Drug Control Centre and Department of Pharmacy, and
2 Department of Nutrition, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford St., London SE1 9NN, United Kingdom

aauthor for correspondence: fax 44-020-7848-4980, e-mail andrew.kicman@kcl.ac.uk

The first 300 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Androstenedione is readily available as a "dietary supplement" and can be sold without restriction in most countries, including the US and UK. Manufacturers market androstenedione as a "prohormone" that can increase blood testosterone concentration, thereby increasing lean body mass and strength. It is available in capsules purported to contain 50, 100, or 300 mg of the steroid, and the manufacturers suggest that the "desired" effects can be gained by taking 100–300 mg/day orally. However, a single dose of 100 mg/day is insufficient to increase serum testosterone concentrations in men (1)(2)(3)(4). Even with higher "recommended" doses of either 200 or 300 mg/day (given as either single or multiple administrations), no significant increase has been observed in most studies (1)(3)(5), albeit in one investigation, 4 of 14 men had testosterone concentrations that exceeded the reference interval (2). The contribution of these administered amounts of androstenedione to the plasma testosterone concentration appears to be relatively small compared with the large amount of testosterone secreted by the testes.

No comprehensive study has been reported regarding the effect of oral androstenedione administration on plasma testosterone in women. However, there is an indication that it can be increased considerably, based on limited data from two women, obtained by a methodology based on paper chromatography and conversion of androgens to estrogens for fluorometric analysis (6). The plasma concentration of testosterone in women of a reproductive age is ~1/10th that found in men, and the proportion arising from peripheral conversion is much greater (7). Although ~14% of androstenedione in blood is converted peripherally to testosterone in both men and women, the amount converted accounts for approximately one-half the circulating testosterone in the female (7)(8). . . . [Full Text of this Article]




The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:


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 Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol.Home page
J. F. Reckelhoff, L. L. Yanes, R. Iliescu, L. A. Fortepiani, and J. P. Granger
Testosterone supplementation in aging men and women: possible impact on cardiovascular-renal disease
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, November 1, 2005; 289(5): F941 - F948.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Jasuja, P. Ramaraj, R. P. Mac, A. B. Singh, T. W. Storer, J. Artaza, A. Miller, R. Singh, W. E. Taylor, M. L. Lee, et al.
{Delta}-4-Androstene-3,17-Dione Binds Androgen Receptor, Promotes Myogenesis in Vitro, and Increases Serum Testosterone Levels, Fat-Free Mass, and Muscle Strength in Hypogonadal Men
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 855 - 863.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
T. Bassindale, D. A. Cowan, S. Dale, A. J. Hutt, A. R. Leeds, M. J. Wheeler, and A. T. Kicman
Effects of Oral Administration of Androstenedione on Plasma Androgens in Young Women Using Hormonal Contraception
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2004; 89(12): 6030 - 6038.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
L.M. Rivera-Woll, M. Papalia, S.R. Davis, and H.G. Burger
Androgen insufficiency in women: diagnostic and therapeutic implications
Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2004; 10(5): 421 - 432.
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