What to know about natural steroids

Natural steroids are compounds that mimic the steroids that human bodies naturally produce, such as the hormones testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol.

What are natural steroids?

Share on Pinterest

Image credit: Muhammad Furqan/Getty Images

The body naturally produces steroids, such as the hormone testosterone, to build muscle tissue, among other important bodily processes.

Natural steroids typically refer to compounds found in plants, herbs, and other natural sources that mimic human hormones or steroids.

Supporters of natural steroids claim they act in the body like anabolic steroids. These are compounds that build and repair muscle by increasing the production of testosterone.

Natural steroids may also be called legal steroids, and businesses often sell them as a mixture of ingredients.

Compounds with some preliminary evidence to support them include the following.

Creatine

Currently, creatine is the only natural steroid that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve for short-term use in healthy adults aged over 18 years to improve athletic performance.

Several studies have foundTrusted Source that using creatine for 5–7 days can significantly increase:

• strength
• power
• work involving multiple sets of maximal-effort muscle contractions
• sprinting and soccer performance

No other compounds are approved by the FDA or backed by substantial human studies. However, some compounds may help build muscle or improve athletic endurance and resiliency.

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera, or ashwagandha, is a herb used in Ayurvedic medicine for rejuvenation, revitalization, and longevity.

A 2018 studyTrusted Source gave healthy males a 500 milligram (mg) dose of ashwagandha daily for 12 weeks, while the participants performed progressive overload resistance training 4 days per week.

The people who took ashwagandha experienced greater improvements in lower and upper body strength, as well as favorable body mass distribution compared with those in the placebo group.

Tribulus terrestris

Compounds found in Tribulus terrestris called steroidal saponins could weakly mimic the effects of testosterone and related hormones. This may improve muscle function and testosterone levels.

However, a 2020 studyTrusted Source concluded that scientists need to do more research to understand whether Tribulus terrestris is safe and has a therapeutic effect.

DAA

Limited research proposes that D-aspartic acid (DAA) may have a role in the production and release of testosterone.

However, most of these studiesTrusted Source showing that DAA enhances testosterone levels have been in animals. More human studies are needed to support their findings.

Vitamin D

Healthy circulating vitamin D levels are essential for bone health.

Recent research suggests it may play a role in muscle health, and that there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and a loss of muscle strength and mass. However, researchers need to investigate this potential connection further.

A 2017 studyTrusted Source found that adult females with moderate body compositions and lower body fat levels tended to have higher levels of circulating active vitamin D.

The researchers conclude that vitamin D may contribute to muscle health indirectly by acting on fatty tissues. Scientists need to perform more studies to see whether this connection applies to wider populations.

Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace element known toTrusted Source help control muscle growth and repair.

To date, researchers have focused mainly on how zinc affects muscle regulation. The substance may have links to age-related muscle loss, also called sarcopenia.

A 2018 review found that only an observational study suggested a correlation between zinc intake and physical performance in older adults.

With this in mind, experts need to conduct more studies before they can determine zinc’s role in physical performance.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important part of different enzymatic reactions that impact muscular performance during exercise.

Researchers believe the mineral may also help maintain muscle integrity during strenuous activities.

A 2019 studyTrusted Source found that taking 400 mg of magnesium per day for 3 weeks helped reduce muscle damage in 18 male professional cyclists.

 

DHEA

Dehydroepiandrosterone is a precursor moleculeTrusted Source that the body converts into the hormones testosterone and estradiol.

These increase protein production and consumption, in turn, increasing muscle growth and strength.

Ginseng

Some studies have found that ginseng may help prevent certain conditions, such as diabetes or aging, trigger muscle loss.

One 2017 study found that treating muscle cells with black ginseng extract promoted muscle-specific gene expression and cellular differentiation. This helped the muscle cells grow larger, wider, and thicker, and enhanced cellular activity.

Fenugreek

Researchers need to find out more about this herb.

One studyTrusted Source in male mice showed that fenugreek extract boosted endurance and fatty acid use during exercise. The research also suggests fenugreek may have fat reducing properties.

Compounds in fenugreek extract may increase testosterone levels by blocking the body from converting it into other sex hormones.

Safed musli

Safed musli is a medicinal plant used in traditional Indian medicine to treat male sexual disorders, most likely by increasing testosterone levels.

More studies on safed musli are needed to understand whether it may also improve muscle mass, repair, endurance, or strength.

5-alpha-hydroxy-laxogenin

While scientists need to conduct more research on this compound, one study in rats found it increasedTrusted Source body tissue production and repair.

Safety

According to the FDA, many products marketed as bodybuilding supplements are not safe.

Several companies market these products as dietary supplements, even though the FDA do not approve them within this classification.

The FDA say many bodybuilding products contain hidden, harmful compounds, and other substances they do not consider dietary ingredients.

These hidden, unapproved ingredients may have negative side effects. They could also interact with other supplements or medications.

In 2013, the FDA issued a warning to avoid products that contain the stimulant dimethylamylamine.

They warn this compound could increase blood pressure and lead to cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks.

The FDA regulates these supplements differently from other drugs and medicines. It does not require these products to undergo clinical trials or testing before they reach the market.

Benefits

Companies that sell natural steroids often claim they help with:

• improving endurance
• improving strength
• increasing exercise efficiency
• increasing tolerance for increased intensity training
• achieving an athletic or performance goal quicker

However, creatine is the only product commonly marketed as a natural steroid that currently has FDA approval.

Natural steroids may carry fewer side effects than traditional anabolic steroids. However, more studies are needed to understand their potential health concerns and drug interactions.