1-Androstenediol has its roots planted deep in early 20th-century endocrinology. Back when scientists kicked off their hunt for steroid hormones, they quickly recognized androstenediol’s role in human physiology. This molecule caught attention in the wave of anabolic steroid research that swept through medical circles around the 1930s and 1940s. Chemists like Adolf Butenandt and Leopold Ruzicka, Nobel Prize winners for their work with steroids, paved the way. Their work with precursor molecules led directly to synthetic pathways producing versions like 1-Androstenediol. The World War II era and the decades that followed saw bursts of innovation—athletes, bodybuilders, and scientists alike got drawn to the potential locked in this compound. As regulatory scrutiny grew, 1-Androstenediol’s journey through law books and lab benches only intensified.
1-Androstenediol, often mentioned in bodybuilding forums and sports science papers, pops up as a prohormone, a precursor that the body converts into active hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Markets tout it for its supposed muscle-building effects, leaning on anecdotal evidence and some animal research. Available mainly in oral capsule forms or powder, sellers highlight the chemical’s purity levels and the claim that the molecule helps users achieve an anabolic edge—particularly appealing for those chasing physique goals or strength gains. Product labeling will usually stress its “legal” status in certain regions and aim to assure customers of lab-tested QC, emphasizing clean sourcing and regulatory compliance.
1-Androstenediol presents as a white or off-white crystalline powder. It features a molecular formula of C19H30O2 and a molecular weight of roughly 290.45 g/mol. This steroid has two alcohol groups at the 3β and 17β positions, which influences its solubility and reactivity. The melting point usually lands near 178–183°C, which helps operators during quality control and synthesis. The structure itself has four fused rings typical of steroids, creating stable platforms for further modifications. The compound doesn’t mix easily with water, preferring organic solvents like ethanol or chloroform. Chemical stability under storage ties directly to the control of light and temperature—left exposed, oxidation risk rises, degrading the material and affecting activity.
Each container of 1-Androstenediol typically provides purity data, listed as percentages, often reaching above 98%. Labels describe batch numbers, country of manufacture, chemical structure diagrams, and recommended storage conditions—often, keep cool and dry, away from sunlight. Certificates of analysis usually verify purity, heavy metal content, microbial contamination, and solvent residues. Some manufacturers add disclaimers stating the product is for research use only, reflecting legal gray zones in some countries. Sports supplements may lean into bold claims of muscle growth and fat reduction, while more technical suppliers stick to straightforward scientific data and regulatory law, including CAS Number 571-76-2.
Preparation often begins with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or similar androgenic steroids as starting materials, exploiting their structural similarity to 1-Androstenediol. Chemists rely on stepwise oxidation, reduction, and selective protection of functional groups. For example, they might use a reduction pathway to introduce hydroxyl groups at C3 and C17, targeting beta-orientation with tailored reaction conditions. Purification by silica gel chromatography, followed by recrystallization from ethanol, yields the desired high-purity product. Solvent recovery and waste minimization form part of responsible practice in these syntheses, since environmental rules tighten every year. Advances in catalysis and biotransformation offer future-proof routes, but traditional chemical synthesis dominates still.
Lab workers take advantage of the two hydroxyl groups, allowing for esterification, etherification, or simple oxidation. One common approach involves converting the 17β-OH group to its acetate to modify absorption rates in the body—this acylation extends activity duration post-administration. Other changes include oxidizing the secondary alcohol to a ketone, which produces a close relative: 1-androstenedione. Stereoselective reductions allow control over biological activity, and some researchers explore fluorination or halogenation to tweak receptor binding affinity. Derivatives also help in metabolism research, making it possible to track biochemical pathways by introducing tracers or isotopic labels.
Chemists, pharmacologists, and supplement marketers trade in a heap of different names for the same molecule. 1-Androstenediol has synonyms like 5α-androst-1-ene-3β,17β-diol and Androst-1-ene-3β,17β-diol. Commercial versions sometimes use names like 1-AD or 1-Andro, especially in the supplement space. CAS registry number 571-76-2 ensures clarity in regulatory filings. Confusion can crop up, as some products refer to the molecule as a “testosterone booster,” even though the science behind these claims stays hotly debated.
Direct handling of 1-Androstenediol should reflect good lab practice. Personnel wear gloves, lab coats, and eye protection to keep accidental exposure at bay. Inhalation and unnecessary skin contact can lead to irritation or possible hormonal effects. Labs enforce closed-system manipulation and proper ventilation to reduce dust and vapor risks. Material safety data sheets note suspected hazards, and disposal must meet local hazardous waste rules. In the supplement industry, strict adherence to GMP—good manufacturing practice—applies, with batch traceability and third-party lab tests reducing the chance of contaminants. Regulators in countries like the US and Australia have clamped down based on concerns about abuse and unknown health effects.
Supplement markets see 1-Androstenediol as a promising prohormone said to boost muscle mass and strength. Athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness enthusiasts feature heavily in consumer demographics. Medical researchers have used this molecule, and its derivatives, to probe androgenic pathways and to uncover treatments for muscle wasting. Patent filings list possible uses in sports performance, hormone replacement therapies, and even in investigating prostate health. Its role as a prohormone keeps it at arm’s length from some mainstream medicine, but niche researchers tap its properties for experiments in endocrinology, aging, and metabolism.
Some pharmaceutical companies once dived into research, mapping out how 1-Androstenediol and its sisters fit into the vast steroid family. Today, university labs study new analogues, tracking enzyme activity and metabolic outcomes in animal models. Teams track absorption, conversion rates, and downstream hormone changes, hoping for lead compounds that show real therapeutic potential. Questions remain about selectivity, side effects, and dose-response curves. In the sports nutrition field, research often sticks to acute-phase effects in short studies—though critics point to the lack of robust, independent trials as a weak point. Better analytical methods, like mass spectrometry, upgrade the accuracy of detection in both supplements and biological samples.
Long-term toxicity data is tight-lipped in the open literature. Studies with rodents and other lab animals suggest high doses can alter liver enzymes and disrupt endogenous hormone balance, raising alarms about liver stress and reproductive effects. Anecdotal user reports, scoured from forums, add tales of acne, aggression, and mood swings. Clinicians express concern over cardiovascular effects, including changes in lipid profiles and possible hypertension. The absence of longitudinal human studies worries public health experts, especially given how widely prohormones sell online. Regulatory bodies have flagged the compound, warning of potential risks but often stopping short of outright bans due to insufficient large-scale evidence. Newer studies aim to close these data gaps, targeting liver, endocrine, and cardiovascular endpoints.
Developers look to modify 1-Androstenediol’s backbone with the hope of enhancing selectivity for androgen receptors and reducing side effects. Technological progress in synthetic chemistry could enable biosynthetic routes that use engineered enzymes or microorganisms, improving safety and lowering production costs. If research finds safer profiles or specific medical benefits, pharmaceutical houses might revisit the molecule as therapies for muscle wasting or hormone deficiency. Stricter supplement regulations could reroute the market into prescription-only or research-only territory. Automated monitoring and improved pharmacovigilance will track the effects on real-world users and athletes. The tug-of-war between innovation, public safety, and athletic performance isn't set to ease up, and the next regulatory or scientific breakthrough could shift the story of 1-Androstenediol all over again.
1-Androstenediol doesn’t pop up in conversations outside the world of serious bodybuilding or hardcore supplement forums. It’s a chemical cousin to testosterone, often found in products labeled as prohormones. These are the substances some people use to coax their bodies into building more muscle or pushing athletic performance a notch higher.
After someone swallows 1-Androstenediol, the liver goes to work converting it into 1-testosterone. The theory is simple: more 1-testosterone floating around, more muscle growth, faster recovery, and stronger lifts. It works through the androgen receptors—those are the same ones testosterone taps on the shoulder when it’s time to signal the body to grow tissue or repair muscle.
I spent some time observing how young lifters chase after quick results at the gym, hunting for anything labeled as “natural” or “legal” that promises massive gains. They often look for shortcuts in a bottle, hoping 1-Androstenediol will get them ripped overnight. Most folks outside that scene don’t see the risks or tweaks happening in the body when someone uses these kinds of compounds.
Muscle takes effort, sweat, and time. Diet and discipline can only go so far. Products like 1-Androstenediol sneak their way into the conversation because they seem like a magic ticket. Plain testosterone stays top of mind for athletes and bodybuilders, but heavy rules ban it without doctor approval. Some found a loophole in prohormones, but that window keeps closing as sports leagues and health agencies catch up.
The whole appeal hangs on pushing past natural limits. Steroids get a lot of attention—and plenty of headlines—but prohormones manage to stay tucked in a legal gray zone, at least for a while. Some supplement companies even switched formulas every few years, trying to stay a step ahead of new laws.
Walk into any gym and you’ll hear stories about wild side effects. Acne flares up. Hair starts falling out. The liver takes a beating working overtime to process these heavy hitters. Even heart health can get shaky if blood pressure or cholesterol shifts. Experience around trainers and long-time gym-goers teaches you these aren’t just scare stories—some see real, lasting damage, not just short-term gains.
Athletes, especially younger ones, rarely get the truth from a label on a bottle. Supplement makers don’t always check for safety. In the rush for a bigger bench press, it’s easy to overlook possible long-term harm. There’s rarely a doctor checking the blood work or warning someone about their liver enzymes before things start to slide.
Nobody likes to hear “slow and steady.” Growth takes time—a lesson younger athletes don’t want to learn until something scary happens. Better education about the risks makes more sense than more bans. At the same time, cleaner, open conversations between athletes, trainers, and doctors need to happen at ground level. Hiding the dangers only sparks more curiosity and more secrecy.
Old wisdom in weight rooms says: what really works is resting, eating, and working hard, day in and day out. Easy answers in a capsule cause more harm than most people bargain for. Progress sticks much better from real effort than from chasing an edge that could end up costing much more than a supplement ever promises.
People searching for that extra edge in the gym usually run across odd-sounding names on supplement bottles. 1-Androstenediol, or just 1-Andro, grabs the interest of anyone who’s spent time trying to pack on muscle but hit a plateau. What sets it apart? This prohormone acts as a precursor to testosterone—so the body converts it into testosterone after you take it. I’ve seen friends make solid strength gains within two months, especially guys who already had steady diets and training routines.
A research team once tracked healthy men supplementing with 1-Andro and found increased gains in lean muscle without much uptick in body fat. This isn’t magic, but it’s an aid that gives serious lifters a leg up when progress stalls.
Cutting unwanted pounds while holding onto muscle often feels impossible after your first few years of lifting. But real-world experience—plus a handful of animal studies—show 1-Andro can help the body drop fat. Some users report leaning out around the lower belly, love handles, and back area. This probably comes from the boosted testosterone effect speeding up metabolism and helping maintain muscle while in a calorie deficit.
Anyone who’s pushed through a plateau knows the pain of slow progress. One standout with 1-Andro is the rapid increase in strength. I’ve watched training partners add ten to fifteen pounds to their bench after using it for a cycle. Recovery seems smoother, too—less soreness after crushing squats or deadlifts, which matters for anyone living in the gym.
Studies back this up, showing a spike in red blood cell production. That helps deliver more oxygen to muscles during and after exercise, shaving down recovery times and letting lifters stay consistent.
No supplement comes without tradeoffs. Liver toxicity pops up in conversations about 1-Andro: this stuff gets broken down by the liver just like actual steroids. I’ve heard from users who push the limits and end up dealing with elevated liver enzymes. Plus, natural testosterone production doesn’t like being messed with too much, so cycling off and doing proper post-cycle therapy turns into a must. Gynecomastia—a fancy way to say “man boobs”—can show up if users don’t balance things properly. No one wins with hormone chaos.
On top of that, quality control in the supplement world never ranks as great. Mislabeling, dirty manufacturing conditions, and underdosed products are more common than they should be. I’ve known people who ended up with side effects and no benefits, all because the pills in the bottle didn’t match the label.
Individuals drawn to muscle-building shortcuts need to ask real questions about why. Nutrition takes the leading role—protein intake, sleep, and a well-written program work wonders on their own. That said, anybody serious about 1-Andro should get regular lab work, stick with products from companies that test through third parties, and go in with a solid post-cycle plan. Doctors knowledgeable in sports medicine can offer advice based on more than gym folklore.
Better regulation and clearer labeling would help keep amateur athletes a little safer. Creating a community where people can share real experiences beats whispering and guessing about side effects.
1-Androstenediol has a reputation in fitness circles as a muscle-building supplement. Folks hunting for faster gains sometimes grab it from internet shops or local gyms. This compound converts to testosterone in the body, making people think it delivers a shortcut to bigger biceps and a chiseled jawline. Plenty of people remember the surge in supplements like this during the late 1990s and early 2000s, often sold with hard-sell promises and little warning about long-term effects.
Whenever any supplement messes with hormone levels, surprises tend to follow. Extra testosterone can push the body’s balance out of whack. Men sometimes experience acne outbreaks, shrinking testicles, reduced sperm counts, or even mood swings. Odd as it sounds, aggression and bursts of impatience can sneak up on people who thought they’d just be getting stronger. In women, the risks creep closer to missed periods, deeper voices, or hair sprouting where nobody wants it. These side effects rarely feature in flashy advertisements or before-and-after photos.
The body doesn’t just make more muscle when presented with these compounds. The liver and kidneys end up with extra work as they try to process and clear out everything left behind. These organs can take a beating, especially in people already at risk for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Lab tests show that even short cycles—something as little as four weeks—raise liver enzyme levels. Folks who ignore warning signs risk real damage.
Back in college, a friend dove into prohormone supplements aiming for a spot on the starting team. His strength soared. But, almost overnight, the sides of his face turned red and acne spread across his back. He laughed it off until nosebleeds started and a doctor traced the problem to spiking blood pressure. Quitting helped him bounce back, but the fear stuck with all of us in that lifting circle. No one had mentioned those risks—instead, everything focused on muscle gain.
One overlooked issue with 1-Androstenediol comes from its lack of regulation. Most supplements don’t go through strict checks. The ingredient list may leave out crucial details or hide substances that don't belong in the bottle. A supplement might claim to help build muscle but contain traces of something that brings athletes a failed drug test or, worse, puts health at risk. The FDA cracked down on these products several years ago for a reason.
Dependency doesn’t always stay out of the conversation with this stuff. Hormone disruptions often lead to what lifters call “crashing”—energy drops, lousy sleep, even mild depression once someone stops. The body needs time to get its natural testosterone production back, and sometimes it doesn’t bounce back right away.
There’s real value in getting blood work done before and after touching supplements that play with hormones. Doctors can spot early changes long before big symptoms show up. For coaches, trainers, and gym partners, keeping the conversation open beats letting anyone believe in miracle shortcuts. A realistic approach often comes down to better habits: more sleep, whole foods, and patience in the gym. Lab-made shortcuts may look good for a few weeks, but real health depends on choices that last.
Plenty of weightlifters chase muscle gains with every new supplement out there. 1-androstenediol often pops up in bodybuilding circles, promising leaner looks and bigger lifts. This compound acts as a prohormone, eventually converting in the body to 1-testosterone, an anabolic hormone. More muscle, better workouts, and maybe a quicker recovery sound awesome, but the reality sits in the details of how to actually use it.
Everyone wants a shortcut, yet with androgens like 1-androstenediol, there’s such a thing as too much excitement. Many folks chase the gains hard, thinking higher doses mean faster progress. I watched gym buddies pop high doses above 300mg a day, and every last one of them dealt with unwanted side effects, from mood swings to high blood pressure, hair loss, even acne that took months to clear up. The lesson always ends up the same: the sweet spot sits lower than most expect.
I’ve found that most experienced lifters start around 100 to 200mg per day, split into two doses for stability. Sometimes guys with bigger frames creep up to 300mg but rarely beyond. A cycle tends to run four to six weeks. Any longer, and side effects ramp up, while the benefits plateau. In my own circle, longer cycles led to more complaints than celebrations. Sticking to the lower end not only kept things safer but often actually led to better long-term results because the body had fewer issues to deal with.
The body runs on balance. Besides making muscles grow, these compounds can mess around with hormones like testosterone and estrogen. I’ve stood by guys who finished their cycles only to realize their mood and energy tanked—classic “shutdown” symptoms. Letting the body recover with proper off-periods turned out to be as important as the cycle itself. Four weeks on, at least as much off, with post-cycle support after, looks like the safest road for most. No one enjoys dealing with hormonal dips just for a few weeks of looking bigger in the mirror.
Few topics spark more debate in lifting communities than liver support and blood pressure while using prohormones. Some brush it off. I’ve watched friends’ blood pressure quietly climb on cycle. Analgesics, organ support, a close eye on blood work—those steps took priority for those of us planning to lift not just for summer, but for years ahead.
Post-cycle therapy can’t be skipped. Something as simple as a short SERM cycle alongside a quality testosterone booster often brings levels back up. Supportive habits matter just as much: solid sleep, dialing in real food, and regular health checks with a doctor who actually listens.
At the end of the day, these compounds aren’t magic. No powder or pill can outpace dedication to lifting, good food, and recovery. Chasing shortcuts by overdosing or never cycling off burns out results—and bodies—over time. Respecting the compound with moderate dosing, structured cycling, and support along the way turned short-term lifts into long-term progress for those actually willing to do the work right.
Some people call 1-Androstenediol a “prohormone” or “designer steroid.” It’s a lab-created substance that folks take to boost muscle growth or athletic performance. What many don’t realize is it’s one biochemical step away from turning into testosterone—or something similar—in our bodies. Once in the bloodstream, the effects start looking a lot like classic anabolic steroids.
Thinking about picking up a bottle of 1-Androstenediol? Laws change quickly in the world of supplements and performance enhancers. Back in the early 2000s, you could find substances like this on supplement shelves in gyms and health-food stores. Then the U.S. passed the Anabolic Steroid Control Act in 2004. Congress wanted to close loopholes that let companies sell steroid precursors under different names. They moved to ban many substances that act like testosterone, and 1-Androstenediol landed on the list in many places, along with similar compounds.
Walk into a supplement shop now, you probably won’t find a reputable store selling this over the counter. In the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Administration treats it as a controlled substance—meaning possession without a prescription can spell real trouble. Other countries, like Australia or the UK, also list it as illegal. Some countries still lag behind, but if athletes travel or cross borders with this, customs agents and sporting bodies can seize it and hand down penalties.
Trying to beat drug tests with clever chemistry rarely works long-term. Labs hired by everyone from the Olympics to high school sports have a big budget and a lot of smart people. They’ve spent years building sensitive tests for anything that acts like testosterone or its cousins. 1-Androstenediol converts quickly to other hormones in the body, but urine tests can catch both the parent compound and unique breakdown products. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) bluntly states that prohormones and related steroids belong in the banned corner.
Based on my own time working in athletics and seeing what goes on behind the curtain, athletes who think “new” prohormones fly under the radar usually get a rude awakening. Testing labs trade info worldwide. It’s not about catching just what’s popular, but anything related to anabolic steroids. Bans reach back to the source: using a substance even a few days before a test can leave a chemical fingerprint. The tests grow more sophisticated each year. That story of a “legal alternative” turning up negative in a drug test doesn’t seem to last more than one season.
People dabble with 1-Androstenediol chasing gains, thinking they’ll dodge both laws and risks. Reality—these chemical shortcuts sometimes wreck hormone balance and put livers through the wringer. Teenagers and young adults, eager for fast results, feel the pressure most. Stories I’ve heard from trainers and former athletes often go deeper: heart trouble, mood crashes, the kind of side effects that stick around far longer than any muscle built in a month or two.
There’s more hope in straightforward solutions—patience, resistance training, nutrition habits built for the long haul. One of my high school coaches used to say, “Shortcuts end in a ditch.” The phrase sticks because it fits here. Health and fairness in sport mean more than who can outsmart a drug test. We’ve got a choice to keep sport clean and health in check rather than chasing the next loophole.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol |
| Other names |
5-Androstenediol 1-Androstenediol Androst-1-ene-3β,17β-diol |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwʌn.ænˌdrɒs.təˈniː.di.ɒl/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 571-29-9 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1322981 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:28689 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL2110837 |
| ChemSpider | 84684 |
| DrugBank | DB01536 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard: 100.039.621 |
| EC Number | 1.1.1.146 |
| Gmelin Reference | 319798 |
| KEGG | C05443 |
| MeSH | D017176 |
| PubChem CID | 91498 |
| RTECS number | BW6650000 |
| UNII | J44A1NHZ10 |
| UN number | UN2811 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C19H30O2 |
| Molar mass | 306.444 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.032 g/cm3 |
| Solubility in water | slightly soluble |
| log P | 2.7 |
| Vapor pressure | 4.74E-07 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | 14.51 |
| Basicity (pKb) | pKb = 5.09 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -75.7·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.558 |
| Viscosity | Viscous oil |
| Dipole moment | 2.05 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 365.7 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | −370.2 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | –5865 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | A14AA07 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | May cause eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS07, GHS08 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H315: Causes skin irritation. H319: Causes serious eye irritation. H335: May cause respiratory irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | P201, P202, P273, P280, P308+P313, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-1-0 |
| Flash point | Flash point: "135.5 °C (275.9 °F) |
| NIOSH | Not assigned |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | 4 – 6 mg/day |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
1-Androstenedione 1-Testosterone Androstenediol Androstenedione |
