Turkesterone: Does This "Natural Steroid" Actually Work?
Few supplements have generated as much social media buzz as turkesterone. Promoted online as a “natural steroid” for muscle gain, it sits in a crowded supplement category with a lot of marketing and not much human research. This article looks at what turkesterone is, what studies exist, and whether the evidence supports the claims.
Key takeaways
- The only human turkesterone study we found was a small preliminary trial in 11 men using acute doses, and it found no significant effect on IGF-1, resting metabolic rate, lipid or carbohydrate metabolism.[1]
- A 10-week study in 46 young men using ecdysterone (a related compound, not turkesterone) reported greater gains in muscle mass and one-repetition bench press, with no rise in liver or kidney toxicity biomarkers. It is a single study.[2]
- In a 2026 analysis of 13 ecdysteroid supplements, several products standardized to 80 to 95% ecdysterone contained substantially lower amounts than declared.[3]
- No human evidence shows turkesterone raises testosterone. Talk to a doctor before using any supplement. This is general education, not medical advice.
What Are Ecdysteroids?
Ecdysteroids are steroid-like compounds that act as molting hormones in insects. Plants also produce them, and they are found in foods such as spinach and quinoa. The two most discussed in supplements are ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) and turkesterone, which is extracted from plants such as Ajuga turkestanica.[4] They are different molecules, and evidence about one cannot be assumed to apply to the other.
Is It a “Natural Steroid”?
Chemically, ecdysteroids have a steroid structure, as do cholesterol and vitamin D. But “steroid” in gym talk means anabolic androgenic steroids that act on the androgen receptor. Research on ecdysterone points elsewhere. Authors of rodent and cell studies have reported that its anabolic effect appears to be mediated by estrogen receptor binding, and molecular docking experiments supported estrogen receptor beta involvement.[5] In that study, ecdysterone increased the fiber size of rat soleus muscle more than the comparison compounds at the same dose (5 mg/kg for 21 days) and increased the diameter of cultured muscle cells, but those are animal and cell findings that do not tell us what happens in men.
The Labeling Problem
The Human Evidence
Turkesterone
A 2024 preliminary study at Baylor University gave turkesterone to 11 apparently healthy men (average age 23) and took samples before and at 3 and 24 hours after ingestion. It found no significant main effects of condition, time or interaction on serum IGF-1, resting metabolic rate, or lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. IGF-1 rose numerically but not significantly. The authors wrote that the data fail to fully support turkesterone as a potent anabolic supplement, noted favorable tolerability in this acute setting, and called for longer studies of muscle growth.[1]
Ecdysterone
The study often cited in turkesterone marketing is actually about ecdysterone. In a 10-week strength-training intervention in 46 young men published in Archives of Toxicology, participants dosed with ecdysterone-containing supplements showed significantly higher increases in muscle mass and in one-repetition bench press performance, and no increase in biomarkers of liver or kidney toxicity was noticed. The authors suggested ecdysterone should be considered for inclusion in the list of prohibited substances in sports.[2]
This is a single small study of a different compound, and the abstract does not show that turkesterone would behave the same way. Independent replication in larger, longer trials is needed. It also says nothing about testosterone, so it does not support the claim that these compounds raise testosterone.
Older and Preclinical Research
Reviews of ecdysteroid research describe a range of reported effects in mammals, including anabolic, hypoglycemic and cholesterol-lowering effects, and note that many of the older studies were in animals or used very different methods.[6] A 2024 review of ecdysterone and turkesterone described possible benefits for sport and health but mainly summarized preclinical work.[4] Claims that older research proves turkesterone works in humans go beyond what these sources show.
Quality Control
A 2026 analysis in the journal Molecules measured the contents of 13 commercial supplements labeled as containing extracts of Rhaponticum carthamoides, Cyanotis arachnoidea, Ajuga turkestanica or ecdysteroids. Several products standardized to 80 to 95% ecdysterone contained substantially lower amounts than declared, with measured 20-hydroxyecdysone ranging from below the limit of detection to about 50 mg per capsule, while some non-standardized products contained higher amounts, up to about 105 mg per capsule. Turkesterone content also varied among products marketed as standardized extracts.[3]
You May Not Be Getting What the Label Says
The Verdict
✓ What the Evidence Supports
- •Ecdysterone: one 10-week study (46 men) reported more muscle mass and bench press gains
- •Rodent and cell studies suggest an estrogen receptor mechanism
- •An acute turkesterone study found it was well tolerated in 11 men
✗ What It Does Not Support
- •No human study shows turkesterone raises testosterone
- •The one turkesterone study found no significant effects on IGF-1 or metabolism
- •Product content varies widely in independent testing
- •Long-term human safety is unknown
Turkesterone may have biological activity, but the human evidence is preliminary and the marketing claims are ahead of it. If you are looking for supplement options with a larger evidence base, see our guide to testosterone supplements and what the research shows and our analysis of creatine and testosterone. For common myths, see testosterone myths debunked.
What to Focus on Instead
Better-Supported Foundations
Progressive resistance training
Training with progressive overload is the main driver of muscle gain, and no supplement replaces it.
Enough protein
The International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand concluded that 1.4 to 2.0 g of protein per kg of body weight per day is sufficient for most exercising individuals.
Creatine monohydrate (if appropriate)
The International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand found that studies consistently show creatine increases muscle creatine and supports high-intensity performance, and reported it to be safe and well tolerated in healthy people. Ask a doctor first if you have kidney disease or take medication.
Sleep and recovery
Regular, adequate sleep supports training recovery and healthy hormone function.
See a doctor about symptoms
If you have persistent fatigue, low libido or slow recovery, ask a doctor about testing before spending money on supplements.
The protein and creatine points above come from International Society of Sports Nutrition position stands.[7][8]
Related Reading
- How to Increase Testosterone Naturally: the interventions with the best evidence behind them.
- The Complete T-Maxing Guide: the full habit stack for long-term hormonal health.
References
- Harris DR, Chapman-Lopez T, Machek SB, Forsse JS, Sulak T, Funderburk LK. The effects of multiple acute turkesterone doses on indirect measures of hypertrophy and metabolic measures: a preliminary investigation. Muscles. 2024. doi.org/10.3390/muscles3040031
- Isenmann E, Ambrosio G, Joseph JF, et al.. Ecdysteroids as non-conventional anabolic agent: performance enhancement by ecdysterone supplementation in humans. Arch Toxicol. 2019. doi.org/10.1007/s00204-019-02490-x
- Todorova V, Ivanova S, Ardasheva R, Ivanov K. Simultaneous LC-MS profiling of bioactive ecdysteroids in nutrient-dense plant sources and dietary supplements. Molecules. 2026. doi.org/10.3390/molecules31071090
- Todorova V, Ivanova S, Chakarov D, Kraev K, Ivanov K. Ecdysterone and turkesterone: compounds with prominent potential in sport and healthy nutrition. Nutrients. 2024. doi.org/10.3390/nu16091382
- Parr MK, Botre F, Nass A, Hengevoss J, Diel P, Wolber G. Ecdysteroids: a novel class of anabolic agents?. Biol Sport. 2015. doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1144420
- Lafont R, Dinan L. Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: an update. J Insect Sci. 2003. doi.org/10.1093/jis/3.1.7
- Jager R, Kerksick CM, Campbell BI, et al.. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017. doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8
- Kreider RB, Kalman DS, Antonio J, et al.. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017. doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
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