Turkesterone Explained: What's All The Hype About?

Jeff Nippard
28 Jan 202209:42

TLDRTurkesterone, a plant compound touted as a muscle builder, has gained internet hype. Despite its chemical similarity to testosterone, early studies on rodents and insects showed limited effects on protein synthesis. A 2006 study found no significant impact on muscle gains in humans. The 2019 study suggesting benefits was discredited due to the supplement containing only a fraction of the claimed ectisterone. The consensus remains that turkesterone lacks scientific backing, relying on anecdotal evidence and marketing rather than solid research.

Takeaways

  • 🔥 Turkesterone is a plant compound that has gained popularity on the internet as a potential muscle builder.
  • 🌱 It is an ecdysteroid, similar to hormones like testosterone, which plants and insects produce instead of human hormones.
  • 📚 Early studies from the 1970s in Russia suggested it might stimulate liver protein synthesis, but not muscle protein synthesis.
  • 🔍 A 2006 study involving 45 weight-trained men found no difference in muscle gains between those taking an ecdysteroid and a placebo.
  • 🚫 The International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded in 2018 that ecdysteroids, including turkesterone, are not recommended for performance enhancement.
  • 🆕 A 2019 study, which is often cited for its positive results, was found to have issues with the supplement's content not matching the label.
  • 🤔 The 2019 study's results may be questionable due to the discrepancy between the labeled and actual content of the supplement.
  • 🧐 The use of bioelectrical impedance in the 2019 study may have provided unreliable body composition measurements.
  • 💡 The possibility of a false positive in the 2019 study is considered, as small sample sizes and random variation can lead to atypical findings.
  • 🚫 The current evidence does not support turkesterone as a scientifically-backed supplement for muscle gains.
  • 📈 The speaker advises against spending money on turkesterone until more convincing evidence is available.

Q & A

  • What is turcosterone and why has it gained attention on the internet?

    -Turcosterone is a plant compound that is an ectysteroid, similar in chemical structure to human hormones like testosterone. It has gained attention as a potential muscle builder, leading to widespread interest and discussion on the internet.

  • How is turcosterone related to deca?

    -Turcosterone is referred to as a 'plant equivalent' to deca, which is a slang term for the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate. The comparison is due to the similarity in chemical structure and the anabolic effects attributed to testosterone-like substances.

  • What was the first research interest in turcosterone in the 1970s?

    -In the 1970s, Russian scientists were interested in turcosterone because it was found to stimulate liver protein synthesis in mice when administered to their livers, suggesting a potential anabolic effect.

  • What were the findings of the 2006 study involving weight-trained men and ectisteroids?

    -The 2006 study found no difference in fat-free mass or one-rep max strength among weight-trained men who took different types of potentially anabolic supplements, including an ectisteroid similar to turcosterone, compared to a placebo group.

  • Why was the 2019 study on turcosterone significant?

    -The 2019 study was significant because it was one of the few studies that found a positive effect of turcosterone on muscle gains in humans, unlike previous studies that did not show significant results.

  • What was the discrepancy found in the 2019 study regarding the actual content of the turcosterone supplement?

    -The 2019 study claimed the supplement contained 100 milligrams of turcosterone, but lab analysis revealed it only contained six milligrams, just 6% of the advertised amount.

  • What is the consensus among experts regarding the use of turcosterone as a supplement?

    -The consensus among well-qualified experts is that turcosterone is not science-based and lacks convincing evidence to support its use as a supplement for muscle building or performance enhancement.

  • Why are anecdotes not sufficient to support the effectiveness of a supplement like turcosterone?

    -Anecdotes are not sufficient because they are not controlled like scientific studies and cannot account for all the variables in an individual's regimen, making it difficult to determine if the results are due to the supplement itself or other factors.

  • What is the importance of having a basic understanding of various creative skills for running an online business or brand?

    -Having a basic understanding of creative skills such as photography, email marketing, or graphic design is important for having the power and control to create what you envision for your online business or brand, even if you can outsource some tasks.

  • What is Skillshare and how does it benefit creative individuals?

    -Skillshare is an online community offering thousands of classes for creative individuals to learn new skills in areas like video production, photography, productivity, marketing, and business. It benefits creatives by providing relatable and relevant content taught by working professionals and access to a knowledgeable community.

Outlines

00:00

💊 Exploring the Hype Around Turcosterone: A Muscle-Building Supplement?

The script discusses the sudden popularity of turcosterone, a plant compound similar to the hormone testosterone, which is being marketed as a muscle builder. The speaker admits they haven't tried it but has received many inquiries about it. Turcosterone is an ecdysteroid, a plant and insect hormone that has been studied since the 1970s. Early studies on mice suggested it could stimulate liver protein synthesis, but this isn't the same as muscle protein synthesis. A 2006 study by the University of Florida found no difference in muscle gains between weight-trained men taking an ecdysteroid supplement and those taking a placebo. The International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded in 2018 that ecdysteroids, including turcosterone, are not recommended for increasing training adaptations or performance. However, a 2019 study claimed to find an effect in humans, but the supplement used was found to contain only 6mg of turcosterone instead of the 100mg advertised, casting doubt on the study's validity.

05:01

🕵️‍♂️ Debunking the Turcosterone Supplement: Science vs. Marketing Hype

The second paragraph delves deeper into the credibility of turcosterone as a supplement. The speaker questions the 2019 study's results, given the discrepancy in the supplement's content. They consider the possibility of undeclared anabolic substances in the supplement, but the study's supplemental materials showed no evidence of such substances. The speaker discusses the potential for false positives in scientific studies and the unreliability of bioelectrical impedance for body composition measurements. They also note that the study's findings do not align with the scientific consensus and that anecdotes alone are insufficient to support the supplement's effectiveness. The speaker emphasizes the importance of controlled scientific studies over anecdotal evidence when evaluating supplements and concludes that, based on the current evidence, turcosterone lacks scientific backing and is driven by marketing hype. The paragraph ends with a mention of a podcast interview with Dr. Eric Trexler, a supplement expert, discussing the issues with premature claims in the supplement industry.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Turkesterone

Turkesterone, also known as turk, is a plant compound that has gained attention due to its purported similarity to the hormone testosterone. It is considered by some as a potential muscle builder, which is the central theme of the video. The term is first introduced as a subject of widespread internet discussions and is later examined in the context of scientific research.

💡Ecdysteroids

Ecdysteroids are plant and insect hormones that are chemically similar to human hormones like testosterone. In the video, ecdysteroids are mentioned as the class of compounds to which turkesterone belongs. The script discusses the hypothesis that since human testosterone is anabolic, ecdysteroids might have similar effects, although this is later questioned.

💡Anabolic

Anabolic refers to the building up of substances within a living organism, often associated with muscle growth. The video explores the anabolic potential of turkesterone, suggesting that because it is similar to testosterone, it might have muscle-building properties. However, the studies mentioned in the script cast doubt on this claim.

💡Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is the process by which cells produce the proteins they need. In the context of the video, the ability of turkesterone to stimulate protein synthesis is examined as a possible mechanism for its muscle-building claims. The script mentions early studies on this topic, but notes their limitations and lack of replication.

💡Placebo

A placebo is an inactive substance given to control groups in clinical trials to test the efficacy of an experimental treatment. The video discusses a study where one group received a placebo to compare the effects of a supplement similar to turkesterone. The placebo group's performance is used to evaluate the actual impact of the supplement on muscle gains.

💡Free Testosterone

Free testosterone refers to the unbound form of testosterone in the blood, which is biologically active. The video mentions that studies found no difference in free testosterone levels among subjects taking a supplement similar to turkesterone, suggesting that it may not influence testosterone levels or muscle growth.

💡Bioelectrical Impedance

Bioelectrical impedance is a method used to estimate body composition, including muscle mass. The video criticizes the use of this method in a study that found positive effects for turkesterone, suggesting it may be unreliable compared to other methods like the DEXA machine used in previous studies.

💡False Positive

A false positive occurs when a test indicates a positive result for a condition that is not actually present. The video raises the possibility that the positive results for turkesterone in a study could be a false positive, especially considering the discrepancies in the supplement's content.

💡Anecdotes

Anecdotes are personal stories or accounts that are often used to illustrate a point but lack the rigor of scientific evidence. The video contrasts anecdotes about turkesterone's effectiveness with scientific studies, cautioning against relying on personal stories without controlled research.

💡Marketing Hype

Marketing hype refers to the exaggerated promotion of a product or idea. The video suggests that turkesterone's popularity may be driven more by marketing hype than by scientific evidence, as the studies discussed do not support its purported benefits.

💡Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community mentioned in the video's sponsorship segment. It is used as an example of a platform for learning creative skills, unrelated to the main topic of turkesterone but relevant to the video creator's personal and professional development.

Highlights

Turkesterone, a plant compound, is being hyped as a muscle builder, but its scientific backing is questionable.

Turkesterone is an ecdysteroid, similar in chemical structure to human testosterone.

Initial interest in turkesterone dates back to the 1970s with Russian research on liver protein synthesis in mice.

1970s-1990s studies on ecdysteroids in animals and insects had substandard designs and did not lead to human research.

A 2006 study found no difference in muscle gains between an ecdysteroid group and a placebo group.

The 2006 study used a double-blind method where subjects did not know if they were taking supplements or placebo.

In 2018, the International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded that ecdysteroids are not recommended for performance enhancement.

A 2019 study claimed positive effects of an ecdysterone supplement on muscle gains, contradicting previous findings.

The 2019 study used bioelectrical impedance, a method criticized for its unreliability in measuring body composition.

Lab analysis revealed the ecdysterone supplement contained only 6mg instead of the advertised 100mg of ecdysterone.

The possibility of the supplement containing undisclosed anabolic substances was considered but ruled out by blood and urine tests.

The speaker suggests that the 2019 study's positive results may be due to a false positive or an untested ingredient.

The speaker emphasizes the unreliability of anecdotes compared to controlled scientific studies for evaluating supplements.

Skillshare is highlighted as a sponsor of the video, offering classes for creative individuals to learn new skills.

The speaker recommends Skillshare for its relatable content taught by working professionals and its supportive community.

A free one-month trial of Skillshare is offered to the first 1,000 subscribers through a link in the video description.

The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of scientific evidence over anecdotal claims when considering supplements.