In the ever-evolving world of bodybuilding supplements, beta sitosterol has emerged as yet another trendy substance marketed as an anabolic agent. However, a closer examination reveals that this plant-derived compound may not live up to the hype surrounding its purported muscle-building properties.
Beta sitosterol is naturally present in various plants and plant oils, typically extracted from seed oil extracts. Structurally, it bears similarities to cholesterol, which has led to some misconceptions about its effects on the human body. The only proven physiological impact of beta sitosterol is its ability to reduce cholesterol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially aiding in lowering cholesterol levels.
Clinical studies on animals have shown a decrease in blood cholesterol levels after regular injections of massive doses ranging from 3 to 20 grams per day. The need for such high dosages stems from the fact that the human body barely absorbs beta sitosterol when taken orally, and even injectable forms are poorly utilized. This lack of absorption is due to the human organism’s deficiency in the necessary enzymatic system to process beta sitosterol and other plant sterols effectively.
Dr. Brian Leibowitz, in his article “Unproven Anabolic/Ergogenic Aids” published in the American bodybuilding magazine “Muscular Development” confirms that beta sitosterol has almost no biological activity in humans. He suggests that this low absorption might actually be a protective mechanism, as individuals who absorb large amounts of beta sitosterol due to a genetic weakness can develop betasitosterolemia, a condition characterized by abnormal changes in the skin and joints.
The presence of beta sitosterol in the bodybuilding market is primarily due to its use in the pharmaceutical industry as a raw material for producing various medications, including synthetic hormone preparations. Since the body produces testosterone from cholesterol, and beta sitosterol shares structural similarities with cholesterol, pharmaceutical companies use it to manufacture synthetic testosterone.
Some opportunistic marketers in the bodybuilding industry have seized upon this connection, arguing that beta sitosterol’s structural similarities to cholesterol mean the body can use it to increase testosterone production. However, this hypothesis is fundamentally flawed, as beta sitosterol is almost entirely destroyed by the liver and gastrointestinal tract upon ingestion or broken down into biologically inactive molecules.
Despite these facts, claims persist that beta sitosterol not only boosts endogenous testosterone production but also increases growth hormone release and has potent fat-burning properties. Dr. Leibowitz refutes these claims, stating, “The crucial point is that to date, there is no evidence of any hormone-like function of beta sitosterol. Those who claim beta sitosterol has an anabolic effect are simply operating under the false assumption that plant sterols would act like synthetic steroid hormones. This is not the case, and neither beta sitosterol nor any other plant sterol has ever demonstrated muscle-building or fat-burning properties.”
Beta sitosterol is often marketed in combination with other sterols such as gamma oryzanol, stigmasterol, campesterol, or fucosterol as a supposed super-anabolic sterol complex. However, the scientific evidence does not support these claims.
In conclusion, while beta sitosterol may have some benefits in managing cholesterol levels, its promotion as an anabolic agent in bodybuilding appears to be based on misunderstandings and misrepresentations of its biological effects. Bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts should approach such claims with skepticism and rely on proven methods of nutrition and training for muscle growth and performance enhancement.
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