Mixed
Commercially available phytosteroid supplements containing 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and diosgenin (DSG) provide no additional hypertrophic or performance benefits over resistance training alone because the actual active compound concentrations are drastically lower than labeled amounts.
Do not rely on commercial phytosteroid supplements (specifically those combining 20E and DSG) to boost muscle growth or strength beyond what you achieve through consistent resistance training. This specific study found that the tested product contained less than 1% of the labeled 20E and only 10.4% of the labeled DSG, resulting in no biological activity or performance benefit compared to placebo. Focus on your training and nutrition instead.
Significant improvements in 1-RM SQ and BP were observed across both groups, indicating a time but no specific group effect... The lack of group-specific differences suggests that the tested phytosteroid supplement did not provide additional benefits. The significant discrepancy between the claimed and actual 20E and DSG concentration resulted in the lack of biological activity in C2C12 cells and likely contributed to the absence of measurable group-specific effects.
Why this rating
Randomized double-blind controlled trial with adequate sample size for the effect size, though limited to healthy young men.
Source
How reliable is the labeling of a commercial phytosteroid product? A 12-week randomized double-blind training study
Joshua Dissemond et al. · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025
DOI 10.1080/15502783.2025.2540408
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →