I wish to take issue with the article written by Irene Lewis McCormick regarding androstenedione (Iowa State Daily Monday, Nov. 30).

Ms. McCormick makes it seem as though the effects of oral androstenedione use are well-documented and proven when, in reality, the scientific evidence for any effects of androstenedione is severely lacking.

The information presented by Ms. McCormick is little more than a restatement of what can be found in any body-building magazine or androstenedione advertisement.

The “facts” regarding the action of oral androstenedione supplementation Ms. McCormick quotes are not based upon significant scientific research.

As of right now, there is one research article published regarding the use of androstenedione.

This article was published in 1962 and gave data on the effect of a one-time dose of 100 mg of androstenedione on two women.

The research from 1962 did not make any mention of weight lifting or enhancement of muscle mass. Much of the data regarding the use of androstenedione comes from an obscure patent application from Germany.

This patent does not mention any evidence to make it valuable scientifically.

If Ms. McCormick has more research on androstenedione, I would like to see it.

Here are some honest facts about androstenedione.

Androstenedione is a metabolic precursor to testosterone, but it is also a metabolic precursor to estrogens, specifically estrone (not a desired hormone for bodybuilders) and dihydrotestosterone (which causes benign prostatic hypertrophy).

The amount of oral androstenedione that is converted to testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or estrone has not been researched at all.

Ms. McCormick states that “[A]ndrostenedione quickly converts to an anabolic form after it enters the body.”

In fact, this has not been shown to be true.

There is scant research on androstenedione.

Even if androstenedione does become anabolically active, androstenedione is less than one fifth as potent as testosterone, so it would have very little anabolic effect.

Finally, the warning Ms. McCormick gives regarding the possible negative side effects of androstenedione is vague and seems to be an afterthought.

It is true that the side effects of androstenedione are unknown.

However, the side effects of other exogenous anabolic steroids are very well known.

Anabolic steroids have been shown to cause sterility, testicular atrophy, acne, insulin resistance, gynecomastia and extreme reductions in serum HDL cholesterol (a major risk factor for heart disease) to name a few.

Additionally, the late Lyle Alzado, a very good professional football player, blamed his mental illness on the use of anabolic steroids.

Finally, if Ms. McCormick honestly pursued the facts regarding androstenedione supplementation before writing her article, she would have attended the thesis defense in exercise and sport science on Nov. 20 regarding the use of androstenedione.

Providing accurate information regarding exercise is very important. I understand and appreciate the effort Ms. McCormick puts into her articles.

However, it is extremely important to present the scientific evidence, not just restate the manufacturer’s claims.

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Greg Brown

Graduate student

Exercise and sport science