DIETARY SUPPLEMENT ANDROSTENEDIONE AND HORMONE LEVELS IN HEALTHY MEN

甾体雄烯二酮是雄激素合成途径中睾酮的直接前体。雄烯二酮作为一种“膳食补充剂”在口服配方中销售，无需处方。据称，它的有益效果包括增加肌肉质量，提高运动成绩，改善幸福感。这项研究的目的是确定正常男性志愿者口服标准剂量雄烯二酮7天后，是否会提高性类固醇水平或抑制促性腺激素。20 - 40岁的正常男性将随机接受100毫克，300毫克或0毫克（对照）雄烯二酮，为期7天。将在第1天和第7天进行8小时内多种性类固醇的详细药物动力学测量。在第2 - 6天，将抽取基线和120分钟样本。将每天测量促性腺激素水平以及标准化学和肝功能测试。这些措施将使我们能够确定雄烯二酮是否转化为强效雄激素或雌激素，是否抑制性腺功能的正常反馈，或是否与任何短期毒性有关。

The steroid androstenedione is the direct precursor to testosterone in the synthetic pathway of androgens. Androstenedione is marketed as a "dietary supplement" in oral formulation and sold without prescription. It purported beneficial effects include increasing muscle mass, enhancing athletic performance, and improving sense of well being. The goal of this study is to determine if orally administered androstenedione, when given in standard doses to normal male volunteers for seven days, raises sex steroid levels or suppresses gonadotropins. Normal men ages 20 - 40 will be randomized to receive either 100 mg, 300 mg, or 0 mg (control) of androstenedione for seven days. Detailed pharmokinetic measurements of multiple sex-steroids over 8 hours will be performed on days 1 and 7. On days 2 - 6, baseline and 120 minute samples will be drawn. Gonadtropin levels will be measured daily along with standard chemistries and liver function tests. These measures will allow us to determine if androstenedione is converted to potent androgens or estrogens, suppresses normal feedback of gonadal function or is associated with any short term toxicity.