DIETARY SUPPLEMENT ANDROSTENEDIONE AND HORMONE LEVELS IN HEALTHY MEN

类固醇雄烯二酮是雄激素合成途径中睾酮的直接前体。雄烯二酮是一种口服配方的“膳食补充剂”，在没有处方的情况下出售。据称，它的有益效果包括增加肌肉质量，提高运动成绩，以及改善幸福感。这项研究的目的是确定口服标准剂量的雄烯二酮对正常男性志愿者7天是否会提高性类固醇水平或抑制促性腺激素。年龄在20-40岁的正常男性将随机接受100毫克、300毫克或0毫克(对照组)的雄烯二酮治疗7天。在第1天和第7天，将进行超过8小时的多种性类固醇的详细药动学测量。在第2-6天，将抽取基线样本和120分钟的样本。每天将测量促性腺激素水平，并进行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有效的雄激素或雌激素，抑制性腺功能的正常反馈，或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.