Boldione, also known as androstadienedione or 1-dehydroandrostenedione, as well as 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione, is an important industrial precursor for various steroid hormones. Boldione is a direct precursor (prohormone) to the anabolic steroid boldenone (1,4-androstadiene-17beta-ol-3-one). It is advertised as a highly anabolic/androgenic compound promoting muscularity, enhancing strength and overall physical performance, and is available on the Internet and in health stores. Boldione was marketed as a prohormone “dietary supplement” for many years in the mid-2000’s, but it is truly a potent precursor (ie. converts in the body) to the anabolic steroid Boldenone. In 2005 the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2005 classified boldenone as a Schedule III controlled illegal steroid.

Dihydroandrostenedione (Androstanedione) is a steroid metabolite and a precursor of both testosterone and estrone normally produced by the adrenal gland and gonads and is converted to testosterone through the action of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which is found in most body tissues. Androstenedione is also produced by some plants and has recently been marketed as a product for increasing blood testosterone concentrations to be used as a natural alternative to anabolic steroid use. However, androstenedione administration during resistance training did not significantly alter the serum testosterone concentration in normotestosterogenic young men. The increased muscle size and strength observed with resistance training were also not augmented with androstenedione administration. The use of androstenedione increased the serum concentrations of estradiol and estrone, suggesting an increased aromatization of the ingested androstenedione and/or testosterone derived from the exogenous androstenedione. The use of androstenedione was associated with decreased levels of HDL-C. These data provide evidence that androstenedione does not enhance adaptations to resistance training and may result in potentially serious adverse health consequences in young men.