BB supplement

A study of androstenedione, the steroid-like food supplement used legally by professional athletes, has found it may not build muscles and could pose adverse health effects. Researchers from Iowa State University studied 30 men, aged 19 to 26, of whom 20 underwent eight weeks of resistance body building training.

Of those, 10 were given daily doses of 300 mg of the non-prescription food supplement popularly known as "andro," a level that is lower than some advertisements for the product recommend.

The report said muscle strength did not differ in the men given the supplement, compared to others in the study who were given a placebo.

In addition, it said, the men given andro had a significant lowering of so-called "good" cholesterol, which protects against heart disease.

The supplement was also found to increase blood oestrogen levels, something that could lead to enlarged breasts and an increased risk of heart disease and pancreatic cancer.

Credit: bbc news