1-Androsterone (1-Andro / 1-DHEA)
1-Androsterone (1-DHEA) is a non-methylated prohormone that converts to 1-testosterone (dihydroboldenone), a non-aromatising DHT-like androgen. Popular in legal-until-2014 supplements, it produces dry lean gains anecdotally but suppresses natural testosterone and can lower HDL; human data is limited to case reports and one small pharmacokinetic study.
01 Overview
1-Androsterone is a two-step prohormone: it is converted first to 1-androstenediol and then to 1-testosterone (1-dehydro-DHT, chemically dihydroboldenone). Because the target hormone cannot aromatise, users report 'dry' gains without estrogenic water retention, distinguishing it from 4-Andro. It was heavily sold in the early 2010s before the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014 explicitly listed it and related prohormones.
Human evidence is thin: a small pharmacokinetic study confirmed conversion to 1-testosterone metabolites, and case reports document liver and lipid effects, but there are no controlled efficacy trials. Reported effects — moderate strength and lean-mass gains with reduced water retention — are essentially bodybuilding-forum grade. Suppression of endogenous testosterone is expected because the downstream androgen is active at the receptor.
02 Mechanism
Sequential reduction/oxidation to 1-testosterone (dihydroboldenone), a 5α-reduced-like androgen that binds the androgen receptor and does not aromatise to estrogen.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common (marketed) | 100–330 mg/day | Oral | Typical labelled supplement dosing, often split; bioavailability enhancers were commonly co-formulated. |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry lean mass gainUsers report modest lean gains without water retention due to the non-aromatising downstream androgen. | ~2-4 kg reported | Anecdotal | |
| Increased strengthCommonly reported strength improvement over a 4-6 week run. | modest | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPTA suppressionEndogenous testosterone falls; libido and mood dips are commonly reported at cycle end. | Moderate | Near-universal | Anecdotal | |
| Lethargy and reduced HDLFatigue and adverse lipid shifts (low HDL) are frequently reported. | Moderate | Common | Anecdotal |