Boldione (Androstadienedione)
Boldione (androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione) is the direct prohormone of boldenone (Equipoise). It is a weak androgen in its own right that converts in vivo to boldenone, and was widely sold as an oral 'prohormone' supplement before being scheduled as an anabolic steroid in the US in 2005.
01 Overview
Boldione differs from androstenedione only by an extra 1,2 double bond, the same modification that separates boldenone from testosterone. On administration it is reduced to boldenone by 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, so its practical effects mirror a lower-potency, orally-dosed boldenone.
It shares the veterinary lineage of the boldenone family and appeared in equine and prohormone products. Human data are limited to pharmacology and doping-control literature; it is now a controlled anabolic steroid in most jurisdictions and is monitored by anti-doping agencies as a boldenone precursor.
02 Mechanism
Acts as a weak androgen-receptor agonist and is enzymatically converted to boldenone, a moderately anabolic, mildly aromatising steroid, in peripheral tissues.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic prohormone dosing | 200–400 mg/day | Oral | Legacy supplement dosing; poor oral bioavailability |
Ester comparison
| Ester | Half-life | Injection freq. | Testosterone by mass |
|---|
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modest lean mass gainConverts to boldenone, producing slow, moderate anabolic effect with minimal water retention. | Small | Anecdotal | |
| Increased appetiteBoldenone metabolite is anecdotally associated with appetite stimulation. | Anecdotal |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrogenic effects via aromatisationBoldenone aromatises at roughly half the rate of testosterone, so gynecomastia is possible at higher exposures. | Mild | Occasional | Anecdotal | |
| HPTA suppressionAndrogenic activity of the boldenone metabolite suppresses endogenous testosterone. | Moderate | Dose-dependent | Observational |