Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40723581›Full record

ArticleAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI2025

Sources of Environmental Exposure to the Naturally Occurring Anabolic Steroid Ecdysterone in Horses.

Martin N Sillence, Kathi Holt, Fang Ivy Li, Patricia A Harris, Mitchell Coyle, Danielle M Fitzgerald

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Martin N SillenceSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.
Kathi HoltSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.
Fang Ivy LiSchool of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.ORCID 0009-0009-3727-4594
Patricia A HarrisEquine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Melton Mowbray LE14 4RT, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-4068-1624
Mitchell CoyleSchool of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Danielle M FitzgeraldSchool of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5801-4427

Funding

CSRD VA 1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ecdysterone controls moulting and reproduction in insects, crustaceans, and helminths. It is also produced by many plants, probably as an insect deterrent. The steroid is not made by vertebrates but has anabolic effects in mammals and could be useful for treating sarcopenia in aged horses. However, ecdysterone is banned in horseracing and equestrian sports, and with no limit of reporting, the risk of unintended exposure to this naturally occurring prohibited substance is a concern. To explore this risk, pasture plants and hay samples were analysed for ecdysterone content, as well as samples of blood, faeces, and intestinal mucosa from horses (euthanized for non-research purposes) with varying degrees of endo-parasite infestation. The variability in serum ecdysterone concentrations between different horses after administering a fixed dose was also examined. Ecdysterone was detected in 24 hay samples (0.09 to 3.74 µg/g) and several weeds, with particularly high concentrations in

Indexed as

20-hydroxyecdysoneanabolic steroiddrug testingequinemuscle wastingNOPS (natural and other prohibited substances)parasites

Identifiers

PMID40723581
PMCPMC12291838

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.