As a vegan of 20 years, I get this question all the time: “Are steroids vegan?”
And even more often, I hear things like, “You’re not really vegan if you use gear.”
Let’s talk about it.
If you’re a plant-based athlete trying to maximize your gains you may have already considered going over to the “Dark Side”. Be warned, steroid use is one of the most controversial topics in this space.
So let’s get into it: Can you be vegan and use steroids?
Short answer: Yes, in many cases, steroid use is vegan-friendly. But, like a lot of things in the health and fitness world, it’s nuanced.
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. It is not an endorsement of steroid use. Anabolic steroids are controlled substances in many countries and should be used under the supervision of a licensed medical professional. Always consult with a qualified physician and a reputable coach before considering any hormonal intervention.
What Are Steroids Made From?
Let’s break it down.
Most anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, designed and produced in laboratories. That might already sound pretty vegan- no meat, dairy, or eggs, right? But there’s a bit more to it.
The Base Compounds
Originally, steroids were synthesized from cholesterol, often from animal sources. These days, many synthetic steroids are made using diosgenin, a compound extracted from wild yams. That’s a plant-based starting point, which checks the vegan box for many of us.
Personally, I like knowing that the molecular building blocks of some compounds I’ve used started out in a yam. Doesn’t get much more plant-powered than that!
Excipients & Fillers
Now here’s where it can get tricky:
Some oral steroids come in gelatin capsules, which are animal-derived. Others might include lactose (milk sugar) or other non-vegan fillers.
That said, many pharmaceutical-grade compounds are available in vegan-friendly forms, especially when compounded through a reputable pharmacy or when available in tablet or injectable forms that don’t use gelatin or dairy-derived excipients.
As with any supplements or vitamins, it comes down to knowing your source. Just like I check to see that my B12 is not hiding dairy somewhere in the ingredient list, I check the ingredients in my super supplements too.
Are Steroids Tested on Animals?
This is where things get ethically blurry, and every vegan has to make their own call.
Most pharmaceutical compounds, including steroids, were tested on animals at some point during development, especially when they first came to market. This is unfortunately the standard for drug safety trials worldwide.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the compound you’re using today is being currently tested on animals, or that every batch is.
As a long-time ethical vegan, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I live in a world where many medications, including life-saving ones, have been tested on animals. It sucks. But it doesn’t mean I’m not vegan anymore. It means I’m a human trying to make the most aligned choice I can in a less-than-perfect system. Even if Tylenol was at one point tested on animals, I would still use it post dental surgery, as would most ethical vegans.
So… Is Using Steroids Vegan?
Here’s the honest truth: Steroid use can be vegan-friendly, but it depends on the product, the source, and your personal ethics.
If the compound is:
- Synthesized from plant-based precursors (like diosgenin),
- Free of animal-derived excipients or capsules,
- And not currently being tested on animals (as far as is possible to confirm),
Then many ethical vegans would consider steroid use aligned with their moral values. Some others may draw a harder line. And that’s okay too.
My Take
I’ve been vegan for almost 20 years. I’ve also been a competitive bodybuilder and coach for over a decade. I care deeply about animals and the planet, and I believe my steroid use has allowed me to create a larger platform to speak on. This is my choice. I am not here to encourage anyone else to do the same. One final note, as someone who has reviewed hundreds of panels of bloodwork, I have found that steroid using vegans as a whole come back significantly healthier than steroid using non vegans. Just some vegan food for thought.
If you’re considering gear and want to stay true to your ethics, do your research. Talk to trusted experts. Source clean products. And most importantly, be honest with yourself about your why.
Being vegan doesn’t mean you can’t be jacked. It means you do things with intention, compassion, and awareness- even in the gray areas.