Steroidal supplements are often referred to as dietary supplements, although they are not food products. It can be converted into testosterone or a similar compound in the body. Whether such conversion produces sufficient quantities of testosterone to promote muscle growth or whether the supplements themselves promote muscle growth is unknown.

Anabolic steroids are also called as anabolic-androgenic steroids. These are man-made substances related to male sex hormones. In medical uses of anabolic steroids include some hormone problems in men, late puberty and muscle loss from some diseases.