20α-Dihydrodydrogesterone explained

20α-Dihydrodydrogesterone (20α-DHD), also known as 20α-hydroxydydrogesterone, as well as 20(S)-hydroxy-9β,10α-pregna-4,6-dien-3-one, is a progestin and the major active metabolite of dydrogesterone.^{[1] [2] [3]} It appears that dydrogesterone is a prodrug of 20α-DHD, as it is largely transformed into this metabolite when given orally in humans. 20α-DHD has progestogenic activity similarly to dydrogesterone, but is far less potent in comparison.

See also

• 20α-Dihydroprogesterone
• 20α-Dihydrotrengestone

Notes and References

1. Olbrich M, Weigl K, Kahler E, Mihara K . Dydrogesterone metabolism in human liver by aldo-keto reductases and cytochrome P450 enzymes . Xenobiotica; the Fate of Foreign Compounds in Biological Systems . 46 . 10 . 868–874 . October 2016 . 26796435 . 10.3109/00498254.2015.1134852 . 22311056 .
2. Bińkowska M, Woroń J . Progestogens in menopausal hormone therapy . Przeglad Menopauzalny = Menopause Review . 14 . 2 . 134–143 . June 2015 . 26327902 . 4498031 . 10.5114/pm.2015.52154 .
3. Rižner TL, Brožič P, Doucette C, Turek-Etienne T, Müller-Vieira U, Sonneveld E, van der Burg B, Böcker C, Husen B . 6 . Selectivity and potency of the retroprogesterone dydrogesterone in vitro . Steroids . 76 . 6 . 607–615 . May 2011 . 21376746 . 10.1016/j.steroids.2011.02.043 . 31609405 .