TRT-Plus
If you're already on testosterone replacement therapy, what happens when you take a supplemental T-booster? Answers here.
Question: "I'm on doctor-prescribed TRT. Can I take a T-boosting supplement? Would it further increase my testosterone levels? Would it be harmful, or would it do nothing at all?"
Good questions. Let's break 'em down. Since there are a lot of T-boosters on the market, let's frame these answers around the most proven testosterone-increasing supplement: Longjack (Buy at Amazon), also known as Tongkat Ali and Eurycoma longifolia.
1. Yes, you can take a T-booster when you're on testosterone replacement therapy.
A good T-booster has several direct and complementary benefits.
2. An effective T-booster would not likely further increase your TOTAL testosterone levels but would increase your FREE testosterone levels.
Here's a refresher: The difference between free testosterone and total testosterone lies in how they're bound, or unbound, in the bloodstream and their bioavailability. Total testosterone is Monopoly money. Free testosterone is real cash.
- Total T: Total testosterone is the entire amount of testosterone in your bloodstream, bound and unbound (free). Testosterone is "bound" to proteins such as sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). When T is bound, it can't exert its effects on tissues.
- Free T: This is the good stuff, the portion of testosterone unbound to any protein. Surprisingly, free testosterone makes up only 1-3% of total testosterone. It's the active form of T that directly enters cells and activates receptors. When you get your T levels tested, you want to look at that free testosterone number: it's a more accurate indicator of testosterone's immediate impact on energy, libido, mood, and muscle growth.
- SHBG: You don't want your levels of SHBG to be high or it'll "kidnap" your testosterone, binding it up so it's not useful.
Reducing SHBG with T-boosters like Longjack increases free testosterone levels without changing the total testosterone. How? Its bioactive compounds interact with various hormonal pathways in the body, influencing SHBG production (in this case, lowering it). Longjack also lowers cortisol levels, which in turn lowers SHGB production.
Longjack also increases androgen receptor sensitivity, improving the effectiveness of available testosterone. This increased receptor activity leads the body to "sense" higher levels of active testosterone, reducing the need for high SHBG levels to regulate testosterone availability.
3. No, adding Longjack to TRT would not be harmful. In fact, it has complementary benefits.
- Studies suggest Longjack enhances circulation and nutrient delivery.
- Longjack has adaptogenic properties: it helps the body manage stress. This benefits someone on TRT by reducing stress-related testosterone suppression, enhancing well-being, and supporting lean muscle retention.
- Even with TRT, libido and sexual function aren't solely dictated by testosterone levels. Factors like stress, dopamine, and circulation play roles. Longjack's effects on reducing cortisol and improving mood further boosts sexual health. (Some use it solely for its aphrodisiac effects.)
- Longjack's bioactive compounds (eurypeptides, glycosaponins, and eurycomanone), also support muscle growth and performance. While TRT assists with muscle protein synthesis, Longjack enhances exercise performance and recovery further.
- TRT often reduces the body's natural testosterone and sperm production, potentially lowering fertility. Even on TRT, Longjack encourages the body to maintain some degree of endogenous testosterone production, supporting healthier sperm production.
The Best T-Booster to Add to TRT
Taking a T-booster like Longjack is perfectly fine and even beneficial for someone on testosterone replacement therapy. Just use the right form of Longjack in the right amount with the best delivery system.
The right form is LJ100, developed and patented by the Government of Malaysia and MIT. The right amount is 300 mg (50% more than standard clinical dosing). The best delivery system is a self-emulsifying delivery matrix designed to get all active fractions into the body.
Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon) checks all three boxes.
