Your Guide to T-Boosters
Some T-boosters don't work, some work modestly, and one definitely stimulates testosterone production. Here's what you need to know.
Testosterone-boosting supplements have a tangled history. Some are outright frauds, some might work a little, and a rare few do what they claim. But even if a certain ingredient is proven to boost testosterone, it doesn't mean the supplement containing it works.
Let's say that Ingredient X was tested in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study on the right population. The results showed that it boosted T levels. Naturally, supplement companies want to get their hands on Ingredient X and market it.
But if the ingredient is expensive, they might not put enough of it in their product to work. (Gotta hit those profit margins.) Or they might source the cheapest form of the ingredient, one that might not contain enough of the right bioactive bits that make it effective. And even if they do use the right form and dosage of Ingredient X, they may not formulate it with a delivery system that makes it absorbable.
Confusing, isn't it? So let's clear some things up and talk about the T-boosters that just haven't panned out, then look at the only supplemental booster that works... if you get the right kind.
The Not-Very-Good T Boosters
1. Horny Goat Weed
This stuff was all the rage at one point, mainly because of its attention-getting name. Horny goat weed (Epimedium) is traditionally used as a libido enhancer. It seems to improve blood flow and sexual function due to its active compound, icariin. However, evidence supporting its impact on testosterone is minimal and inconsistent. Studies on icariin suggest it might influence testosterone in animal models under certain conditions, but this effect hasn't been consistently observed in human studies.
So, it might help with erectile function but don't confuse better erections with higher testosterone. Sometimes that's a fair correlation, but not in this case. Today, we see horny goat weed primarily as a gas-station boner pill.
2. Saw Palmetto
While sometimes marketed as a testosterone booster, it primarily impacts DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and may actually lower overall testosterone levels by reducing conversion to DHT.
As a prostate-support supplement, it's believed to work by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into DHT, a hormone associated with prostate growth. By potentially reducing DHT levels, saw palmetto may help alleviate some of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as urination problems. However, other ingredients promote prostate health without lowering T levels, such as those found in P-Well (Buy at Amazon).
Some people use saw palmetto to support hair growth because high DHT levels are also linked to male pattern baldness. However, evidence for hair regrowth is limited.
3. Deer Antler Velvet
It contains small amounts of growth factors like IGF-1, which play a role in growth and repair. However, evidence supporting these benefits in humans is limited and often of low quality. While IGF-1 can theoretically aid muscle growth and recovery, the amounts in deer antler velvet are typically too low to have a measurable effect, especially when taken orally because the body digests and deactivates many of these compounds before they're absorbed.
For testosterone levels, it has no strong evidence supporting its use. Most claims about its testosterone-boosting effects are based on anecdotal reports or are exaggerated by marketing. Therefore, while some people report benefits, these are often placebo-driven or unsubstantiated by studies.
4. Fenugreek
Some studies show minor effects on libido, but its impact on testosterone levels is minimal, and most studies weren't well-controlled.
Fenugreek contains compounds like furostanolic saponins that some claim can help increase testosterone. Some small studies have suggested it might support testosterone levels and improve libido, particularly in men with low levels or those undergoing physical stress. However, the results are inconsistent.
5. Ashwagandha
Although it's an ancient herb, Ashwagandha is currently the cool kid in the supplement market. People mostly take it for stress and anxiety management, and it seems to work by lowering cortisol levels. But does it boost testosterone as many claim?
Well, it doesn't seem to, at least not directly. It may help boost sperm quality in stressed-out men with fertility issues but doesn't do much for healthy men with normal stress levels. One could argue that lowering cortisol leads to a testosterone boost. That's fair, but calling Ashwagandha a "testosterone booster" is a stretch.
6. Mucuna Pruriens
Also known as velvet bean, it's used for mood support, hormonal balance, and cognitive function, largely due to its high content of L-DOPA, a precursor to dopamine.
It might boost T indirectly due to dopamine's role in regulating prolactin, a hormone that can suppress testosterone when elevated. But calling it a "T booster" is at best an exaggeration. However, people with low dopamine levels may see some mood-boosting benefits.
7. Tribulus Terrestris
This one is tricky. Some studies show it boosts libido and increases T by stimulating luteinizing hormone, prompting the testes to produce testosterone. It may enhance androgen receptor density and lower estrogen, but studies are inconsistent. It worked well in animal studies but didn't work as well in human studies (which, in fairness, may not have used enough of the active component, protodioscin).
If you take enough of the right kind (Bulgarian) its effects are modest, but it's probably a better libido booster than a T-booster. Tribulus is often part of a formula containing other purported T-boosters, and it may work in concert with those ingredients. But with multi-ingredient formulas, it's hard to tell which one is packing the punch.
The Real Ingredient X
So, what T-boosters work? Several work directly or indirectly to support testosterone production. For example, studies show resveratrol is a highly effective estrogen blocker and a potent aromatase inhibitor, minimizing negative estrogen effects and maximizing natural testosterone. Forskolin 1,9 carbonate is another good one backed by robust studies.
But if you're looking for a pure testosterone booster, look into Longjack (Buy at Amazon), which also goes by Eurycoma or Tongkat Ali. Researchers call it a safe and promising therapeutic option for men with hypogonadism (low T). In other words, its effects are strong enough to support its use as an alternative to doctor-prescribed testosterone replacement therapy.
Longjack boosts T in two primary ways: synthesizing testosterone by blocking its aromatization into estrogen and stimulating testosterone production in testicle Leydig cells. It also lowers SHBG production, freeing up natural testosterone. (SHBG "kidnaps" testosterone, making it inactive.)
But like all health-promoting ingredients, not every type of Longjack works. You have to use a standardized extract containing the bioactive fractions: eurypeptides, glycosaponins, and eurycomanone. It's called LJ100.
You also need to use a high dose, ideally formulated with Labrasol, a delivery technology borrowed from the pharmaceutical industry that increases bioavailability. Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon) contains the effective dosage (300 mg) of LJ100 and uses Labrasol to get it in you.
Thankfully, Longjack doesn't shrink the testicles or enlarge the prostate. And as a fun bonus, it appears to be a legit aphrodisiac. Take one softgel daily.