Testosterone Boosting Supplements – The Facts
“Testosterone boosting” supplements/formulas have become a very popular category in the supplement industry of late. It seems everyone, boy or man, seems to want to “boost” their levels of the hormone that makes men men. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of this hormone, and readers can see that via my other writings on the topic found throughout this web site. Everyone, men and women, can potentially benefit from maintaining optimal levels of this essential hormone.
However, this write up is not going to cover the hormone per se, but to discuss the various over-the-counter (OTC) products/formulas claiming to increase it. As there are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of products/formulas on the market at this point, all claiming to “boost” this important hormone, I am going to be talking in generalities about these products vs. a specific ingredient or formula.
A few ingredients in these formulas have been shown – via dubious “research” at best – to have a small impact on T, with the majority of them either having no research behind them or research that found they did nada for T levels.
To summarize this supplement category, the T booster supplements generally contain ingredients that:
• Have no data behind them – or -
• The data they do have is of very poor quality/ and/or taken out of context/not applicable – or -
• The doses used in the formula are far below what a study used to get the effect.
Obviously, the above can (and does!) apply to many products/formulas in the sports nutrition industry, but I find the “T boosters” worse then other categories in that respect.
OK, so lets give some T booster product the benefit of the doubt and say it does have some effects on T. That brings up a few important issues to consider.
Physiological Threshold Concepts
Here’s a simple thought experiment: If you take a small amount of testosterone, say 25mg per week of T- propionate•, will your testosterone levels go up slightly for a short time? Yes. Will your muscle mass increase and or your strength increase? Nope. Anyone who has ever taken any T – or knows the first thing about the topic – knows there’s a threshold dose at which one actually experiences changes in body composition and or strength.
The point being, it’s one thing to show formula/ingredient X has had some small impact on serum testosterone (and most have not…), quite another to show that change actually had any effects on body composition or other end points people using such products generally care about, such as increases in strength and muscle mass.
As with any hormone, there’s a physiological threshold that has to be met before it actually impacts muscle mass, strength, etc.
Anyone who has ever used T in the form of cypionate or enanthate (both long acting esters of T) knows that changes in body composition generally start at around 200mg per week at the least, with more being the norm.
The above assumes a person with “normal” testosterone levels vs. HRT/TRT therapy for those who are found to be medically low in T.••
So, with all that, do you really think that T booster supplement you are using – which already tends to lack any solid data to begin with – is really going to be the equivalent of 200mg per week of testosterone Cypionate? If so, I got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell ya’…Hell, the sound of exotic sports cars can raise T levels. Do you think listening to the sound of a Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari before you hit the gym will result in more muscle mass? Me neither….Which brings us to the next section in expectation of the obvious question: how does one know if the T booster he’s using is having any effects on the production of T?•••
Do you put air in your tires without checking the pressure?
Do you put air in your tires without actually checking to see if you need any air or what the air pressure actually is before you add additional air to the tires? I know I don’t, but that’s exactly what you’re doing (assuming said T booster actually has any effects on T…) by using such a product without actually knowing what your T levels were when you started. Altering your T levels is not a minor undertaking, nor should it be done casually, and it can have long term effects, both positive and negative. As I indicated – and we will get more into depth on the topic shortly – I have no faith these products are actually impacting T either at all, or enough to actually cause any changes in body composition (e.g., increases in LBM and or decreases in BF) or strength anyway; but having no idea where you are starting from and if the product is doing anything, is just about as dumb as it gets.
I was going to say something more polite and PC like “it’s not logical” but screw that, it’s just stupid, not to mention a big waste of money in the long run.
If you want to go the Bro Logic/Bro Science/hopeful thinking/placebo-driven route, it’s your money, I guess. I know, I know, you’re that one person who is immune to placebo effects…
Interesting side note – and something I will blog about in the near future, is the fact that placebos are getting stronger! It’s vexing the pharmaceutical industry as we speak, in fact.
A very quick word on Non-T mediated Effects.
This article is looking at two specific issues as it relates to the T booster products:
• The impact on T levels specifically
• That people are using them in an attempt to alter body composition and or increase strength
I am not looking at other potential uses, such as for libido and such, which may happen by what’s called “non-T mediated” effects. Meaning, they have an effect, but not via testosterone per se. For example, Horny goat weed contains biologically active compounds that may have Viagra-like effects that act via PDE 5 inhibition. There are other active compounds found in various herbs and such that show some promise in the areas of libido and others, but they are often not doing their “thing” via testosterone, and even if they are, that does not mean the effects it’s having on testosterone – be it to lower SHBGs, increase free T, or what have you – is adequate to impact body composition and or strength. And, as mentioned previously, many of these compounds are very dose specific, which may or may not exist in that dose in the product/formula in question. Finally, no place is the placebo effect stronger then is the area of libido, but we won’t go there…
An Open Offer….
I have made this offer via email (after being contacted by various manufacturers of some T boosting product usually asking why I’m being so hard on this category of supplements), and on various forums and such, but will put it out there for all to see:
To any seller/manufacturer of a “T Booster” type product/formula. If you wish to have the product tested to see if it truly does increase T levels, I will be all too happy to have it tested for you. Be it, a true double-blind placebo crossover trial, which could also test whether or not the product in question will alter body composition (in response to resistance training of course), or as a simple open label study.••••
For those who don’t know, the open label study is the weakest study design, which means its validity may be questioned. However, done correctly, it can at least give some decent info and it’s the least expensive study to do by far. In this case, it would simply be used to test for the effects on T levels, vs. any effects on the more important issue of changes in body composition and or strength.
I would simply send say 20 men, all of whom are approximately the same age, with approximately the same amount of time in the gym, and other variables of importance, and have their T levels tested before, during (mid way) and after using the product. Obviously, they would all be told not to alter their diet, training programs, or supplement intakes during the study period, which would be decided by myself and the company funding it.
The costs would simply be 3 blood draws 3 times X 20 men (as an example, but there may be more or less people in the study), my costs, and the cost of the product. I would personally tabulate the lab tests results, etc, and write it up. Not perfect, but a lot better then what most companies currently offer as “proof” their T-booster has any effects on T.
If there is a statistically significant effect on T,••••• I will of course eat my words that such formulas – or at least the formula tested – don’t generally do jack for T (much less body comp and/or strength, which would not be addressed by such an open label type study…), will post the results everywhere and anywhere I can (which is a lot of dang places!), and of course the company can use the results for their own marketing with my blessings. I will not, of course, withdraw my major point: even if said product actually does increase T, this result does not imply a change in body composition and/or strength unless that too (a much more complex and expensive undertaking to do correctly) is examined.
Of course, if the results show the product does nothing for T levels – or whatever else gets tested for – I will post that too…
That’s my open offer – call it a challenge if you like – to those manufacturers/sellers/proponents making some outlandish claims about T-boosting products.
I won’t be holding my breath waiting for anyone to take me up on the offer.
Finally, if you want to get your own T levels checked – whether you be using such a product or not -Â ask your doctor or simply do it with the Life Extension Foundation who will do it by mail using a local lab for the blood draw.
Wanna know what supplements actually have solid science behind then? What’s been shown to be worthless? What’s worth your hard earned money for supplements? This site has tons of free info, and my ebooks – BBR and FLR - cover the topic in great depth.
Notes:
• = A fast acting ester of T
•• = Typical replacement dose for TRT/HRT is 100mg weekly of Cyp/enanth with doses adjusted up or down depending on blood work and other factors. There are also other methods: patches, gels, etc.
••• = There’s also additional issues that need to be addressed, such the total T/free T ratio, SHBGs, estrogen increases/decreases, possible impact on the HPTA, and other possible changes that are beyond the scope of this here write up and would be potentially specific to the ingredient/product/formula in question.
•••• = if you have such a study already done, and it has been published in a peer reviewed legit journal, by all means, send me a copy and I will be happy to read it, and if it passes the smell test, happy to recommend it!
••••• = Of course other things of importance can also be tested for, such as changes in free T/total T, E2, etc, but that will increase the costs.
You want the truth??!!
Will Brink
RICH
Dom
Edith
fairlane
makster
Nathan Cragg
TJ
312-50
Billy
Will,
Using LabCorp Values, is the range for optimal free T between 15 and 26.5 pg/mL?
Great article Will. I have used so-called T booster products before, when I first started lifting. Of course after getting BBR and seeing you’re take on them, I saw the error of my ways.
I only took them for about a month. I felt no different and my blood test showed no difference. They sure did’nt work for me.
Glad you enjoyed it Makster!
Rob, best to check with Labcorp on that one. Different labs often use slightly different values. Generally speaking, you want your free T toward the top of the high “normal” range if possible. See my article “It’s In Your Blood” got more info on that topic.
Will, any insight on something from MuscleLink called RecoveryX, specifically Methoxyisoflavone?? Using it with chromium and having good results.
Dennis, Methoxy has been around forever and is worthless as a T booster. I cover methoxy in the BBR ebook, as well as many other supps BTW. Methoxy would be a perfect example of my major points in this article.
will
even though i agree that you should be towards high normal range, most endo’s won’t give you the means to adjust a range to “optimize” it. seems like if you are in the range stated on test form, you are pretty much stuck unless there are other symptoms. but in general, you cannot buy a T boost OTC.
dennis b
Dennis, I agree, it’s not easy to find a doc/endo who is willing to tweak T levels to what may be optimal, but there are a few. Many endos I know will not even test for E2 because they have decided it plays no role in men…and hormones are supposed to be their area of expertise!
Wow! A long way around to say what we already know about ALL supplements….
:):)
THEY DON’T WORK.
PERIOD.
(If you want to double your money…fold
it in half and put it back in your pocket.)
Will
What is your opinion on Cellucor’s P6 T-booster.
Jesse, I don’t agree with you at all. Plenty of supplements do “work” and are worth taking. A search around this web site will turn up plenty of info on supplements worth using.
Aj, my article says it all about my opinion of X brand of T Booster. It will fall under one of my specific comments about all formulas that fall in this category.
Will,
I am 50 yrs old and while I am not seriously over weight, I am very much out of shape.
I want to start on a routine that will get me back in decent shape. I have no illusions of being Mr. America, I just want to get out of my size 38 pants and back to a 34. (205 lbs to 185) I am, of course not as young as I once was and feel I need all the help I can get.
On a recent trip to Mexico I purchased (at a pharmacy) a product called Testoprim-D.
The pharmacist said it would boost my Testosterone level. It is an injectable med, and the kit came with syringe and needles. (all sterile and sealed) I would like your opinion before I use this. Thank You.
Tony l. Chicago
Tony. I hope you read that article closely, specifically the section about putting air into tires without knowing the air pressure…My understanding is Testoprim-D is a T mixture that contains 200mg Enanthate & 50mg Propionate. I wouldn’t trust anything from a Mexican pharmacy personally, and highly recommend you work with a doc before mucking around with your T levels in the form of a product from some Mexican pharmacy.
Will, You mentioned E2, as I am familiar with. I know of prescription ways to control E2. Are you familiar with any OTC supplements to control E2? Thanks for your knowledge & resources! Dan
Dan, that one is complicated. Some of the more interesting products, such as 6-oxo were removed from the market. Altering estrogen, be is E2 or other, gets complicated quickly as you activate various feedback loops, may have mixed agonist/antagonist effects, etc. It’s a bit beyond the blog at the moment. Some estrogen is needed in men (so lower the better is not true) and just like T, needs to be adjusted with blood work as the guide.
Hi Will,
I’ve tried some of the T supplements and found they didn’t do anything for me. I’ve also taken T Cypionate 100mg weekly and saw a profound effect. My T level was middle-range but free T was below normal range. But I eventually quit because of side-effects: Muscle soreness for no good reason, stiff joints, swollen hands and the constant worry that estrogen levels were going up along with T.
Hi Will, does your article cover pro-hormones like the T6 Black, that has been recently banned, and products like 3-AD 4-AD 1-Androsterone etc. If not what is your opinion of these products. excellent to have someone who cuts through the bull. thanks
This is a well written article that evidence can easily support. My personal experience seems to be reflected in some comments and in the article as well.
I would encourage everyone and in particular men, to have hormone levels checked. After some experimentation I have found the gel Testim to work the best for me. (note: I do not represent Testim.) It takes a little bullying with a MD sometimes, but well worth the effort. A few months back I noticed the marketing push for “Low T”. I laughed to myself wondering how they were going to handle disclaimers.
Another good point made is dosage. It just does not work properly without adequate dosages in either nutritional supplements or drugs. I believe in nutritional supplementation and my personal experiences support that statement. More times than not, I had to research what I wanted the end result to be and what dosage for me personally it would take to maintain it. Specific high dosages of any number of individual amino acids is a great example. Examples: L-carnitine, Phenylalanine and the list can go on.
Again – Great informative article.
John, pro hormones and “designer supplements” are another issue. Some of the comments made in this article would apply, some would not. Pro hormones and or designer supplements come with their own list of issues. Being most of them are banned, it’s something of a moot issue really. I know some web sites are still selling such things under the radar, but I don’t recommend using any of them.
Will, you mentioned 6-oxo being interesting? In what sense? Do you consider it a good product?
Also, what are your thoughts on Forskolin? Many T-boosters these days are using it and it seems to have some research behind it.
Slim, 6 oxo was interesting in that it appeared to alter the T/E ratio in a positive direction and acted as a legit anti E. I don’t think it had any real anabolic properties, but still had some potential uses that needed to be hashed out with more research that wont take place now that it’s banned. Forskolin shows some promise, but its effects on bodycomp appear to be non T mediated. Also, make sure the doses used for forskolin match what’s in the product….
THANKS FOR THE NO BS FACTS ON TESTOSTERONE BOOSTERS. I TRUN 40 IN APRIL AND I’M GETING BACK IN SHAPE. I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOME SUPPLEMENTS TO HELP ME. WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE/OR WHERE WOULD I LOOK FOR THE TRUE ONES THAT WILL GET THE JOB DO. IS ANIMALPAK A GOOD COMPANY WITH GOOD RESULTS.
Ricardo, you don’t have to yell at us….There’s many free articles here on the site that discuss supplements. As for the T Boosters, this articles says it all I think. I recommend all men after 35 get their T levels tested yearly, and work with a doc if it needs adjustment/HRT.
Will, what seem to work, a-la Sylvester Stallone, is HGH. I saw a picture of a 70 year-old doctor in a muscle mag. who takes HGH and was he ever buff! I think this may be the supplement of the future. I believe that at the present time it is very expensive, though! What say ye?
Kerry, GH is a drug/hormone, so it will no be the supplement of the future. It’s already in common use via anti aging clinics and such. I do have some GH related info on the site here if interested. I think testosterone is a more interesting hormone. GH is over rated. There’s also no reason to assume GH is the only hormone used by said movie star….
Will, great article on T-boosters, Thanks. Anywho, a local weight loss clinic has an ad in the local paper offering HCG(Human Chorionic gonadotropin) for weight loss. They state you can lose a pound a day. Their ad also states it releases fat stores of 2300-3500 per day and supresses appetite. Is this for real? In my 53 yrs. spanking the weights with a little intense cardio and clean diet would get the job done. Would this kind of therapy work for an obese relative who we are easing into an exercise program?
Will, great article and thank you for writing it and responding to the posts here too.
Question, if a person is already taking androgel (prescribed) and has t levels in the mid normal range for a 53 yr old man, will/can otc products boost t levels further?
Thanks
Bob, as the article is pretty much dedicated the fact i don’t think the OTC T boosters are worth a damn in general, the answer is, no, I don’t think any OTC T boosters would do much, but never say never: it’s a very large category of products, so it will depend. I suggest you simply use more gel if you want to boost up T levels.
Some T boosting supps are actually clinically proven. In fact the british journal of sports medicine has confirmed Tongkat ali is now a clinically proven anabolic. see
http://bjsm.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/37/5/464 (requires a free registration)
Also ZMA taken correctly is proven to boost T levels
Also in my opinion, and through researching and taking more than 30 different supplements; Tribulus, arginine and cordyceps also have a positive effect. I’m aware of placebo but these have been physical changes such as increased strength, loss of weight without diet changes
Damon, you are incorrect on all counts and a perfect example of all the points I made in the article. (note to readers, there was also a spam URL I removed). I will address some of your comments:
“Some T boosting supps are actually clinically proven.”
“Clinically proven” is a worthless marketing term. It’s not used by anyone who understands science. See my comments on that in the free give away reports on this site, etc.
“In fact the british journal of sports medicine has confirmed Tongkat ali is now a clinically proven anabolic.”
The journal “confirmed” no such thing. They simply printed an abstract on the topic, which “confirms” nothing. The study is exactly what I am talking about when I mean the research on such supplements tends to come from questionable sources. The author happens to profit from sales, etc, etc.
“Also ZMA taken correctly is proven to boost T levels”
No, it is not. Some studies found there was an effect, other later studies found no effects. Also, see my comments on rasing T levels vs. actually altering bodycomp…
” I’m aware of placebo but these have been physical changes such as increased strength, loss of weight without diet changes”
Which is exactly what placebo do…It’s amazing to me how few people really understand the placebo effect, the power of it, and how everyone, unable to deal with the fact their brain works like everyone else, wants to think they are that one person immune to it.
If you are interested in the actual science of these supplements, I highly recommend you consider my ebook Bodybuilding Revealed, which from your comments above, would probably save you $$$$.
Good luck.
Will,……you’re the man. Your blunt honesty on topics like this is appreciated. I admit I have tried 2 or 3 of the “T-boosters” over the years. I kept thinking “this product will be different”. Oh well, a lesson learned.
Brady. lesson learned as you say!
You mean to say placebo can effect physical changes? what about (for example) the study on Tongkat Ali? are you saying the results are wrong? made up? or something else? How about say a swimming test on mice (surely they are immune from placebo affects?) and yes I know that studies on mice don’t alway translate into the same affects on humans.
Trying to monetize this was really an afterthought but I truly believe after months of research these have effects beyond mere placebo.
cheers
Damon.
Damon, yes, of course placebo effects can lead to physical changes. Why would there be a placebo group in studies if they didn’t? Read article linked in the article on T supps regarding placebos and how big pharma is vexed over the fact they appear to be getting “stronger.” Tongkat Ali is a perfect example of everything outlined of why I have so little faith in this category of supplements. I wouldn’t spend my $$$ on it, but you are of course free to do so…it’s your money. Good look.
Interesting article, Will. Thank you for writing!
Well Done! I Like it!