Is it worth spending money on testosterone boosters

What are testosterone boosters

Testosterone boosters are nutritional supplementsC. G. Clemesha, H. Thaker, M. K. Samplaski. Testosterone Boosting ’Supplements Composition and Claims Are not Supported by the Academic Literature / The world journal of men’s health from a mixture of micro and macro elements, vitamins, amino acids and plant extracts that can affect the level of the male sex hormone.

The variety and quantity of ingredients in boosters is determined by the manufacturer, so supplements can vary greatly in composition and effect on the body.

What testosterone booster manufacturers promise

Testosterone is extremely important for men's health. The level of this hormone in young men (19-39 years old) fluctuatesT. G. Travison, H. W. Vesper, E. Orwoll. Harmonized Reference Ranges for Circulating Testosterone Levels in Men of Four Cohort Studies in the United States and Europe / The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 264 to 916 ng / dL (nanograms per deciliter) and gradually going down with age.

High testosterone levels help both young and older men increase 1. S. Bhasin, L. Woodhouse, R. Casaburi. Testosterone dose-response relationships in healthy young men / American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism
2. S. Bhasin, T. W. Storer, N. Berman. The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men / The New England journal of medicine
3. A. M. Isidori, E. Giannetta, E. A. Greco. Effects of testosterone on body composition, bone metabolism and serum lipid profile in middle-aged men: a meta-analysis / Clinical endocrinology
4. J. W. Skinner, D. M. Otzel, A. Bowser. Muscular responses to testosterone replacement vary by administration route: a systematic review and meta ‐ analysis / Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle lean muscle mass, reduce body fat and improve strength training results.

Based on this action of the hormone, booster manufacturers claimC. G. Clemesha, H. Thaker, M. K. Samplaski. Testosterone Boosting ’Supplements Composition and Claims Are not Supported by the Academic Literature / The world journal of men’s healththat supplements help increase energy levels, shorten post-workout recovery time, and improve sleep. As well as improve body composition and athletic performance, maintain bone and joint health and promote healthy aging.

It should be noted that testosterone affects libido and body composition in women. But since they have 10-12 times lessTestosterone, Total, Bioavailable, and Free, Serum / Mayo Clinic Laboratories of this hormone, the vast majority of research has been done in men. As a result, no one really knows exactly how testosterone boosters will affect women. For this reason, we will consider the possible effect of them only on men.

What is included in testosterone boosters

In a recent studyC. G. Clemesha, H. Thaker, M. K. Samplaski. Testosterone Boosting ’Supplements Composition and Claims Are not Supported by the Academic Literature / The world journal of men’s health Scientists have selected 50 testosterone boosters from those offered on the Internet and checked what ingredients they contain.

It turned out that 61.5% of all the ingredients found in such supplements have no evidence of effectiveness, 17.4% were investigated in only one scientific work, and 11.9% in two.

Below we will break down the most common ingredients in testosterone boosters.

1. Zinc and magnesium. Zinc supplements can 1. K. Koehler, M. K. Parr, H. Geyer, J. Mester. Serum testosterone and urinary excretion of steroid hormone metabolites after administration of a high-dose zinc supplement / European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
   2. M. Kilic. Effect of fatiguing bicycle exercise on thyroid hormone and testosterone levels in sedentary males supplemented with oral zinc / Neuroendocrinology letters prevent performance degradation during long, grueling workouts. If you exercise in moderation and eat well, this element will not provide additional benefits. It's the same with magnesium: if it's deficient, supplementation canM. Maggio, F. De Vita, F. Lauretani. The Interplay between Magnesium and Testosterone in Modulating Physical Function in Men / International journal of endocrinology help, if there is no shortage, it will be uselessC. D. Wilborn, C. M. Kerksick, B. I. Campbell. Effects of Zinc Magnesium Aspartate (ZMA) Supplementation on Training Adaptations and Markers of Anabolism and Catabolism / Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition volume.
2. Fenugreek extract. In analysisA. Mansoori, S. Hosseini, M. Zilaee. Effect of fenugreek extract supplement on testosterone levels in male: A meta-analysis of clinical trials / Phytotherapy research four studies concluded that this supplement has a positive effect on testosterone levels.
3. Tribulus terrestris extract. In the reviewA. Pokrywka, Z. Obmiński, J. Malczewska-Lenczowska. Insights into Supplements with Tribulus Terrestris used by Athletes / Journal of human kinetics scientific data noted that the effectiveness and safety of the supplement has not been proven.
4. Bor. In one experimentM. R. Naghii, M. Mofid, A. R. Asgari. Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines / Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology supplementation with this element significantly increased free testosterone. In another studyL. Pizzorno. Nothing Boring About Boron / Integrative medicine also suggested that boron can increase the amount of the hormone and maintain vitamin D levels.
5. Eurycoma longifolia extract. In oneM. I. Tambi, M. K. Imran, R. R. Henkel. Standardized water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism? / Andrologia An experiment found that the extract raises testosterone levels in hypogonadal men. In analysisH. E. Thua, I. Naina, M. Z. Hussain. Eurycoma Longifolia as a potential adoptogen of male sexual health: a systematic review on clinical studies / Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines 11 scientific papers have also confirmed that the supplement is good for male sex hormone levels and enhances libido.
6. Extract of Peruvian Maca (Lepidium meyenii). In two 1. G. F. Gonzales, A. Córdova, K. Vega. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men / Andrologia
   2. G. F. Gonzales, A. Cordova, K. Vega, A. Chung. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing propeties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men / Journal of Endocrinology In experiments, the intake of this extract did not affect testosterone levels in men.
7. D-aspartic acid. In one studyD. S. Willoughby, B. Leutholtz. D-aspartic acid supplementation combined with 28 days of heavy resistance training has no effect on body composition, muscle strength, and serum hormones associated with the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in resistance-trained men / Nutrition research taking 3 g of the supplement increased testosterone, in anotherG. W. Melville, J. C. Siegler, P. WM Marshall. Three and six grams supplementation of d-aspartic acid in resistance trained men / Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition the same dosage did not work, and 6 g even lowered it. Meta-analysisF. Roshanzamir, S. M. Safavi. The putative effects of D-Aspartic acid on blood testosterone levels: A systematic review / International journal of reproductive biomedicine scientific work did not clarify the picture: scientists concluded that the results are inconsistent, and the studies are few and low-quality.
8. Ashwagandha extract. In two 1. A. L. Lopresti, P. D. Drummond, S. J. Smit. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males / American journal of men’s health
   2. S. Wankhede, D. Langade, K. Joshi. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial / Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition scientific papers, the supplement helped increase testosterone, in oneA. L. Lopresti, S. J. Smith, H. Malvi. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study / Medicine (Baltimore) - did not provide a significant effect.
9. Vitamin D. In oneS. Pilz, S. Frisch, H. Koertke. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men / Hormone and metabolic research supplements increased free testosterone in a study, in two other researchers found no beneficial effect for men with low and normal levels 1. E. Lerchbaum, C. Trummer, Ve. Theiler-Schwetz. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on androgens in men with low testosterone levels: a randomized controlled trial / European journal of nutrition
   2. E. Lerchbaum, S. Pilz, C. Trummer. Vitamin D and Testosterone in Healthy Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial / The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism hormone.

Can These Testosterone Boosters Help, And Is It Worth Buying

We have led studies of individual ingredients by which one can indirectly judge the possible effectiveness of testosterone boosters. However, in order to say for sure whether this or that works and whether it helps to get stronger, build muscle and increase libido, research is needed on this particular product. And they are not and will not be.

As a rule, the amount of supplements per month of admission costs about 1–2 thousand rubles. If you're looking for a way to increase athletic performance and muscle growth, it's best to spend that money on a good trainer and quality protein.

Can testosterone boosters harm

In one studyG. J. Fosmire. Zinc toxicity / The American journal of clinical nutrition noted that daily intake of zinc in an amount close to the daily value can negatively affect copper and iron levels, lead to anemia, impair immunity and alter the low to high cholesterol ratio density. However, some boosters contain about 30 mg of this trace element - twice the daily requirement (11-15 mg).

Also, don'tC. G. Clemesha, H. Thaker, M. K. Samplaski. Testosterone Boosting ’Supplements Composition and Claims Are not Supported by the Academic Literature / The world journal of men’s health Consider supplementation as an alternative to treatment. If you have symptoms of low testosterone, see your doctor rather than order boosters with pretty names.

Iya Zorina