Look up how to restore declining testosterone online, and you’ll be bombarded with ads and suggestions for testosterone boosters. Are they actually as effective as they claim to be? But before that, what even are testosterone boosters? Are they safe? What about legality?
These and many similar questions flood the mind of anyone who comes across testosterone boosters for the first time.
Today I’ll answer all of these questions to help you make an educated decision. Should you spend your hard-earned money and limited time on these T boosters? Let’s find out.
Key findings
What are testosterone boosters?
Testosterone boosters are a type of dietary supplements that are mainly used to treat low testosterone (hypogonadism). I’ve also seen many T boosters that focus on combating specific symptoms of low T — like weight gain, muscle loss, infertility, and low libido.
To achieve this, these supplements contain a vast selection of nutrients, vitamins, and other minerals.
These components enhance the natural testosterone-producing and regulating capabilities of your body — returning your T levels within the normal range of 300-1000 ng/dL.
What’s surprising is that these supplements promise some life changing benefits, yet you don’t even need a prescription to purchase them.
What kind of ingredients do they contain?
From what I’ve seen, the ingredients in testosterone boosters vary significantly between products. A 2020 survey also checked out 50 different T boosters and found 109 unique ingredients.
Fortunately, most of these ingredients can be categorized into four main groups. These are:
Amino acids
Amino acids are molecules that join together to form proteins that are necessary for maintaining a healthy body. Many of these amino acids also play critical roles in repairing cell tissues, producing neurotransmitters like dopamine, and — of course — regulating testosterone levels.
The most common amino acid that I’ve seen in testosterone boosters is D-Aspartic acid (DAA).
This is because it increases the synthesis (production) of luteinizing hormone, which — in turn — signals your testes to produce more testosterone. Research also shows how taking DAA supplements for 12 days can raise T levels by as much as 42%.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic molecules that are needed for a body to function properly. There are a total of 13 different essential vitamins many of which are common sights in testosterone boosters. The ones that I’ve seen in most T boosters are:
The most notable of these is Vitamin D since doubling its intake can directly increase T levels by more than 25%. I’d also like to shed some light on Vitamin B6 as its deficiency can reduce testosterone and increase estrogen levels.
Minerals
Minerals are chemical elements that our bodies need to function properly. In total, there are 15 minerals that are essential for maintaining proper health. But, I’ve only seen two of them in most testosterone boosters. These are:
Magnesium
Magnesium has a direct correlation with testosterone levels as men with higher Magnesium concentration in their system also have higher T levels. Taking Magnesium supplements can also increase T levels in both athletic and sedentary men.
Zinc
There is no evidence to suggest that consuming more Zinc than necessary will increase your T levels if they’re already within the normal range. But, a Zinc deficiency can lead to a 75% reduction in testosterone levels after 20 weeks.
Herbal ingredients
By definition, herbal ingredients are any components derived from the roots, leaves, stems, and flowers of plants. These include everything from full plant extracts — like Ginseng, to specific compounds derived from a plant — such as Piperine from black pepper.
While most of these do stem from traditional medicine, I’m familiar with many that offer scientifically-proven benefits for men's testosterone levels as well. Fenugreek extract, for example, can boost T levels by as much as 46% after 12 weeks of supplementation. In a similar vein, the Ginseng extract I mentioned above can be used as treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Who are these products intended for?
In my experience, these testosterone-boosting supplements are mainly targeted toward three types of users:
Older men
It’s no secret that men’s testosterone levels start going down as they age. On average, testosterone production slows down at a rate of 1.6% per year once they enter their 30s. This is also accompanied by an increase in Sex-Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG); a protein that reduces testosterone availability further by binding itself to free testosterone.
This is where testosterone-boosting supplements promise to restore testosterone levels back to where they were in their users’ younger years.
Men with low testosterone issues
While aging is the primary cause of low T, it is far from the only one. Factors like obesity and medication can also lead to reduced testosterone levels. Plus, as I mentioned above, deficiencies of substances like Vitamin B6 and Zinc can play a role in T-level decline as well.
Some testosterone boosters include these ingredients — like Vitamin B6 to counteract the symptoms of its deficiency — in addition to general T-boosting substances like DAA.
Men who train hard
Testosterone is the primary muscle-building substance in men as it promotes the production of muscle protein. For athletes & bodybuilders, a small boost in their T levels can make the difference between reaching new heights or staying stuck at a progress plateau.
This is why we see so many T boosters — like Testo-Max and TestoFuel — heavily target these certain demographics.
Are testosterone boosters effective?
No, not all of them. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of testosterone boosters with ineffective or downright harmful ingredients. But, the ones that do work, perform as advertised. Some benefits you can expect from these supplements include:
Higher T levels
This one is obvious, but I had to state it in clear terms. As I’ve discussed above, T-booster ingredients like DAA and Fenugreek demonstrate a significant increase in men’s T levels.
Improved libido & erectile function
The relationship between testosterone and libido is straightforward. In essence, low T equals low libido and a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. Fortunately, T boosters can prevent all of this by returning your T levels back to normal.
Boosted energy
Men with higher testosterone levels also report higher energy levels by more than 52%. These T boosters can also counteract fatigue, which is a major symptom of low T.
Faster weight loss
As I mentioned earlier, obesity can lead to reduced T levels. But, it works the other way around as well, where low T can lead to obesity. The good news is that increasing testosterone production with the use of T boosters can accelerate fat loss — making it easier to lose excess weight.
Are there any side effects or contraindications?
After testing and analyzing many different testosterone boosters over the years, I’ve found that the majority of them don’t have any recurring side effects. However, the possibility of adverse effects is low, not zero.
Factors like allergies can always become an issue for users, especially for herbal ingredients like Fenugreek and Ginseng. I’ve also seen some lesser-known supplements containing more than the recommended amount of certain ingredients which can be quite problematic as well. Consuming too much Zinc, for example, can lead to nausea, upset stomach, headaches, and dizziness.
I also recommend you to consult your doctor before considering T boosters if you’re already taking prescribed medication. While these supplements are mostly safe on their own, taking them with other medications can lead to unintended interactions between their ingredients and cause adverse effects.
Is it safe to use them?
As long as you're not allergic to any of their ingredients — I’d say, yes, testosterone boosters are safe for most healthy adults. Emphasis on healthy and adult as these supplements are not meant for users under the age of 18, or ones with a complex medical history.
Testosterone boosters vs anabolic steroids vs TRT
While testosterone boosters are the subject of this discussion, there are two other methods of increasing testosterone that I’d like to talk about:
Anabolic steroids
In short, anabolic steroids contain a type of synthetic testosterone that is either injected into muscles or taken orally through tablets. This does provide a quick boost in T levels, but it also carries severe side effects like infertility and an increased risk of cancer. Using anabolic steroids without a prescription is also illegal in most major countries.
TRT
TRT or Testosterone Replacement Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for low testosterone that requires a doctor’s prescription. While this method is effective for most men, getting the right prescription can be a slow process. Plus, it also comes with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Conclusion
To summarize my points, testosterone boosters are over-the-counter supplements that help you escape the clutches of low T by enhancing the natural testosterone-producing capabilities of your body. Apart from a few edge cases I’ve witnessed, these supplements are also quite safe for most healthy adults.
So, should you spend your precious time and hard-earned money on these T boosters? From what I’ve seen, yes. But I’ll also recommend doing your research. Remember to only purchase supplements that have a track record of delivering on their promises.