Testosterone is a hormone generally referred to as the “male sex hormone” due to its important role in male physical and sexual development. It’s responsible for a host of factors, such as building strong bones and muscle mass, as well as promoting the production of red blood cells.
Testosterone also regulates your moods, raises your energy levels, and affects your sex drive.
Testosterone production surges during late childhood to adolescence, playing an integral role in developing your male features, such as facial/body hair, a deeper voice, and penile growth, just to name a few.
It goes without saying that testosterone is essential to men’s overall physical and sexual health. However, testosterone levels undergo a gradual decline when you age, which may lead to low testosterone — which may have knock-on effects to your physical, mental, and sexual well-being.
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The Lowdown on Testosterone Boosters
A testosterone booster is an over-the-counter dietary supplement created to help promote testosterone production. Often, testosterone boosters come in capsule form and are marketed towards men seeking improvements in sexual function, body composition, recovery, and overall physical performance.
Since testosterone itself requires a prescription, most testosterone boosters actually don’t contain testosterone.
Rather, they are usually composed of herbs and substances linked to higher T levels based on studies. The most common ingredients, therefore, in T booster supplements are zinc, boron, magnesium, and fenugreek, to name a few – all of which are substances linked to higher testosterone concentrations in test subjects.
These supplements are quite popular, and you will most likely run into their men’s health and fitness sites. You can also buy them from a variety of pharmacies and online stores across the globe.
Testosterone Boosters: Do They REALLY Work?
Since not all testosterone supplements are created alike, it’s difficult to give a one-size fits all answer to determine whether testosterone boosters have any effect.
On the whole, your mileage may vary, and the studies supporting the veracity of ingredients used in testosterone supplements may or may not be conclusive, if at all supported by any.
For instance, the effects of vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and ashwagandha on testosterone production have been supported by some research, making them common ingredients found in testosterone supplements, with varying degrees of success for each substance.
When it comes to other active ingredients found in testosterone boosters, some may be backed up by scientific studies, while other ingredients may not be backed by a conclusive number of studies, and rely more on hype.
Are Testosterone Supplements Safe For Men to Take?
Testosterone boosters are often marketed as less invasive, safer alternatives to tested treatments like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
TRT, for instance, involves using testosterone injections, topical gels and creams, or patches to boost testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement therapy, since it uses actual testosterone, requires a prescription from a qualified and licensed medical provider.
TRT has been linked to real benefits, particularly in men clinically diagnosed with low testosterone, but it also comes with more than a few side effects, such as hypertension, heart disease, and prostate enlargement, just to name a few.
Generally speaking, a fair comparison between prescription treatments such as TRT and over-the-counter testosterone boosters is hard to provide, because of how the latter can vary wildly in composition.
However, most ingredients used in testosterone supplements are largely safe, and not linked to any major side effects. Many men who take testosterone boosters do so without experiencing major safety issues, and the latter is an uncommon occurrence.
For instance, ashwagandha, an herb often used in testosterone boosters, is categorized as safe, carrying little risks of major side effects. However, several isolated cases of liver health issues have been reported in a scant number of individuals who have used products containing ashwagandha.
Zinc, meanwhile, is a common ingredient in both multivitamins and testosterone supplements. Zinc is safe when taken within its recommended daily allowance. Excessive zinc consumption, however, may cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and a lack of appetite, among others.
The same is true for magnesium, which is typically safe in regular doses. However, high doses of magnesium in dietary supplements may cause diarrhea. In extremely rare cases, going beyond the recommended dose of magnesium may lead to magnesium toxicity, a rare side effect that may cause death.
That said, are testosterone boosters safe to take? Not so fast. As dietary supplements, T boosters don’t undergo the same stringent process of clinical testing as FDA-approved prescription medicines do.
This indicates that there is still plenty to learn about some of the ingredients used in many over-the-counter testosterone boosters.
For instance, studies on tribulus terrestris, often used in and marketed as a testosterone booster, have mostly been done on animals rather than human test subjects. This could mean there might be health risks involving the ingredient we are yet potentially unaware of.
On the other hand, ingredients like dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, have known interactions with medicines like antidepressants, estrogen regulating drugs, and cancer medications, which means you need to be aware of their potential contraindications before using them.
Testosterone Boosters: Tips on How to Stay Safe
Planning to take a testosterone supplement? Here are some precautions to stay safe and reduce your likelihood of developing side effects.
First, consult your healthcare provider. Unless you are on the extremely low end of the spectrum of normal testosterone levels (or a reading below 300 ng/DL), taking a testosterone booster might not be as beneficial as you think it is. you might not even need to take a testosterone supplement at all.
Consult your healthcare provider and get your testosterone levels checked first to determine if taking an over-the-counter testosterone supplement or a complete regimen of testosterone replacement therapy is actually worth it. Your doctor will be able to give you qualified advice on different products based on your medicines and medical history.
Next, check the list of ingredients before you buy a supplement. Always check the list of ingredients before selecting a testosterone booster to purchase. See if the list contains potentially unsafe ingredients, or ingredients that may interact with your current medicines. If you are unsure about an ingredient or a “proprietary blend” without listing the ingredients down, consider buying a supplement with a more transparent formula and trustworthy reputation.
Then, take the supplement as recommended by its dosage instructions. This information should be available on the product’s label, which will tell you how many capsules you should take daily. Never go over the recommended intake, because it may increase your likelihood of developing adverse effects.
Be skeptical about outrageous claims. Testosterone boosters do have the potential to T-levels by a small to a considerable amount, but they are highly unlikely to produce massive changes in your sexual health or extremely low testosterone. Consult your doctor or seek treatment from a urologist if you have been diagnosed with low testosterone, rather than relying on testosterone supplements.
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Ultimately, while testosterone is a key ingredient for your overall well-being, it may cause unwanted side effects, particularly when you have higher than the normal amount of testosterone in the body.
For instance, elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a byproduct of testosterone — can worsen male pattern hair loss for individuals predisposed to it.
If you’re concerned about any of these potential issues, consult your healthcare provider before going on any testosterone therapy or testosterone supplements.
Other Ways to Boost Testosterone Levels
While the jury (and the science) may be still out for testosterone supplements, recent research shows that good lifestyle habits such as physical exercise can boost your testosterone levels without having to take a capsule or an injection. Men who are more physically active, for instance, generally have higher amounts of testosterone than their sedentary counterparts.
Moreover, poor sleep hygiene that reduces your hours of sleep may trigger a reduction in testosterone levels for otherwise healthy individuals.
That said, keeping a healthy lifestyle by engaging in physical activity, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting adequate amounts of sleep can help your body produce the testosterone it needs naturally, and reduce your risks for a variety of medical conditions, including low testosterone.
The Lowdown on Testosterone Supplements: The Final Word
There’s absolutely no question about it: testosterone is important to your overall health as a man. It not only promotes strong bones, muscles, and optimal sexual health, but it also helps regulate moods, improve mental acuity, and retain your libido.
And, while many ingredients in OTC testosterone supplements do appear safe, some ingredients are better than others, and some aren’t. With that in mind, it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider before throwing in testosterone supplements to your stack and daily routine.
Lastly, it’s recommended not to pin your hopes on testosterone supplements as a cure-all for sexual dysfunction or as a replacement for medicines that treat sexual dysfunction, such as ED. And don’t forget to always do your research before heading to the pharmacy and buying the first testosterone supplement you find.
