About ConsumerLab.com


Chalkboard sign that says low testosterone sitting on a table in front of a book and supplements

Answer:

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone that plays a role in many processes in the body, including regulating sex drive (libido), bone mass, fat distribution, and muscle mass, as well as the production of sperm. Natural levels of testosterone tend to decline with age, especially in those 40 years or older (Li, J Healthc Eng 2022). For this reason, supplements that can boost testosterone levels are of interest to many older men.

"Testosterone boosters," such as Nugenix Total-T, are supplements that contain ingredients intended to promote the production of testosterone or reduce the conversion of testosterone to other hormones. Unlike prescription medications used as testosterone replacement therapy, testosterone boosters do not actually contain testosterone.

Numerous supplement ingredients, including androstenedione, L-arginine, ashwagandha, D-aspartic acid, betaine, boron, Cordyceps, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), 3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM), Eurycoma longifolia (Long Jack or Tongkat Ali), Fadogia agrestis, fenugreek, fish oil and other omega-3 fatty acids, a ketone supplement (and ketogenic diet), luteolin, maca, olive oil, Panax ginseng, pomegranate (alone or with cacao seed in the product Tesnor), probioticssaw palmetto, and shilajit, have been evaluated as testosterone boosters, although not all appear to be beneficial for this use. Furthermore, even among supplements that have been shown to increase testosterone, not all have been shown to have clinical benefits such as increasing muscle mass or boosting libido.

Sign in as a member for details, and also find out the best time of day to test for testosterone and why you should be wary of testosterone therapy sold directly to consumers.

Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,400 reviews.

Join Now

Join now at www.consumerlab.com/join/

30 Comments

Thomas21990
February 17, 2025

Having been a bodybuilder for over half my life until a spinal injury I can assure you that neither single nor combined testosterone boosters can increase muscle to any real extent. Back in the 80s and 90's the highest natural level of Testosterone was 1200 and in order to make significant gains in strength and muscle we were doubling that range or more so. The fact is a 5% or 25% gain in natural testosterone is wasting your money as it just flat out doesn't work.

Scott22522
April 15, 2025

I used to raise my testosterone for mood enhancement and energy, so different reason than muscle building...

Ronald20980
October 29, 2024

I'm 89 and have been eating Goji Berries for over 20 years. Literature states they increase testosterone. My last blood draw was 412ng/dL. The normal range is 193-740ng/dL.

ConsumerLab.com
November 13, 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience. While animal studies suggest that goji berries may enhance testosterone levels, there is currently no evidence from human studies to confirm this effect.

Sean20303
August 05, 2024

Low estrogen in men has a ton of negative health effects such as sexual and reproductive dysfunction, low libido, dry skin, osteoporosis, and many other things.
I have an estrogen / testosterone imbalance from long term prescription Adderall. My endocrinologist put me on an estrogen blocker to kick it down a little. It worked too well because it tanked my estrogen and made my symptoms worse.

Jason19398
April 30, 2024

Thanks for this list. I have also seen the compound Forskolin Carbonate as being advertised as a testosterone booster, usually citing a study but without a link to said study.

ConsumerLab.com
September 06, 2024

Please see our Weight Loss Supplements Review for information about forskolin, including its effects on testosterone levels: https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/weight-loss-supplements-7-keto-dhea/weightloss/

TheDude
January 18, 2024

Thanks for this list and the data presented. Personally, Since turning 60, my libido is waning and I’ve found the combo of fenugreek and ashwagandha to be a helpful combo. Thx for your great work.

Barbara17824
December 27, 2023

As a postmenopausal woman with osteopenia bordering on osteoporosis in my femoral neck and lumbar spine, my serum testosterone level recently was <3 (normal range is 6-82ng/dL). I've seen some references saying that low testosterone (as well as low estrogen) may be a significant factor contributing to bone loss in women--though my doctor rolled her eyes at this--and didn't look into other possible root causes in general to rule them out either. I came across this study that mentioned conflicting studies and controversy in this, but they found a positive association with treatment in women who were below 30 ng/dL (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9402345/). Has anyone dealt with, been treated, or treated others to increase testosterone in women with bone loss?

Kat19689
June 12, 2024

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the young age of 44 (it had progressed well past osteopenia). I am now 51 and read about testosterone and bones. I asked my doctor to test me and I am very low in testosterone. Note: in my country they measure in nmol/L. My result was under 0.1 nmol/L (the range is 1.0 - 2.0 nmol/L). I have been started on testosterone cream. I don't tolerate estrogen very well so am only on a low dose of that.

Carolyn17820
November 18, 2023

What about supplements purporting to increase testosterone, like the one from Life Extension?

ConsumerLab.com
January 02, 2024

Life Extension's Testosterone Elite appears to contain the branded ingredient, Tesnor, along with luteolin. These ingredients are discussed in the following sections of our article above:

https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-boosting-testosterone/testosterone-boosters/#tesnor

https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-boosting-testosterone/testosterone-boosters/#luteolin

Carl17819
November 18, 2023

Taking L-arginine and Cialis together can lead to dizziness or fainting because both reduce blood pressure. CIALIS alone can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level and taking it with L-arginine only adds to the problem . I now this from personal experience when I was driving home from a wedding. I had to pull over to the side of road. I got so bad my wife drove me to a local hospital.

Richard17817
November 18, 2023

Have you researched pine pollen? The are both powders and tinctures. Works for me.

ConsumerLab.com
January 02, 2024

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are not aware of any clinical studies evaluating pine pollen for boosting testosterone in humans.

Gary26354
November 05, 2023

Where has this site been all my life?

ConsumerLab.com
November 08, 2023

Glad to help!

Bonnie17813
October 23, 2023

Please do lab test on testosterone supplements to see which ones pass or fail.

Bruce17811
October 23, 2023

Well, with all of the best aids not working very well, and at my advanced age, it seems to be a miracle the thing still works so well! What about HGH stimulators such as SeroVital?

ConsumerLab.com
December 13, 2023

Information about SeroVital and other supplements claiming to be HGH stimulators can be found in our article about HGH supplements: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/hgh/human-growth-hormone/

Bruce22526
April 15, 2025

Ive been using Serovital for many years. I hae gone off it to see it there was a difference and within several weeks I got back on. Although I take other supplements and collagen, dermatologists and doctors remark about my skin and I am in my 70's. As far as other "functionality"goes.. that works great.

judith17810
October 23, 2023

I would also point out that lack of testosterone is a problem with women.

Tamara19733
June 18, 2024

Agreed! So many of the studies focus entirely on men.

cynthia20381
August 14, 2024

I started taking Life Extension Elite and I'm a woman. Can't report on the results yet as it's too early.

Les17808
October 22, 2023

Supplementing both Pregnenolone and DHEA in men treated with transdermal testosterone is often done in order to prevent potential rises in cholesterol, not necessarily to slip it into the cascade as a way to raise testosterone. At the clinic I receive HRT, all prescribers test for the entire hormonal cascade: Cholesterol, and if high, fractioned analysis, pregnenolone, DHEA, testosterone and its major metabolite, DHT, the estrogens, and progesterone. Since they began treating with the upstream elements of the cascade, they see no iatrogenic rise in cholesterol. Mine was unaffected.

ConsumerLab.com
October 26, 2023

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are not aware of conclusive evidence proving that testosterone increases cholesterol or that supplementing with pregnenolone and DHEA prevents this effect.

Jon17805
October 20, 2023

What about pomegranate, cacao, and luteolin? There's a supplement on the market (from a brand ConsumerLab regulary includes in their testing) that has a "Testosterone Booster" supplement with only these three as the main ingredients. Yet, I've never read about any of these ingredients in any ConsumerLab write-ups relating to testosterone or "Male Health" issues - which is why I have not purchased the supplement.

ConsumerLab.com
November 27, 2023

We've included information about cacao seed and pomegranate peel for boosting testosterone in the following section of our article: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-boosting-testosterone/testosterone-boosters/#tesnor. Also, see the following paragraph in our article for information about luteolin for boosting testosterone: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/supplements-for-boosting-testosterone/testosterone-boosters/#luteolin

Jon17801
May 07, 2023

What about pomegranate and cacao extracts?

ConsumerLab.com
December 12, 2023

Join the conversation

(0/2500)