Testosterone Boosters: Worst Ever Ingredients

Let’s face it; some of the ingredients in Testosterone Boosters are awful. The studies are not behind them, they do nothing for your testosterone, or worse yet they cause serious side effects.

We review a lot of supplements on Muxcle.com, it’s a lot of research and due to the amount of points that we have to cover we can never go into as much detail as we’d like to.

That all changes in this article. In this ongoing project that we will continue to update, we’ll be looking at the worst ingredients that we have come across in the testosterone supplement industry.

Some of them you’ll know already, some of them you’ll have never heard of. If any of these ingredients in a testosterone booster that you’ve been considering, it’s time to revise your thoughts.

Introducing: The Worst Ingredients You Can Find in Testosterone Boosters

This list will be updated as we find more and more poor quality ingredients. We’re always open to suggestions if you have something to add. Email contact [at] muxcle.com and we’ll look into your ideas.

Before we get started, these are all ingredients that have been claimed by supplement manufacturers to promote testosterone levels. The way we’ll be doing this is looking at what the ingredient is, and showing how that isn’t actually the case through the current studies.

If you ever plan on doing something like this yourself, we can’t recommend Examine.com enough. It’s a fantastic resource on everything to do with supplement ingredients and a lot of this article would not be possible without them.

Speaking of this article, it’s huge. We suggest using the table of contents below to help navigate yourself through it:

Tribulus Terrestris

What is it?

Tribulus Terrestris is a plant that comes from the caltrop family. One of the most notable things about this species is that it can survive in pretty much any climate.

It’s a weed that is known to grow in deserts, tropical climates, dry climates and even in some of the poorest quality soil. Tribulus is so good at surviving these harsh climates because it has a large amount of fine rootlets which allow it to get the most out of the moisture in soil. [1]

It is commonly found in Southern Europe, Southern Asia, Africa and Australia, although it is now also grown in North America. In America it is viewed as a noxious weed with various eradication methods still being looked into, it has very aggressive growth.

We have to give it to Tribulus though, it’s ability to survive is very impressive. Some reports even show that the seeds of the plant can still be viable for planting up to seven years after being picked.

This is not something that you want growing in your garden.

What is it claimed to do?

The main benefit that is marketed for Tribulus Terrestris is that it helps to promote testosterone levels and muscle mass. Supplement companies love telling you this and they do it well – Tribulus sells so well you can get entire supplements dedicated to it.

We’ve seen hundreds of Tribulus-only testosterone boosters out there. That’s a lot of customers who are interested in buying a weed that is so surplus in North America that they’re looking into biological and herbicidal means to remove it.

They’re trying to get rid of it, supplement manufacturers want to sell it. Seems like a good opportunity if you are a manufacturer…

The Studies Against It…

One thing’s for sure, Tribulus Terrestris does not boost testosterone in humans. It’s a bold claim, but we’ve got a lot of evidence to back up our points.

Study #1: Rogerson S, et al.

[2] Tribulus Terrestris was given to some ‘elite level’ rugby players in their earlier 20s. Half of them were given Tribulus and the other half was given a placebo.

It was mainly to investigate claims by the supplement industry of how effective Tribulus could be for muscle mass, but there was also a worry that the effects of Tribulus may make you fail a drugs test. For competitive sportsmen like rugby players, this could be a serious problem, so there was a need to research it.

The Tribulus group took 450mg of the nutrient every day for 5 weeks. This is a high amount even by the standard of what you get in most testosterone boosters – and definitely a lot to give the nutrient the benefit of the doubt.

After the 5 week period there was no noticeable differences between the groups. No noticeable improvements in muscle mass between the placebo and Tribulus, and there was no increase in testosterone.

It had failed to have an impact.

Study #2: Neychev VK, et al.

[3] This study operated slightly differently to the rugby player study. There was still two groups here, but they both took Tribulus Terrestris. Group #1 took 10mg/kg of their body weight daily, whereas group #2 took 20mg/kg.

They did this everyday for 24 days. To put that in perspective a 70kg man in group #1 would have 700mg of Tribulus a day, whereas a man of the same weight in group #2 would have 1400mg.

That’s a lot of Tribulus for both groups. So, what were the results?

Both terrible. Neither group saw any differences in testosterone, androstenedione, or luteinizing hormone. Luteinizing Hormone is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone and testosterone – even having more of that would’ve been something. However, none of these raised. It didn’t have any effect here.

Study #3: Sellandi TM, et al.

[4] In defense on our attack on Tribulus, we have one study to put forward that speaks favorably of it. However, the circumstances may be a little difficult to replicate.

A group of men with low sperm and testosterone levels from the ages of 21 – 50 were asked to take 6000mg of Tribulus daily for 60 days. In this study, half of the men took the 6000mg, and the other half took the placebo.

After the 2 month supplementation period, a rise in testosterone was observed in the Tribulus group, but researchers concluded that it failed to reach any statistical significance.

The first issue here is that there’s no supplement that will give you 6000mg of Tribulus in a daily serving. If they did, you may also need to be suffering from low testosterone and sperm count to get the full benefits here. The problem is even if you meet all that criteria, your results still won’t be ‘statistically significant’, you’re not going to get much out of using it.

It’s not a great choice for testosterone.

Summary of Tribulus

Those were just a few of the studies that we’ve found on Tribulus. You have to admit they don’t make it look like a good option.

So, why does it keep appearing in testosterone boosters?

All it appears to be is a nuisance weed that grows everywhere and anywhere it can. It’s widely available and seemingly cheap to farm and source. The only reason we can think that it is still here is due to it’s affordability, and clever marketing by the supplements industry.

It only seems to benefit those who are prepared to supplement it in bulk on a daily basis, and who suffer from problems with their testosterone already. To make matters worse, the benefits from undertaking such a task are minimal.

It’s not a nutrient we enjoy seeing in these supplements – and neither should you.

References in this section:

[1] Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Nancy Dale, 2nd Ed., 2000, p. 200

[2] Rogerson S, Riches CJ, Jennings C, Weatherby RP, Meir RA, Marshall-Gradisnik SM. The effect of five weeks of tribulus terrestris supplementation on muscle strength and body composition during preseason training in elite rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res. 2007;21(2):348–353. [Link]

[3] Neychev VK, Mitev VI. The aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the androgen production in young men. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;101:319–323. [Link]

[4] Sellandi TM, Thakar AB, Baghel MS. Clinical study of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in oligozoospermia: a double blind study. Ayu. 2012;33:356–364. [Link]

Orchic Substance/Extract

What is it?

Orchic is always quantified in different ways, sometimes it is known as a substance, other times it is referred to as a type of extract or tissue.

Whatever supplement companies call it, it doesn’t hide what it really is: bovine testes, in other words bull testicles.

Supplement companies that include orchic extract are essentially feeding you the sex organs of a bull. To some people this is not uncommon, and it can be served as an appetizer known as Rocky Mountain Oysters, or Prairie Oysters. [1]

Here’s what they usually look like:

People can eat whatever they want, but I’m not sure everyone would be so keen to buy a testosterone booster full of this nutrient if they knew the meaning behind the word ‘orchic’.

What is it claimed to do?

Supplement manufacturers claim that taking orchic extract is good for your testosterone levels and helping to improve your testicular function.

The only reason we can gather from this is that the dish may contain some level of zinc. Zinc can be used by your body to create the luteinizing hormone, [2] which is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone and testosterone.

However, how can you know how much Zinc you’re actually getting in each extract?

A better question to ask is to why not just supplement Zinc? It seems like a way to make a supplement look like it has more variety than it really has.

The Studies Against It…

When it comes to actual studies on Orchic extract, we’ve yet to find one. The only write ups we can find are from WebMD.com, and other websites that have copied exactly what they’ve written:

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of orchic extract for these uses.

-WebMD.com [Link]

There’s nothing out there. At least not yet.

If you lean on the on the fact that it contains Zinc, you can make it look like a justifiable choice. However, as there’s no sure way to know how much you’re getting from it, you might as well just supplement it directly.

Summary of Orchic Extract

On the whole, we have to say Orchic Extract really is a ‘nothing’ ingredient. At best it’s a half-rate Zinc delivery system. At worst, a supplement company subtly made you consume the testicles of a bull.

Maybe some suppliers think they can use the ‘macho’ image of a bull to get you to believe in this nutrient as a supplement. Or maybe it’s a cheap option for them to put in a supplement which would’ve either been thrown away as a waste product, or a delicious plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters.

Either way, it’s not something you’d expect to see in a supplement. Whatever supplement manufacturer first thought of using it in their product must’ve had some serious balls.

References in this section:

[1] Rocky Mountain Oysters, Wikipedia [Link]

[2] Jalali GR, Roozbeh J, Mohammadzadeh A, Sharifian M, Sagheb MM, Hamidian Jahromi A, et al. Impact of oral zinc therapy on the level of sex hormones in male patients on hemodialysis. Ren Fail. 2010;32(4):417–9. doi: 10.3109/08860221003706958. [Link]

Bulbine Natalensis

What is it?

Bulbine Natalensis is a herb found in Southern and South East Africa. It is known under many names including ibhucu, rooiwortel, ingcelwane.

It gets the name Bulbine for the bulb shape of the flower of the plant. They’re yellow and some species of this plant have been found as far away from Africa as Australia and Yemen.

It has some anecdotal evidence for working as an aphrodisiac in African culture. However, it is also used as a topical ointment for cracked lips and in some cases even used to help with stomach problems such as diarrhea.

Again, this is all traditional beliefs, more research is needed to confirm this.

What is it claimed to do?

Many supplement manufacturers claim that Bulbine Natalensis can help boost both libido and testosterone.

As far as the research goes, there’s definitely proof that it can help with testosterone levels. However, you seldom see it in supplements.

Why? The first reason is there’s only one preliminary study on humans with Bulbine Natalensis – and we’ll get into our problems with that study. Everything else is rat based. Secondly, although it may help to raise testosterone it appears that it could be dangerous.

The Studies Against It…

From what we’ve read, we’re confident that Bulbine Natalensis can help raise testosterone. Although we’re also confident that it can cause side effects.

Below, we’ve gathered the main studies on Bulbine Natalensis and what they’re all about:

Studies #1: Yakubu MT & Afolayan AJ

The most linked study about Bulbine Natalensis and testosterone that you’ll see online comes from researchers Yakubu and Afolayan in 2010 [1].

In the study they took 60 rats and split them into 4 groups of 15, let’s call them Group A, B, C and D. Group A was the control group, they had no bulbine at all, whereas B had 25mg/kg of body weight, C had 50mg/kg, and D had 100mg/kg.

The results were interesting. Bulbine did help promote testosterone, but it followed a bell curve. Essentially, if the dose was too high, it would not be as effective. Group C with 50mg/kg body weight had the best results.

At the end of the 2 week study, the control group’s testosterone levels stayed just below 1ng/ml of circulating testosterone. Group C had 4.4ng/ml of circulating testosterone, consistently throughout in both the blood and testes.

That’s over four times as high. As great as this may sound, Afolayan and Yakubu noticed that although it was successful for testosterone, it wasn’t for the health of the rats, to the extent that they needed to put together another study to show the extent of the damage.

Study #2: Afolayan AJ & Yakubu MT

[2] Although Groups B, C and D all experienced some level of growth in testosterone, they all took a hit to their general health. This is because the Bulbine Natalensis is toxic.

The main damage was in their internal organs, specifically in the liver and kidneys. Bulbine Natalensis appeared to have altered the enzymes in the rats’ livers in a negative way with those taking the highest dose being hit the hardest.

The kidneys were in even worse shape. Researchers noted that there were obvious distortions in the architecture of the rat livers which is a clear indication of toxic damage.

Study #3: Hofheins JE, et al.

This is the only human study currently available on Bulbine Natalensis, and we find it suspicious.

Why? Because the study was conducted on a branded version of Bulbine Natalensis known as ProLensis and funded by the company that makes and sells it (Sports Nutrition Research LTD). It didn’t look at impact of bulbine on testosterone levels (there’s still no human study for that), but it did look at the safety of supplement to try and negate the evidence from the rat studies.

Men took 325mg of Bulbine Natalensis twice a day for 28 days. Another group took a placebo twice a day alongside them. The results showed a 2% in ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase) while the placebo group’s ALP reduced by 2.4%.

This shows that liver is being affected by the Bulbine, and while nowhere near as damaging as it was to the rats – a toxic effect cannot be ruled out. 2% is still an impact and over time it has a potential to get worse.

Our problem with Study #3

It is in the best interest of Sports Nutrition Research LTD for their product to appear safe. They cannot afford this study to go badly.

However, you can apply reasonable doubt to this. If it went badly, they could’ve reworked or pulled the product. Unlikely considering they’ve trademarked the brand but they could still take this kind of action.

Which brings us to our suspicion of Hofheins herself. The only studies she has been involved in are for specific branded supplements.

And guess what? Every one of them is positive. It’s definitely suspicious.

For your reference, here’s a brief look at the supplement studies she’s been involved with:

• ProLensis (Sports Nutrition Research LTD) [3]
• MMP (Driven Sports, Inc.) [4]
• Prograde Metabolism [METABO] (Ultimate Wellness Systems, Inc.) [5]
• SOmaxP Maximum Performance (Gaspari Nutrition) [6]
• Cinnulin PF (Integrity Nutraceuticals International) [7]
• Celsius (EliteFx Technologies) [8]

Every single one of these studies comes out positive for the company who paid for it. The only corporation that admitted they had a competing interest in the results was Gaspari.

Summary of Bulbine Natalensis

As you can see, there’s a reason we don’t approve of using Bulbine Natalensis in testosterone boosters.

The main reasearch out there is for rats. Studies show it can boost testosterone when supplemented, but it comes at the cost of internal organ damage and appears to be highly toxic.

There’s very little human research available, and from what is out there is only to defend itself against the other studies that show it to be dangerous. Not only that, that particular study is funded by a supplement manufacturer that sells Bulbine Natalensis. It claims Bulbine is safe short term, but it did show some evidence that the nutrient is potentially toxic.

The main researcher behind this study has only ever produced studies funded by supplement manufacturers which always paints their product in a good light. It’s not the most trustworthy source.

As far as we’re concerned Bulbine Natalensis is toxic, and shouldn’t be used in testosterone boosters.

References in this section:

[1] Yakubu MT, Afolayan AJ. Anabolic and androgenic activities of Bulbine natalensis stem in male Wistar rats. Pharm Biol. 2010;48(Suppl 5):568–576. doi: 10.3109/13880200903207094. [Link]

[2] Afolayan AJ, Yakubu MT. Effect of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem extract on the functional indices and histology of the liver and kidney of male Wistar rats. J Med Food. 2009;12:814–820. [Link]

[3] Hofheins JE, Habowski SM, Ziegenfuss TN, Lopez HL. Short term safety of bulbine natalensis supplementation in healthy men. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2012;9(Suppl 1):P33. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-9-S1-P33. [Link]

[4] Kedia AW, Hofheins JE, Habowski SM, Ferrando AA, Gothard MD, Lopez HL. Effects of a Pre-workout Supplement on Lean Mass, Muscular Performance, Subjective Workout Experience and Biomarkers of Safety. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2014;11(2):116-126. doi:10.7150/ijms.7073. [Link]

[5] Lopez HL, Ziegenfuss TN, Hofheins JE, et al. Eight weeks of supplementation with a multi-ingredient weight loss product enhances body composition, reduces hip and waist girth, and increases energy levels in overweight men and women. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013;10:22. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-22. [Link]

[6] Schmitz SM, Hofheins JE, Lemieux R. Nine weeks of supplementation with a multi-nutrient product augments gains in lean mass, strength, and muscular performance in resistance trained men. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2010;7:40. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-40. [Link]

[7] Ziegenfuss TN, Hofheins JE, Mendel RW, Landis J, Anderson RA. Effects of a Water-Soluble Cinnamon Extract on Body Composition and Features of the Metabolic Syndrome in Pre-Diabetic Men and Women. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2006;3(2):45-53. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-3-2-45. [Link]

[8] Mendel RW, Hofheins JE. Metabolic responses to the acute ingestion of two commercially available carbonated beverages: A pilot study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2007;4:7. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-4-7. [Link]

Deer Antler Velvet

What is it?

Deer Antler Velvet is the soft, furry skin that you seek on the antlers of a deer. It makes up the deer’s antler before it becomes calcified and bone-like. When the antler becomes fully developed underneath the velvet starts to shed.

This isn’t how the Velvet is typically harvested. Deer produce new antlers every year, so farmers who harvest the velvet wait until the deer are 55 – 65 days into growing their antlers [1]. This is typically the best time as the antlers have the most amount of velvet before calcification occurs. At this stage the antler is around two thirds of its expected full size.

The harvest happens through a veterinarian who removes the antler under local anesthesia causing no harm to the deer.

In China, Deer Antler Velvet is sold as a traditional medicine under the name Lu Rong and is thought to help with those with low level of ‘Yang’ [2] (Yin-Yang balance).

What is claimed to do?

The main claims for Deer Antler Velvet is that it can help boost testosterone and speed up injury recovery.

It was the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow that first started the Deer Antler Velvet hype. The Soviet Union (now Russia) had a landslide victory coming first with 80 gold medals, to the East Germany coming second with 47. [3]

With such a huge divide, there was rumor that one of the reasons for the USSR’s success was their experimentation with using Deer Antler Velvet.

In the early 2000s supplement companies revived this rumor and began selling Deer Antler Velvet as a spray that helped with both recovery, and physical performance by how it supports testosterone levels. However, as we’ll cover in the next section, there’s a lot more to it than that.

The Studies Against It…

Deer Antler Velvet doesn’t boost testosterone, and like always, we have numerous studies to support this view.

Study #1: Sleivert G, et al.

An 11 week study [4] involving 38 men split into three groups. The first group in the study took a placebo for the 11 weeks, while the second group took 1500mg of Deer Antler Velvet extract, and the third group took it in a powdered form. Every group supplemented on a daily basis.

All the men were put on a 10 week training program with their results, hormones, blood etc. measured.

After the study was concluded no hormonal changes were observed when compared to the placebo group. The Deer Antler Velvet held no influence over the men’s testosterone levels.

Study #2: Conaglen HM, et al.

A 12 week study [5] which looked into the hormonal and sexual changes from supplementing Deer Antler Velvet. 35 male subjects from the ages of 45 – 65 were placed into two groups, one supplementing 1000mg of Deer Antler Velvet daily, and the other taking a placebo.

At the end of the study no differences were noted in the sexual behavior of the men. The same goes for their testosterone levels, blood tests confirmed there were no hormonal changes at the end of the experiment.

More proof that it is ineffective for boosting testosterone.

Study #3: Syrotuik DG, et al.

This study [6] technically isn’t Deer Antler Velvet, it’s Elk Antler Velvet. There isn’t any major differences, Elk Antler Velvet suppliers will tell you the difference is that Elk Velvet is more potent. No studies reflect this.

Regardless, the effects were minimal.

The study involved 25 male and 21 female rowers split into two groups. One group taking 560mg a day of Elk Antler Velvet and the other taking placebo for a period of 10 weeks. The study measured both their strength and hormone levels. Strength was measured by observing the subjects’ 2000m rowing time, bench press and leg press throughout the study.

At the end of the study, no changes were observed in power output and testosterone levels remained unaffected in comparison to the placebo group. It failed to have an impact.

Study Review: Gilbey A & Perezgonzalez JD

This isn’t a direct study [7] into Deer Antler Velvet, but it’s too relevant to exclude. The researchers involved compiled as many controlled studies as they could of Deer Antler Velvet and analysed them all.

It’s a pretty damning report on Deer Antler Velvet and summarizes the nutrient’s place in the industry beautifully:

Despite a dearth of good quality positive human trials on the effectiveness of velvet antler supplements, numerous suppliers of velvet antler products make or imply claims about its use for a number of conditions.

Claims that velvet antler supplements have beneficial effects for any human condition are not currently supported by sound clinical data from human trials.

– Gibley & Perezgonzalez

We’ve linked their full findings at the end of this section in the references. It’s a really interesting read.

S.W.A.T.S. & The Deer Antler Velvet Spray Controversy (2008 – 2013)

It was 2008 when Deer Antler Velvet really started making its name in the supplements industry. This was mainly due to manufacturer called S.W.A.T.S. (Sports with Alternatives to Steroids) Fitness and Performance based in Alabama which began selling Deer Antler Velvet as a spray.

2008 – 2009: Marketing and the NCAA

Part of S.W.A.T.S. marketing campaign involved supplying NCAA and NFL athletes with free product in return for endorsements. It was largely well received, and athletes appeared to be happy with the results they were experiencing.

There was some push-back, however, Alabama athletics officials didn’t approve of the supplement being promoted by student athletes. The NCAA are strict on forbidding student athletes to promote products based on their athletic ability [8] and this started to put S.W.A.T.S. on the radar of official sports organizations.

2009 – 2011: David Vobora Testing Positive and the NFL

One of the athletes that was given Deer Antler Velvet was David Vobra, a linebacker for the NFL. In 2009 Vobora tested positive for using methyltestosterone. S.W.A.T.S. spray was working so effectively for Vobora because it contained testosterone – not Deer Antler Velvet.

Having not been told this, Vobora sought action to sue S.W.A.T.S. for damages. He successfully won his lawsuit in 2011 [9] and S.W.A.T.S. was ordered to pay the athlete $5.4 million.

In response Major League Baseball (MLB) banned all their athletes from using Deer Antler Velvet under the fear that it may also be contaminated with methyltestosterone. [10]

Sports organizations were distancing themselves from Deer Antler Velvet.

2012 – 2013: Downfall of S.W.A.T.S.

Despite the negative press attention [9] and Vobora lawsuit, S.W.A.T.S. were still pushing hard with their initial marketing campaign of giving product to athletes in return for promotion. The Alabama athletics organization sent another warning letter [11] telling them to stop.

They didn’t.

In 2013, S.W.A.T.S. headquarters was raided and shut down [12] by Alambama’s attorney general. Upon the raid $200,000 was seized in both cash and vehicles. The courts took full ownership of the business.

This company led to both the introduction and exodus of Deer Antler Velvet from the mainstream supplements industry. It’s completely ineffective, but due to how S.W.A.T.S. doped it with methyltestosterone it managed to become a banned substance in several sporting organizations.

Summary of Deer Antler Velvet

Defintely one of the more interesting ingredients in our list of the worst testosterone boosters.

A nutrient that started off as a traditional Chinese medicine, then an experimental performance enhancer for the USSR in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, to a modern sports spray, and finally ending up as a banned substance.

All while failing absolutely every study conducted on it. It does not boost testosterone in any way, and we’re glad to rarely see it in supplements anymore.

References in this section:

[1] (2015-9-16), Velvet Antler, Deerfarming.com.au [Link to PDF]

[2] Bensky, Clavey, Stoger, Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica 3rd Edition, Eastland Press, Seattle, Washington, 2004 p. 766-770

[3] 1980 Summer Olympics Medal Table, Wikipedia [Link]

[4] Sleivert G., Burke V., Palmer C., Walmsley A., Gerrard D., Haines S., Littlejohn R. 2003. The effects of deer antler velvet extract or powder supplementation on aerobic power, erythropoiesis, and muscular strength and endurance characteristics. Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab. 13: 251–265. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.13.3.251 [Link]

[5] Conaglen HM, Suttie JM, Conaglen JV. Effect of deer velvet on sexual function in men and their partners: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arch Sex Behav 2003;32:271-8. 10.1023/A:1023469702627 [Link]

[6] Syrotuik D. G., MacFadyen K. L., Harber V. J., Bell G. J. 2005. Effect of elk velvet antler supplementation on the hormonal response to acute and chronic exercise in male and female rowers. Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab. 15: 366–385. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.15.4.366 [Link]

[7] Gilbey A, Perezgonzalez JD (2012). “Health benefits of deer and elk velvet antler supplements: a systematic review of randomised controlled studies”. N. Z. Med. J. 125 (1367): 80–6. PMID 23321886 [Link]

[8] Frequently Asked Questions about the NCAA, ncaa.org [Link]

[9] Associated Press (2011-6-21). David Vobora Awarded $5.4M, ESPN.com [Link]

[10] ESPN.com News Services (2011-8-6) MLB warns players against deer-antler spray., EPSN.com [Link]

[11] Scarbinsky (2015-9-18). Scarbinsky: S.W.A.T.S. raises serious questions for Alabama and the NCAA to ask [Link]

[12] Otano J (2013-09-05). “Ray Lewis’ alleged deer antler supplier has office raided in Alabama” (Archived) [Link]

Yohimbine

What is it?

Yohimbine is an alkaloid extracted from the Pausinystalia johimbe tree, usually known as the Yohimbe tree. It’s a plant that is commonly found in central Africa.

It’s a tall thin tree, reaching heights of up to 30m while maintaining a 50 – 60cm diameter.

The first uses of Yohimbine happened in West Africa where it was originally taken as an aphrodisiac and libido enhancer [1].

In the modern day, veterinarians use Yohimbe to reverse the sedation of medium-sized animals [2] like dogs, deer, and elk.

These uses got the attention of the supplements industry, and products for both male health and fat loss began to boom with Yohimbine. The interest in the bark is now so popular that the harvesting of it has led to over-exploitation [1] which in the long term may lead to a decline in the species.

What is it claimed to do?

Supplement companies have a range of benefits that they use for Yohimbine.

For fat burners, they’ll tell you it can help with appetite suppression, energy and fat loss. Whereas a testosterone booster manufacturer will claim it helps boost your levels of the male hormone while improving your libido.

Fat burners and testosterone boosters are the main offenders when it comes to peddling Yohimbine. However, nootropics companies do it too, they claim it can help with cognition and focus, and pre workout suppliers say it helps with with overall energy and power output.

We’ve even some cases where supplement companies claim it can help fight diabetes, give you stronger erections and improve general circulation and blood flow.

The biggest thing they’re not telling you here, is the reported side effects with people who have supplemented it.

There’s a lot to cover here, so we’ll keep it focused on the testosterone boosting and the dangers associated with this nutrient.

The Studies Against It…

Yohimbe doesn’t raise testosterone levels, that’s for sure. However, there is some truth to some of the claims that have been made about this nutrient.

Let’s run through some of the studies:

Study #1: Guay AT, et al.

In this study [3], 18 non-smoking men with erectile dysfunction had their hormonal profiles measured and were given different amounts of Yohimbine.

The test was to see changes in testosterone levels, and in erection quality. The study’s results showed that 9 of the 18 men were able to complete intercourse 75% of the due to the yohimbe. Testosterone levels saw a very mild increase, but not enough to be notable.

This study seems to confirm that Yohimbine may be a good choice as a libido booster and seems to validate some of the claims made about it. It is not enough however, to show that it helps testosterone levels.

Study #2: Sommer M, et al.

Now we get into the side effects associated with Yohimbe.

Sommer’s study [4] involved 24 males made up of 2 groups; 12 athletes and 12 untrained men. They were split into 3 groups, a group only taking a placebo, a group taking a stress test and the final group taking Yohimbine.

All males in the Yohimbe group experienced a spike in anxiety levels, similar to those taking the stress test. The untrained subjects taking Yohimbe also experienced a spike in levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

The results were measured by psychometric scales, plasma cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate

Other Examples of Yohimbine Causing Anxiety:

Three other studies show similar results to this. Charney DS, et al. [5] conducted a study where they found taking 30mg of Yohimbe can strongly induce feelings of anxiety in humans.

Whereas Gurguis GN, et al. [6] found that persons who susceptible to panic attacks may be able to have one induced by supplementing Yohimbe.

Cameron OG., et al. [7] found something similar in their study. Not only did Yohimbe cause an increase in blood pressure, one of the subjects suffered a panic attack during the study.

The bottom line here is that if you have any form of social anxiety, or history of panic attacks, stay away from Yohimbe.

Summary of Yohimbine

Another terrible testosterone booster to add to the list. Despite claims, there’s no evidence out there that Yohimbe can effectively raise your testosterone levels.

However, it’s not all bad, it can help to promote libido and sexual arousal. This has its merits, however, they are unfortunately outweighed by the side effects associated with this supplement.

Panic attacks and anxiety are not fun, and taking a supplement that induces that is the last thing you want to do.

You don’t want to see this in your testosterone booster.

References in this section:

[1] R.b. Jiofack Tafokou. Pausinystalia johimbe. pp 516-519 in Timbers Volume 2; Volume 7 of Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Eds. Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A., G.J.H Grubben. PROTA Foundation, 2012.

[2] Beille, P. E. (2013). “Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the safety in use of Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)”. EFSA Journal. 11. [Link]

[3] Guay AT, Spark RF, Jacobson J, Murray FT, Geisser ME., Yohimbine treatment of organic erectile dysfunction in a dose-escalation trial., Int J Impot Res. 2002 Feb;14(1):25-31. [Link]

[4] Sommer M, Braumann M, Althoff T, et al. Psychological and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and to the administration of the alpha-2-receptor antagonist, yohimbine, in highly trained endurance athletes in comparison to untrained healthy controls. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2011;44(4):129–134. [Link]

[5] Charney D.S., Heninger G.R., Redmond D.E. Yohimbine induced anxiety and increased noradrenergic function in humans: effects of diazepam and clonidine. Life Sci. 1983;33:19–29. [Link]

[6] Gurguis G.N., Vitton B.J., Uhde T.W. Behavioral, sympathetic and adrenocortical responses to yohimbine in panic disorder patients and normal controls. Psychiatr. Res. 1997;71:27–39. [Link]

[7] Cameron O.G., Zubieta J.K., Grunhaus L., Minoshima S. Effects of yohimbine on cerebral blood flow, symptoms, and physiological functions in humans. Psychosom. Med. 2000;62:549–559. [Link]

Licorice Root

What is it?

Also known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, the Licorice plant is a legume found in Southern Europe and parts of Asia. You typically find it in food as a sweetener or in its own form as a candy.

It was first used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with digesting other ingredients [1] in a herbal formula or treatment. Licorice has also been used in tobacco products helping to give more flavor to cigarettes and chewing tobacco [2]. However, this practice has since been banned by the FDA from 2009.

Nowadays it is most common in candies and confectionary. It is mainly grown and harvested in middle eastern countries [2].

What is it claimed to do?

The main reason supplement companies use licorice is that they claim it can help digestive problems. Following the beliefs of Chinese traditional medicine, it is claimed to promote digestion and absorption of the other ingredients in their product.

There may be some truth to this claim as there is evidence of Licorice working as anti-inflammatory [3].

However, it may not be the best choice in a testosterone booster, mainly due to the evidence that it lowers testosterone and may even cause side effects.

The Studies Against It…

We’ve come across several studies which shows Licorice not only fails to promote testosterone levels, but actually reduces it. There’s also some studies which show that it may be toxic.

To give you a taste of how dangerous Licorice is, it is currently not advised to supplement it while pregnant. [4]

Study #1: Armanini D, et al.

The first study [5] on licorice and testosterone comes from Armanini. It involved 25 male subjects who supplemented 7000mg of licorice over the course of a week.

At the end of the study the testosterone levels were measured and compared to what they were at the start of the week. Surprisingly, the men’s testosterone had dropped 26% on average.

The main culprit that makes this happen in the Licorice is Glycyrrhizin. Needless to say, results like should be a clear indication that it shouldn’t be in a testosterone booster.

Study #2: Armanini D, et al. Part II

After the first study, Armanini did a similar study [6] into the effects of licorice on testosterone, but this time with women.

The results were the same, with the subjects seeing a big dip in their testosterone levels. It appears that the licorice blocks certain elements in your body which regulate steroidogenesis and steroidal metabolism (17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase).

Regardless, it’s bad news for those who supplement licorice in testosterone boosters, no matter what gender you are.

Study #3: Albermann ME, et al.

In a case study put together by Albermann [7], it was discovered that it is indeed possible to die of a licorice overdose.

Albermann studied the case of a 34 year old woman, who died from indulging in a licorice-heavy diet and next to no other nutrients. Although not the sole cause of the woman’s death, the acid in the Licorice played a key part in poisoning the woman contributed in part to her death due to its toxicity.

This was an incredibly high dose of Licorice taken over a very long period of time. A testosterone booster would be unlikely to poison you. However, taking something toxic that lowers testosterone isn’t exactly what you should be looking for anyway in a T-Booster.

Summary of Licorice

Maybe the only ingredient that we’ll add to this list that actually lowers testosterone. We’re impressed Licorice has made it this far, we still see it in supplements, and so many people are taking it without knowing the downsides.

It’s potentially one of the worst ingredients we’ll ever cover in this list. This is just another one of the reasons why you should always check the label of a testosterone booster before purchasing.

References in this section:

[1] Bensky, Dan; et al. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition. Eastland Press.

[2] M & F Worldwide Corp., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2010 [Link]

[3] Kang JS, et al. Glabridin suppresses intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells by blocking sphingosine kinase pathway: implications of Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and nuclear factor-kappaB/Rel signaling pathways. Mol Pharmacol. (2006) [Link]

[4] “Licorice root”. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health. September 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2017. [Link]

[5] Armanini D, Bonanni G, Mattarello MJ, Fiore C, Sartorato P, Palermo M. Licorice consumption and serum testosterone in healthy man. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes. 2003;111(6):341–343. [Link]

[6] Armanini D., Mattarello M.J., Fiore C., Bonanni G., Scaroni C., Sartorato P. Licorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women. Steroids. 2004;69:763–766. [Link]

[7] Albermann ME, et al. Determination of glycyrrhetic acid after consumption of liquorice and application to a fatality. Forensic Sci Int. (2010) [Link]

Maca

What is it?

Also known as Lepidium Meyenii, Maca is a South American that is most commonly found in the mountains of Peru.

It grows in a similar way to radishes and turnips, and like these plants, it’s easy to grow in colder climates.

Traditional medicine [1] claims that Maca is effective for promoting male fertility, and even for “tired blood” (anemia) among other benefits.

Eventually this got the attention of the supplements industry who began using Maca in their products from as early as the 1990s. It wasn’t received well due to the taste of the herb – but supplement capsules have managed to work past this issue.

What is it claimed to do?

The supplements industry typically claim that Maca is good for both male health and testosterone levels.

However, we’ve come across instances that say it can also repair general hormonal imbalances, depression, erectile dysfunction and fatigue. Some pre workouts even use it too, claiming that Maca can help with athletic performance.

Before we go further, Maca is not the worst ingredient in our list. It doesn’t boost testosterone, but there is some evidence that it can help with libido and fertility. Some Peruvian farmers claim feeding their livestock Maca helps with their fertility and reproduction.

What does it actually do?

As always, here are some key studies that we have found that refute the evidence that Maca helps testosterone levels:

Study #1: Gonzalez GF, et al.

This study [2] involved two groups of men aged 21 – 56. One group was given a placebo, and the other group was given either 1500mg or 3000mg of Maca which was supplemented daily over the course of 12 weeks.

These are much larger doses that you usually get in supplements, and 3 months more than enough time to see if it has an impact.

So, what were the results?

Disappointing. No changes were seen in either group. Maca had absolutely no effect on any hormones during the supplementation period.

However, in defense of Maca, Gonzalez and the team ran another study [3] alongside this one to observe changes in sex drive. Many of the men reported an increase in sexual desire while supplementing the Maca.

Study #2: Zenico T, et al.

Another 12 week study [4], this one involved 50 men with mild erectile dysfunction split into 2 groups. Group 1 supplemented 2400mg of Maca, while the other group were given a placebo.

The aim was to see how the nutrient affected the men’s hormones along with how it changed their sex drive.

With similar results to Gonzalez’s study, there were absolutely no changes in testosterone levels or hormones in general. It failed to make an impact.

However, it was again seen to help with sex drive with the men reporting improvements in physical and social well-being. The placebo group also reported improvements, but they were nowhere near as high as the Maca group.

Study #3: Brooks NA, et al.

This is another study [5] that takes a closer look at how Maca affects (or doesn’t affect) hormones.

It involves 2 groups of post-menopausal women, one taking 3500mg of Maca on a daily basis, the other taking a placebo. The idea was to see how Maca affected hormones and help manage the symptoms of menopause.

Like the other studies, the Maca failed to hold any influence on testosterone levels or any hormones in general. However, it did help the women with sexual dysfunction and also to reduce anxiety and psychological stress associated they had experienced from menopause.

Again, more evidence to show that Maca does have some benefits, but isn’t an option that should really be used in a testosterone booster.

Summary of Maca

Maca still makes it to our list of the worst ingredients in testosterone boosters. But it doesn’t seem to be bad, just misplaced.

We’re tired of Maca being advertised as a testosterone booster. It isn’t.

There’s plenty of studies out there to show it working in other ways, there’s even rat studies which show it can help with sperm count [6]. But if you’re looking for testosterone growth with this nutrient, you’re looking in the wrong place.

References in this section:

[1] Maca, WebMD [Link]

[2] Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A, Gonez C. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy men. J Endocrinol. 2003;176(1):163–168. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1760163. [Link]

[3] Gonzales GF, Cordova A, Vega K, Chung A, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia. 2002;34(6):367. [Link]

[4] Zenico T., Cicero A.F., Valmorri L., Metrcuriali M., Bercovich E. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performance in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: A randomised, double-blind clinical trial. Andrologia. 2009;41:95–99. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00892.x. [Link]

[5] Brooks N. A., Wilcox G., Walker K. Z., Ashton J. F., Cox M. B., Stojanovska L. Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause. 2008;15(6):1157–1162. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181732953. [Link]

[6] Gasco M., Aguilar J., Gonzales G. Effect of chronic treatment with three varieties of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on reproductive parameters and DNA quantification in adult male rats. Andrologia. 2007;39:151–158. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2007.00783.x. [Link]

Worst of the Industry: Testosterone Booster Ingredients Summary

And there you have it, our current list of the absolute worst ingredients we have seen on the market that claim to boost testosterone.

It’s big, but by no means is it finished. We’re going to keep adding to this list as we come across more ingredients that we think need to be on here.

Have you got anything to add? If you do, we want to hear from you. Let us know in the comments below what ingredients you think should be also in this list.

We’ll look into it, and add it when we can.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for more information on Testosterone Boosters, make sure you check out our full FAQ. It’s our complete list of every question we’ve been asked about testosterone boosters, and it’s still growing:

• Testosterone Boosters FAQ: Every Question We’ve Been Asked

It’s definitely worth checking out.