What are testosterone boosters?

Testosterone boosters are dietary supplements that stimulate the body's natural testosterone production. They do not contain testosterone themselves.
nor any other testosterone receptor stimulating substances, but plant extracts, vitamins and minerals. (However, some testosterone booster preparations also containEstrogen blockerslike Arimistane.)

The use of testosterone boosters ideally results in

• faster muscle building,
• an increase in strength,
• better regeneration after training sessions,
• an increase in sexual desire (libido) and
• an increase in energy levels and general quality of life.

However, testosterone boosters cannot increase testosterone production or release beyond the natural maximum. This means that the use of such supplements cannot lead to supraphysiological testosterone levels in either the male or female body. Why testosterone boosters can nevertheless have the positive effects mentioned above is explained further below.

Testosterone: the be-all and end-all in bodybuilding

Testosterone is not the only hormone that is important for muscle building (insulin and growth hormone also play a role,
which is whyHGH boosterinteresting for bodybuilders), but it is by far the most important. Testosterone significantly influences protein synthesis and erythropoiesis, i.e., stem cell formation in the bone marrow [1]. Anyone who engages in bodybuilding or aims to build muscle should therefore pay attention to their testosterone levels.

Testosterone for muscle building – how much is needed?

Does testosterone level have to be at a certain level for muscle building to be possible? No – as long as it is within the normal "range". In men after puberty, this range extends from around 9 nmol/l (nanomoles per liter of blood) to 30 nmol/l, depending on individual genetics and age [2]. It is therefore quite wide. Medical studies have shown, however, that it does not make much difference for muscle building what value a man has within this range [3]. So someone with a testosterone level of 30 nmol/l does not have three times the muscle-building potential of someone with a level of 10 nmol/l. However, if the testosterone level is BELOW the medically normal range, this actually impairs muscle building. And it has been proven that raising testosterone levels from an extremely low level to a medium-normal level promotes the development of strength and muscle mass [4]. So if you have low testosterone levels and want to build muscle, you should put “increasing testosterone” on your to-do list.

Why testosterone levels can be (too) low

A genetically determined disorder of testosterone production is extremely rare; medically, this is referred to as "hypogonadism." However, many men with normal testosterone production also have low testosterone levels. Possible causes include:

Extreme physical exertion
Those who subject their bodies to frequent, prolonged, and significant stress risk a drop in testosterone levels. And exercise, of course, also counts as stress. Natural bodybuilders whose workouts regularly last longer than an hour and a half may be damaging their hormone balance with this type of training.

Strict dieting
Prolonged food deprivation also negatively affects testosterone levels. A very low-fat diet is particularly bad for testosterone production, because the body needs cholesterol to produce testosterone.

Nutrient deficiency
Certain micronutrients, such as zinc, vitamin D, and magnesium, are essential for normal testosterone production. Deficiencies can easily occur with an unbalanced diet, such as a strictly vegan diet without supplements.

High levels of stress
Stress causes the release of cortisol and other stress hormones, which then affects the production of sex hormones.

Use of anabolic steroids
Almost all hormonally active anabolic steroids – anabolic steroids,ProhormonesandSARMs– are suppressive. This means that they cause the body to slow down or even completely stop its testosterone production. Following an anabolic steroid cycle, testosterone levels are then very low. Therefore, in the "off" phase, aPCT (Post Cycle Therapy)necessary, which ensures that testosterone production “starts up again”.

How do testosterone boosters work?

Testosterone boosters contain hormone-like plant substances (phytohormones, isoflavones, etc.) that act in the human body like biological
Messenger substances act and stimulate the gonadal regulatory circuit. In plain language: They ensure that more testosterone is produced and released.
These supplements can help you naturally increase your testosterone levels. However, this only works if your testosterone levels are temporarily or permanently lower than normal for one of the reasons mentioned above. If testosterone production is already running at full speed, even the best testosterone booster in the world won't produce a further increase.

What is contained in testosterone boosters?

The catalog of natural substances that, according to scientific findings, have some influence on testosterone levels is enormous. However, for some of them, the research is weak or inconclusive (e.g., Tribulus Terrestris), and some are only effective if a deficiency exists (e.g., zinc).

Here are the most common testosterone-relevant substances found in testosterone boosters (in alphabetical order):

• Ashwagandha:Ashwagandha acts as an adaptogen (= balancing agent) that reduces the release of stress hormones and stimulates testosterone production. Studies have proven the effectiveness of ashwagandha on testosterone release [5].
• Aspartic acid:This non-essential amino acid plays a role in the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), which stimulates the
  body to release testosterone.
• Fenugreek:Fenugreek, also known as Trigonella foenum-graecum, is a plant long known for its potential health benefits, particularly related to sexual health. Studies have also shown that supplementation with fenugreek extract has an impact on total serum testosterone levels in men [6].
• Maca:Maca is a South American superfood plant that increases libido.
• Tongkat Ali:Tongkat Ali (Long Jack, botanical Eurycoma longifolia) increases testosterone levels, among other things, by inhibiting aromatase (= conversion of testosterone to estrogen).
• Tribulus Terrestris:The herbaceous plant, also known as "pest-burdock," is helpful for erectile dysfunction and can increase libido. A positive effect on testosterone production is likely.
• Horny goat weed:Horny goat weed is traditionally known for its aphrodisiac effects.
• Zinc and magnesium:Both minerals are important for normal hormonal balance.
• Vitamin D:The "sunshine vitamin" D is essential for testosterone synthesis. Studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation significantly improves testosterone production in men with low vitamin D levels.

Are testosterone boosters legal?

Testosterone boosters are generally legal. But beware: Some contain plant extracts as well asProhormones! Examples of this are the productsTest Restore AM by Revange NutritionandDevil Test by Dark Labs(They contain, among others, Androsta-3,5-Diene-7,17-Dione). And some products that are marketed and sold as “testosterone boosters” are in fact not testosterone boosters at all, butSARMsor designer steroids. It's not surprising, then, that these testosterone boosters have side effects. And because one of the main side effects of steroids is to reduce the body's own testosterone production, they paradoxically have the opposite effect of what testosterone boosters are supposed to achieve.

Testosterone booster for muscle building

Anyone who wants to use testosterone boosters for muscle building shouldn't expect too much, because testosterone boosters aren't anabolic steroids. They only help athletes with low testosterone levels. However, as a natural bodybuilder, you run a relatively high risk of having low testosterone levels, at least temporarily, because training and dieting are a rather "testosterone-unfriendly" combination.

Testosterone booster for libido

For athletes who want to boost their sexual desire a little, testosterone boosters are generally recommended (along withSex boostersand libido enhancers, which are essentially nothing more than testosterone boosters). That substances such asTongkat Ali,Tribulus TerrestrisAfter all, studies have proven that testosterone boosters, etc., can increase libido. It's important to note, however, that testosterone boosters, firstly, don't have a short-term effect (so taking them immediately before a date doesn't help), and secondly, they don't have a vasodilating effect. In other words: They're not a Viagra substitute.

Testosterone booster for PCT

After a steroid, prohormone, or SARM cycle, testosterone boosters can also be very useful as part of post-cycle therapy. While there are special PCT supplements on the market, their ingredients are largely identical to those found in testosterone boosters. (Fenugreek extract, D-aspartic acid, vitamin D3, zinc, etc. are also found in almost every PCT supplement.) However, the formulation of PCT supplements often also includes detoxification agents such asN-Acetyl-L-Cysteine ​​(NAC)which support the organs in their regeneration after a treatment.

Buying testosterone boosters: What should you consider?

If you want to buy a testosterone booster, you should make sure that the product you choose is actually a testosterone booster – and not a prohormone or SARM. Unfortunately, the product names that supplement manufacturers come up with are often misleading: While, for example, the productsAlpha Max from Performax LabsandAlpha Bitch by Core Labs XTestosterone boosters areAlpha One by Fusiona prohormone. (The latter is Methyl-1-AD, which converts to Methyl-1-Testosterone in the body.) Therefore, reading the label thoroughly before purchase is a top civic duty for all fitness enthusiasts interested in testosterone boosters. Here at GETBOOST3D, testosterone boosters and prohormones are two different categories, and we make sure that the respective products are correctly categorized.

1. flexikon.doccheck.com (2021): Testosterone (https://flexikon.doccheck.com/de/Testosteron)
2. focus.de (2022): Testosterone deficiency: These are the symptoms (https://www.focus.de/gesundheit/news/testosteron_id_40817226.html)
3. He, Zihong et al. (2018): “Plasma steroids, body composition, and fat distribution: effects of age, sex, and exercise training.”
   (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29507393/)
4. D. Sullivan et al. (2005) “Effects of muscle strength training and testosterone in frail elderly males.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16260965/)
5. P. Mikulska (2023): “Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – Current Research on the Health-Promoting Activities: A Narrative Review”
   (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10147008/)
6. Mansoori (2020): “Effect of fenugreek extract supplement on testosterone levels in male: A meta-analysis of clinical trials”
   (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048383/)