Testosterone
Supplements studied for testosterone.
Overview
Supplement evidence for raising testosterone is limited and mostly negative. Ashwagandha carries medium effect-size and evidence ratings from one study, though specific outcomes are not summarized here. Boron may increase testosterone in women with low dietary boron intake, but carries low ratings overall.
Probiotics showed no meaningful benefit in one study. Panax Ginseng has been studied once with low ratings and no detailed summary. Rhodiola at 600 mg daily for four weeks did not increase testosterone compared with placebo in healthy young men. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below for trial-level detail.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Ashwagandha | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Tongkat Ali | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Rhodiola | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Boron | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Panax Ginseng | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Probiotics | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
6 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
AshwagandhaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- No summary available.
Browse 1 study
RCTExamining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial2015n=29
In 57 young men resistance training for 8 weeks, ashwagandha 300 mg twice daily increased muscle strength and upper-limb muscle size versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Dose
- 600 mg/day
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 29
- Ages
- 18–50
Tongkat AliView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking Eurycoma longifolia by mouth helps increase testosterone levels in older men.
- One study found that taking 100 to 200 mg daily of a specific extract for 12 weeks slightly raised testosterone and improved symptoms related to low testosterone and fatigue.
- Another small study showed similar hormone and symptom improvements but did not compare to a control group.
- A review of several small studies found small increases in testosterone with doses from 100 to 600 mg daily, but the results varied significantly.
Browse 5 studies·1 meta-analysis
Systematic reviewEurycoma longifolia (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials2022
A meta-analysis of 9 RCTs found Eurycoma longifolia significantly increased total testosterone (SMD 1.35), with greater effects in hypogonadal men.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Healthy adults
RCTEffect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised aqueous root extract-Physta® on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study2021n=105
A multicentre randomized double-blind trial showing that Physta® Eurycoma longifolia extract increased testosterone and improved quality-of-life metrics in ageing men. A study examined 105 male subjects aged 50-70 years with a testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dL and normal BMI taking a proprietary freeze-dried water extract of tongkat ali (Physta). Participants were given daily either 100 mg tongkat ali, 200 mg tongkat ali or placebo. Researchers found a significant increase in serum total testosterone after two weeks from the 200 mg group, and a large reduction in cortisol in the 200 mg group of roughly double the reduction in the 100 mg group. Whilst both groups experienced an increase in muscle strength, greater gains were seen with the 200 mg dose.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 100–200 mg/day Physta
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 105
- Ages
- 50–70
RCTExercise associated or not to the intake of Eurycoma longifolia improves strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in men with androgen deficiency2021n=11
An RCT of 45 men with androgen deficiency found that 6 months of concurrent training plus Eurycoma longifolia improved knee strength and reduced ADAM symptom scores versus control.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 6 months
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 11
- Avg age
- ~48
RCTThe effect of Eurycoma Longifolia on the regulation of reproductive hormones in young males2021
An RCT of 32 healthy young men found that 600 mg/day Eurycoma longifolia for 2 weeks significantly increased testosterone, free testosterone, and estradiol versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Dose
- 600 mg/day
- Population
- Older adults
- Ages
- 19–29
RCTStandardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia, Tongkat ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism?2012n=320
A non-placebo controlled study found that 200 mg tongkat ali increased testosterone by 46% in patients with clinical late-onset hypogonadism after 1 month. Late-onset hypogonadism may clinically present as fatigue, lethargy, decreased sense of well-being, reduced physical and mental activity, diminished libido, increased sweating, depressive mood, mild anemia, erectile dysfunction, reduced bone mass, reduced muscle mass or osteoporosis. Low testosterone levels of less than 200 ng/dL suggest hypogonadism.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 1 month
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 320
RhodiolaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- In a study of 26 healthy young men, taking 600 mg of rhodiola extract (standardized to 3% rosavins) daily for four weeks did not lead to any increase in testosterone compared with a placebo.
Browse 1 study
Systematic reviewExamining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review2021
A systematic review found insufficient high-quality evidence that herbal supplements meaningfully raise testosterone in men.
- Population
- Men
BoronView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Boron may increase testosterone levels in women who have a low level of dietary boron intake from fruits and vegetables.
Browse 2 studies
RCTPlasma boron and the effects of boron supplementation in males1994n=12
In 19 male bodybuilders, 2.5 mg/day boron for 7 weeks raised plasma boron in some men but did not affect total or free testosterone, lean body mass, or strength beyond training effects seen in both groups.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 7 weeks
- Dose
- 2.5 mg/day
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 12
- Ages
- 20–26
Clinical trialEffect of dietary boron on mineral, estrogen, and testosterone metabolism in postmenopausal women1987n=12
In 12 postmenopausal women over 119 days, 3 mg/day boron supplementation reduced urinary calcium and magnesium excretion and markedly raised serum 17β-estradiol and testosterone, especially on low-magnesium diets.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 119 days
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Postmenopausal women
- Participants
- 12
- Ages
- 48–82
Panax GinsengView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- See the studies listed below for more information.
Browse 1 study
Clinical trialEffects of Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer saponins on male fertility1996n=66
In 66 oligoasthenospermic men, Panax ginseng extract increased sperm count, motility, and testosterone, LH, and FSH while lowering prolactin versus baseline.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Men with oligoasthenospermia
- Participants
- 66
ProbioticsView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Probiotics have no meaningful benefit for Testosterone.
Browse 1 study
RCTEffects of probiotic supplementation on testosterone levels in healthy ageing men: A 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial2024
In 55–65-year-old men, Limosilactobacillus reuteri supplementation for 12 weeks did not raise testosterone versus placebo, though high-dose reduced triglycerides.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Men
- Ages
- 20–70
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tongkat Ali | ★★★★★52% | 5 | 1 | 45% |
| Boron | ★★★★★44% | 2 | 0 | 18% |
| Ashwagandha | ★★★★★56% | 1 | 0 | 9% |
| Panax Ginseng | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 9% |
| Probiotics | ★★★★★32% | 1 | 0 | 9% |
| Rhodiola | ★★★★★48% | 1 | 0 | 9% |