Testosterone boosters are supplements that promote the production of testosterone.
Testosterone boosters are primarily used by men over 30 to compensate for the natural decline in testosterone production that occurs after that age.
There are scores of testosterone boosters on the market today. Some are extremely effective. Others are little more than caffeine pills.
We examined dozens of the most popular brands and determined that the following are the best testosterone boosters of 2020.
Rankings
1. TestoFuel
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TestoFuel has found favor with a lot of guys because it works. It enables your body to make more effective use of the testosterone it produces by blocking estrogen production. TestoFuel contains the key ingredients fenugreek, zinc, and the B-complex vitamins, and is free of harmful additives.
What we like: TestoFuel includes fenugreek, which studies show increases serum testosterone, amino acids that are so important to building strong, resilient muscles, and magnesium to enhance metabolic activity across the board.
Flaws: It is unlikely but possible that TestoFuel may interact with some medications.
2. Prime Male
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Prime Male addresses the issue of testosterone deficiency head-on. It includes the known testosterone boosters D-aspartic acid and bioperine. There is also magnesium, which has a unique relationship with testosterone in that they bolster each other’s effectiveness.
What we like: The list of ingredients is impressive with the aforementioned D-aspartic acid, bioperine, and magnesium. It’s a formula that directly enhances testosterone production while simultaneously stunting the effects of estrogen.
Flaws: Should you want a refund for some reason, be mindful any bottles you return must be unopened.
3. TestoGen
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Testogen provides pretty much everything we want to see in a testosterone booster and none of the nonsense we don’t want to see. It addresses testosterone deficiency in older guys, while at the same time giving younger guys the testosterone boost they need to excel in the gym.
What we like: TestoGen provides a mosaic of essential ingredients that enhance testosterone production. These include proven testosterone booster fenugreek, along with D-aspartic acid, B-complex vitamins, boron, magnesium, and more.
Flaws: Boron has been known to produce upset stomach in some people.
4. EVLTEST
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EVLTEST provides the ingredients you need to bolster testosterone production so you can raise your performance in the gym and get your mojo back at the same time. Young guys will love its muscle-building capabilities, older guys will appreciate that it restores that youthful vitality.
What we like: The makers of EVLTEST have left no stone unturned in their quest to produce an effective testosterone booster. There’s fenugreek, magnesium, D-aspartic acid, zinc, vitamin B6, and more.
Flaws: The company’s claims that Evltest will help you sleep better need to be taken with a grain of salt.
5. Tribulus
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Tribulus terrestris is a botanical that has been shown to enhance muscular size and performance in under a month. Tribulus from Arazo Nutrition goes all-in on this testo booster with 1500 mg per capsule and nothing else. If you are looking strictly to bulk up, this testosterone booster will help you do it.
What we like: Arazo Nutrition gets right to the point by providing 1500 mg of tribulus per capsule. Tribulus helps the body boost testosterone production while also helping to stabilize blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
Flaws: Despite reports to the contrary, scientific tests have shown that tribulus will not cause an athlete to test positive for banned substances.
6. Nugenix Total-T
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Nugenix takes a two-sided approach to the issue of elevating testosterone. On the one hand, it provides plenty of the testosterone-boosting fenugreek. On the other, it encourages enhanced blood circulation so that the increased testosterone levels can be put to effective use.
What we like: Nugenix Total-T provides a robust 600 mg of fenugreek per capsule. It complements that with zinc, B-vitamins, boron, and more to stimulate production and facilitate testosterone’s metabolic action.
Flaws: Those with kidney problems should consult their doctor before taking anything with boron.
7. Force Factor Test X180 Ignite
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Normally we shun supplements that do not lay out in black and white exactly how much of what they provide. Force Factor gets coy with their ingredient amounts, but the overwhelming support the supplement gets from users overrode our natural skepticism of proprietary blends in this case.
What we like: Each X180 capsule provides 400 mg of Testofen, a composite ingredient composed of fenugreek, horny goat weed, and green tea leaf extract. Between them, they increase testosterone production while enhancing libido.
Flaws: You do not know exactly how much of what you are getting.
8. Animal Stak – Natural Hormone Booster Supplement
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Animal Stak has perhaps the most comprehensive ingredient list you will find. There is everything from fenugreek to enhance testosterone production and amino acids to aid in muscle building and workout recovery.
What we like: There is no denying the manufacturer put a lot of thought into the formulation of this product. It attempts to be all things to all men and almost succeeds.
Flaws: If you are a vegan or into all-natural ingredients, this is not the supplement for you.
9. High T Black Total Testosterone Booster
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High T Black Total Testosterone Booster provides proven testosterone enhancer fenugreek along with metabolic facilitators L-citrulline malate and zinc. It can be used to enhance workouts or to restore balance to testosterone levels decimated by time.
What we like: This is a well-balanced formula that boosts testosterone levels without saddling you with lots of superfluous ingredients. There is even a bit of ginseng for enhanced mental clarity.
Flaws: The product claims to be caffeine-free, but one of the ingredients is green tea extract, which contains some caffeine.
10. Testo Extreme Anabolic
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The word ‘anabolic’ is widely misunderstood to mean ‘steroid’. In reality, anabolic just refers to the metabolic process of creating complex compounds from simple ones. Testo Extreme Anabolic gets its name because it encourages the process of testosterone production, not because it’s a steroid.
What we like: Even protein has anabolic properties, so don’t get turned off by the name of this product. Testo Extreme Anabolic is a potent natural testosterone booster that will provide young and not so young men with enhanced all-around vitality.
Flaws: Some of the marketing shows a syringe-like object, but it is not a needle. You simply use it to draw some product from the bottle and deposit it under your tongue.
Who Needs Testosterone Boosters?
In a sense, virtually every man over 30 could benefit from taking a testosterone booster. That’s because as men age, their body produces less and less testosterone. Some might argue that it is best just to let nature take its course. But there is a price to pay for doing so.
Reduced testosterone levels are responsible for a whole slew of problems that befall men as they age. That includes sexual dysfunction, memory loss, fatigue, muscle loss, osteoporosis, depression, and more. Simply letting nature run its course is to consign oneself to misery later in life.
But older guys are not the only ones who can benefit from testosterone boosters. If you are in your 20s and want to achieve a muscular physique, testosterone boosters are a safe and effective way to build bigger, stronger muscles.
So who needs testosterone boosters? Any adult male who wants to make the most of their life.
How We Ranked
Testosterone tends to make a man feel stronger and in charge of his life. So there are some supplement makers who look for shortcuts to those effects. The easiest way for them to create the illusion of power is to load their testosterone booster up with caffeine. But we’re not looking for shortcuts. So we eliminated any testosterone boosters that delivered large doses of caffeine.
We also shunned those products that were heavy in additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. These ingredients add nothing of value to the product. And may well generate an adverse reaction of some kind in the user.
In addition, we are always on the lookout for proprietary blends. The proprietary blend designation was invented by the FDA in response to supplement makers who complained that the agency’s full disclosure policies would force them to reveal trade secrets. But it wasn’t long before unscrupulous supplement makers were using the label to mask shortfalls in their products.
Today, the proprietary blend label is everywhere, sometimes masking genuine trade secrets, more often masking the inadequacies of this or that supplement. So if we felt a particular testosterone booster was overusing the proprietary blend label, it did not make our list.
Finally, we sifted through literally hundreds of user reviews to see if we could formulate a consensus about the different testosterone boosters. We understand that purported customer reviews should always be approached with a certain level of skepticism. Nonetheless, if 90 out of 100 users say a particular product does not work, that needs to be taken into account.
Benefits
Testosterone boosters can help you build muscle mass. This is the number one reason 20-somethings use testosterone boosters. But it is quickly becoming one of the most popular reasons older guys use them too. In recent years a lot of clinical evidence has emerged, demonstrating the immense value of weight training for older individuals (1). So regardless of your age, you should consider weight training and consider taking a testosterone booster to enhance the results.
Testosterone boosters enhance metabolic function. Testosterone plays many crucial metabolic roles. One of them is to aid in the production of red blood cells (2). While disease-fighting white blood cells tend to get all the press, red blood cells are crucial to your body’s normal functioning. They distribute oxygen to, and remove carbon dioxide from, bodily tissue, including your heart. Low testosterone leads to low red blood cell counts and decreased metabolic function throughout your body.
Testosterone boosters can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Muscles need oxygen to function, and your heart is the most important muscle in your body. Testosterone helps in the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. So it follows that anything that helps boost testosterone production would have a beneficial effect on the heart. Fortunately, recent studies (3) have confirmed that restoring normal testosterone levels can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Testosterone boosters help build stronger bones. When it comes to the male body, testosterone is just as important to bone density (4) as estrogen is to women. Low levels of testosterone increase the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Testosterone boosters can provide the increased testosterone levels your body needs to fend off chronic bone conditions and avoid life-altering fractures.
Testosterone boosters may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Scientists studying Alzheimer’s Disease discovered that many men suffering this debilitating condition have low levels of testosterone in their blood (5). This, of course, raised the question of whether testosterone supplements could be used to treat Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, subsequent studies suggest that is not the case (6). Apparently, in order to enjoy the anti-Alzheimer’s benefits of testosterone, you need to boost testosterone levels before the condition sets in. Once it has, it’s too late.
Testosterone boosters can help restore magnesium levels. Without magnesium, your body would essentially grind to a halt. This unsung mineral plays a key role in more than 300 different bodily processes. The precise interaction between magnesium and testosterone is complex in the extreme (7). But research indicates that the two are inextricably linked. Reduce the levels of one and the other suffers. Testosterone boosters can help raise magnesium levels and restore the proper balance between these to metabolic agents.
Testosterone boosters can enhance sexual performance. Testosterone plays a vital role in male sexual performance. Decreasing levels of testosterone in older men is a major cause of both decreased sexual desire and reduced performance (8). By boosting testosterone levels back to where they should be, most men will experience increased libido, enhanced erections, and more satisfying all-around sexual performance.
Testosterone boosters can produce a leaner, stronger you. As we have seen, testosterone boosters can help a man build larger, more powerful muscles regardless of his age. But there is an added benefit that comes with raising testosterone levels: decreased body fat. Large scale studies have confirmed this (9). And doctors today will often prescribe testosterone therapy for men wishing to lose weight.
Testosterone boosters may enhance your competitive spirit. It is likely that testosterone plays a significant role in male competitiveness. Now, that’s not to say there aren’t competitive women as well. There certainly are. But in general, males tend to be more naturally competitive than women. As such, male athletes looking for a competitive edge should consider testosterone boosters. They are legal, affordable, safe, and effective.
Testosterone boosters can improve your mood. Perhaps it has something to do with the ability of testosterone to promote the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the brain. Or perhaps it is something else. But researchers have discovered an apparent link between low levels of testosterone and various types of depression in men (10). Testosterone boosters can restore normal testosterone levels, improve mood, and perhaps even alleviate depression.
Testosterone boosters can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis in older men. When most people hear the word ‘osteoporosis’ (11) they think of women. And rightfully so. The vast majority of cases of this bone-wasting disease occur in women. But men are not entirely immune. In fact, several million American men have osteoporosis (12), and millions more are in danger of developing it. Testosterone plays a vital role in bone health. So testosterone boosters may help you fend off osteoporosis.
Testosterone boosters may help improve memory. All physical and mental functions suffer with age. How much is often a matter of how well a person takes care of themselves. Memory loss is common in older individuals and often linked to low levels of testosterone. There is evidence that boosting testosterone levels may improve memory (13).
Testosterone boosters may help fight depression. There is a slew of clinical evidence linking low testosterone levels to mood disorders and depression (14). The exact mechanism behind the link remains unclear, but it may have to do with the fact that testosterone binds to certain receptors in the central nervous system. Or it may be the result of poor overall health caused, at least in part, by insufficient levels of testosterone. In either case, boosting testosterone levels may have a therapeutic effect that alleviates depressive symptoms.
Testosterone boosters play a role in the development of alpha personalities. Just as testosterone can help make someone more competitive, it may also play a role in whether or not a man is driven to achieve. There is compelling evidence that those who get their way are those seething with testosterone-fueled traits such as competitiveness, sexual confidence, even a touch of arrogance (15). Sometimes such men do great things, sometimes all they do is mess up other people’s lives. But most can thank testosterone for their nature.
Testosterone boosters can enhance sexual confidence. Low testosterone levels are known to reduce libido and harm sexual performance. Restoring testosterone levels to normal can often go a long way in restoring a man’s normal sex drive. This, in turn, would (at least in theory) enhance that man’s confidence in his ability to perform when the opportunity presented itself.
Testosterone boosters will not transform you into a bully. If someone acts in an aggressive way they’re often said to be on a ‘testosterone-driven rage’. But that conclusion is now believed to be overly simplistic and scientifically invalid. Research indicates that people act more aggressive if they think they’ve been given a dose of testosterone than if they have actually been given a dose (16). This suggests most people have bought into a myth regarding testosterone and aggression.
Testosterone boosters may enhance your willingness to take risks. While testosterone may not turn you into a bully, it may make you more agreeable to taking risks. It is believed that men who possess high levels of testosterone are more willing to take chances than those with low testosterone levels. This is especially true if the man in question lacks in power or social status.
Testosterone boosters are safe. Commercial testosterone booster supplements have been around for some time now, and there is no evidence that they produce any odious side effects in otherwise healthy individuals when taken as directed. Unlike anabolic steroids that come with a laundry list of risk factors (17), testosterone boosters are considered safe for both short and long term use.
Testosterone boosters are affordable. More than that, they are an exceptional healthcare value. What else can you buy that costs about the same as a pair of jeans that will enhance your sex life, improve your memory, safeguard your heart, and possibly fend off the development of Alzheimer’s? Testosterone boosters can also make you more sexually confident and competitive while also helping you build a bigger, stronger physique. At the end of the day, it’s money well spent.
FAQs
Q: Are testosterone boosters steroids?
A: No. In fact, they are not even testosterone. Testosterone boosters act on your body in a way that promotes the production of the hormone testosterone. They are not hormones themselves, nor are they anabolic steroids.
Q: What happens when a man has low testosterone levels?
A: Low testosterone levels can lead to all types of health problems including reduced libido, difficulty sustaining an erection, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, loss of muscle mass, low sperm count, loss of physical stamina, increased amounts of body fat and more. In some men, low testosterone levels may lead to the development of enlarged breast tissue (18), a condition commonly referred to as ‘man boobs’.
Q: Should young guys take testosterone boosters?
A: That depends. If you are in your 20s and interested in building a more muscular physique, testosterone boosters can likely help. Otherwise, most 20-somethings already produce enough testosterone to meet their day to day needs. Once a guy passes 30, however, their testosterone production will start to slow (19). So a booster might make a lot of sense.
Q: Are testosterone boosters safe?
A: In many respects, supplement safety comes down to who is producing the supplement, and what ingredients they include. That said, even those testosterone boosters that contain iffy ingredients do not typically represent an imminent threat to life and limb. Certain of their ingredients, however, may pose a health risk if used regularly over long periods of time. For the above list, we vetted each product carefully to ensure no such potentially harmful ingredients were present.
Q: Do I have to take testosterone boosters every day for years?
A: Testosterone boosters are intended to compensate for low testosterone levels and therefore can, and probably should, be taken as a regular supplement. Taking them for just a short time does not make a lot of sense, unless you are young and just want to use them to help you get ripped. If you plan to take them for a long time, you may want to consider taking periodic breaks of a week or two. The best thing to do is discuss it with your doctor.
Q: Are supplements the only way to increase testosterone levels?
A: There are a few other things a person can do that may enhance their testosterone levels. Workouts – especially resistance training – can increase testosterone levels in both young and older men (20). Getting the right amount of sleep may also help. At least one study suggests that young men who do not get enough sleep experience significant drops in testosterone levels during the following day (21).
Q: Will testosterone boosters disqualify me from competition?
A: While the synthetic anabolic steroid ‘1-Testosterone’ (22) is banned by the World Doping Agency, testosterone boosters are not. Remember, testosterone boosters are not shots of testosterone. In fact, there is no testosterone in them. They simply promote the body’s natural production of testosterone.
Q: How long before I see results from a testosterone booster?
A: Lots of guys want instant results from their testosterone booster. But it doesn’t work that way. Testosterone boosters are not Viagra. It’s not a matter of taking a pill, waiting 20 minutes and… presto! Testosterone boosters slowly increase the amount of testosterone in your system over weeks and months. The good news is that you should start to see results within two or three weeks. Be patient.
Q: Is it true testosterone boosters can harm your liver?
A: This rumor has been floating around for a while, but we are happy to say that, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there is no evidence of a link between testosterone boosters and liver problems (23).
Q: Can older men benefit from testosterone boosters?
A: Absolutely. Reduced testosterone production is a common problem in aging men (24). Traditionally it was written off at ‘the natural way of things’, but scientists are now beginning to understand the extent of the toll low testosterone levels take on the average man’s body and mind. Decreased libido, memory loss, reduced physical strength, reduced bone strength, depression, irritability, and more are all thought to be associated with low testosterone levels.
Q: Do testosterone boosters produce any side effects?
A: Most of the ‘side effects’ a man will feel from testosterone boosters will be positive: enhanced memory, greater strength, increased sex drive, etc. Negative side effects are possible when using testosterone boosters, however. In many cases, though, these side effects are in reaction to supplement ingredients, not to increased testosterone. Ingredients like horny goat weed are known to create rapid heartbeat and dizziness (25) in some people.
Q: Can testosterone boosters cure ED?
A: There is copious evidence that boosting testosterone levels can increase a man’s sex drive and performance. The clinical, as well as anecdotal evidence in this matter, is clear. So if you are looking for a way to improve sexual performance, testosterone boosters may well help. However, low testosterone is only one of about two dozen possible causes of ED (26). Therefore men dealing with that vexing condition should consult their doctor before putting all their faith in testosterone boosters.
Q: Will testosterone boosters give me prostate cancer?
A: No. This myth began circulating some 70-80 years ago, and no one is quite sure where it originated. Numerous scientific studies have concluded that there is no definitive link between elevated testosterone levels and prostate cancer (27). In fact, those same studies suggested pretty strongly that there may be a link between low testosterone levels and prostate cancer.
Q: Will testosterone boosters make me angry all the time?
A: This myth most likely began because of the confusion between testosterone and steroids. Pretty much everyone has heard of ‘roid rage’: that state men on steroids allegedly enter where they are unable to control their angry, aggressive feelings. But testosterone boosters are not steroids. Also, recent studies have thoroughly debunked the whole notion of roid rage (28) and associated excess aggression to the fact that many steroid users also use other drugs like meth and cocaine.
Q: Can testosterone boosters really reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s?
A: Human physiology is extremely complex, and there are no guarantees when it comes to anything. That said, studies have strongly suggested that low testosterone levels may be linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease (29) in men. This is an important finding and certainly points to the value of older men seeking out ways to boost their testosterone levels.
Q: Who can use testosterone boosters?
A: Testosterone boosters can be used by any reasonably healthy adult male. Both young and not so young guys take these supplements, but typically for entirely different reasons. Young guys usually partake of testosterone supplements to get more from their weight training. Older guys typically take it to simply make up for the natural shortfall in testosterone production that comes with age. Although a lot of older guys these days are also getting into weight training (30) and use testosterone boosters to help with that as well.
Q: How do I take a testosterone booster?
A: Unlike steroids that are often administered via a syringe, most testosterone boosters come in capsule or tablet form. A few are available in powder form that you mix with your favorite non-carbonated beverage. And still others take the form of a liquid that is administered sublingually, that is, you place a drop or two under your tongue. Which one is right for you only you can decide.
Q: Do I need to take anything else with the testosterone booster?
A: Guys often wonder if testosterone boosters are stand-alone supplements or if they need to take something else to activate it. The fact is, testosterone boosters do not need to be bolstered by other supplements. But if you want to get the most out of them, you will make sure you eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, and stay within the recommended dosage.
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Recap
Testosterone boosters are an effective, safe, and affordable way for men to get more from their workouts, enhance their sexual performance, and secure a higher degree of long term health. They do not require a prescription, are easily obtained and can be of assistance to men of all ages.
The best testosterone boosters, like those on the above list, do not contain any questionable ingredients, do not produce any adverse side effects, and do not require any complementary supplements to activate them.
If you suspect you suffer from low testosterone, or are looking for a safe and effective way to enhance the results of your weight training, testosterone boosters can help. Use the above information to determine which testosterone booster is right for you.
For cpoe.org’s #1 recommended testosterone booster, click here.