Supplements

Here at Amino Z, we are always on the lookout for new supplements that are not only making a splash in the health industry, but actually have some evidence to support their use -- and one type that has been making the rounds of late are MCT oil supplements.

But what are they, and do you need to be taking them?

What are MCTs?

In short, MCT stands for “medium-chain triglycerides,” and they are a unique type of fat found in things like coconut oil.

In fact, you could probably blame MCTs for the coconut oil craze we have seen sweep the fitness industry over the last few years… but that is a topic for another day.

Now, what are MCTs?

Well, firstly the word triglycerides is the technical term that we use for fat. In most circumstances, triglycerides serve one of two main purposes -- they are either burned for energy, or stored as body fat.

It is important to note that all triglycerides are composed of a single glycerol molecule, and three fatty acid molecules. However, the number of carbon atoms attached to these fatty acids molecules dictates the type triglyceride.

Most of the fat you consume on a daily basis is made up of long-chain fatty acids, which contain 13–21 carbon atoms. On the other hand, short-chain fatty acids are composed of fewer than 6 carbon atoms.

And then we have the medium-chain fatty acids found in MCTs, which contain between 6 and 12 carbon atoms.

The primary medium-chain fatty acids found in our diet are:

• Caproic acid or hexanoic acid (6 carbon atoms)
• Caprylic acid or octanoic acid (8 carbon atoms
• Capric acid or decanoic acid (10 carbon atoms)
• Lauric acid or dodecanoic acid (12 carbon atoms)

All of which have been shown to have a number of positive effects on the body -- but more on that later.

What are MCT Oil Supplements?

With all this in mind, MCT Oil is a highly concentrated source of medium-chain triglycerides.

MCT oil is made through a very unique process called “fractionation”, which involves extracting and isolating the MCTs from coconut oil, and then collecting them in their own form of oil.

Most good quality MCT oils generally contain either 100% caprylic acid, 100% capric acid, or a combination of the two. The reason  being that these two particular medium-chain fatty acids appear to have the most positive impacts on health and function.

Now, given the fact that MCT oil does come in oil form, your ability to consume it can be somewhat limited -- which is what led to the development of MCT oil supplements such as MCT oil powder and capsules.

These very simply offer MCT oil in a more “user friendly” format.

MCT Oil Benefits

Now, the reason that MCT oil supplements have become so popular is because medium-chain triglycerides appear to be metabolised differently to many of the other triglycerides found in the food you eat.

And this can have some interesting effects on your body.

1.   Faster Fat Loss

When it comes to fat loss, there is no magic bullet -- the key comes down to making sure that you exercise regularly and maintain a consistent energy deficit over the duration of weeks and months.

However, it does appear that MCT oil supplements can make the fat loss process easier [1].

The supplementation of MCT oil has been shown to increase the release of two hormones known as “peptide YY” and “leptin.” These two hormones can increase feelings of fullness and satiety, which can make it easier to adhere to a diet.

In fact, research has shown that those individuals who use MCT oil supplements daily tend to snack less throughout the day, all while experiencing lower hunger signals and greater reductions in body weight and waist circumference.

Again, it is not magic, but it will help.

2.   Better Exercise Performance

There is even some evidence to suggest that MCT oil can improve training performance in a big way by preventing the accumulation of lactate in your muscle tissue [2].

Research has demonstrated that athletes who take MCT before exercise generate lower levels of lactate, while simultaneously reporting that the exercise felt easier, compared to those taking other fatty acid supplements.

This may have the potential to improve the quality of your training sessions, causing increases in training volume and better gains in strength, size, and fat loss.

3.   Enhanced Brain Function

One of the more interesting effects associated with MCT supplementation comes down to ketones [3].

When MCTs are metabolized for energy, they produce ketones as a bit of a byproduct.  However, far from being useless, these ketones actually act as an alternative energy source for the cells within your brain.

This has been shown to improve brain function and mental acuity.

Interestingly, this finding has led to some research exploring the potential application for MCT oil as a treatment and preventative for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

From a training perspective, this is likely to cause improvements in focus and attention that can improve the quality of your training sessions -- leading to more progress of the duration of a longer term block of training.

4.   Lower Blood Cholesterol

Moving away from performance and more into the realm of “health”, MCT oil supplements have also been shown to cause some significant alterations in blood cholesterol levels.

More specifically, they appear to lower LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL cholesterol. This is quite important because high LDL cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, while HDL appears to prevent its onset.

As a result, MCT oil supplements could offer a very useful way to stave off heart disease and keep you healthy and lifting well into your golden years.

5.   Improved Blood Sugar

Finally, research has also shown that MCT is can lower resting blood sugar levels [5].

High blood sugar levels are one of the primary factors that contribute to the onset of diabetes, which is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world as we know it. Moreover, high blood sugar may lead to reductions in insulin sensitivity, which could blunt recovery after exercise.

This means that MCT oil supplements may not only prevent your risk of disease, but also enhance your recovery after training -- making them a great option for anyone interested in this whole health and fitness thing.

MCT Oil Side Effects

On a positive note, there is no evidence to suggest that MCT oil interacts in a negative manner with other medications, nor that any serious side effects are associated with its consumption. Although, some minor side effects have been reported.

These include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pains
• Slightly upset stomach

It is also important to note that most of these can be avoided by simply starting with lower doses, which you can increase gradually as you become accustomed to MCTs.

And of course, if you are considering adding a MCT oil supplement to your routine, we would recommend you talk with a medical professional first. As safe as it is, you want to make sure that it is a good fit for you on an individual level.

Summary

MCT oils have become one of the most commonly used health supplements on the planet.

Used by elite athletes, weekend warriors, and general pundits alike, they appear to offer a useful and effective method of increasing fat loss, boosting exercise and mental performance, and reducing your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

As an added bonus, they also appear to be very well tolerated -- although you should always seek advice from a healthcare professional first.

References:

1. St-Onge, Marie-Pierre, and Aubrey Bosarge. "Weight-loss diet that includes consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerol oil leads to a greater rate of weight and fat mass loss than does olive oil." The American journal of clinical nutrition 87.3 (2008): 621-626.
2. Gomes, Rodrigo Vitasovic, and Marcelo Saldanha Aoki. "Does medium chain triglyceride play an ergogenic role in endurance exercise performance?." Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte 9.3 (2003): 162-168.
3. Liu, Yeou?mei Christiana. "Medium?chain triglyceride (MCT) ketogenic therapy." Epilepsia 49 (2008): 33-36.
4. Kaunitz, Hans. "Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in aging and arteriosclerosis." Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology: official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer 6.3-4 (1986): 115-121.
5. Khodabakhshi, Adeleh, et al. "Feasibility, safety, and beneficial effects of MCT-based ketogenic diet for breast cancer treatment: a randomized controlled trial study." Nutrition and cancer 72.4 (2020): 627-634.

When it comes to supplements, protein powder should sit at the very top of your list.

See, if your goal relates to building muscle, developing strength, and getting the most out of your training, making sure that your protein intake is sufficient is absolutely integral.

In short, if you are not providing your body with enough protein to repair and rebuild after training, then you are leaving gains on the table -- and when it comes to protein supplements, micellar casein is a great option.

What is Casein?

Casein is a particular type of protein that is derived from dairy milk.

Casein in its entirety is considered to be a “complete protein” source, which means that it provides your body with a full array of essential amino acids (i.e. the building blocks of your cells), rather than just one or two.

Now, dairy milk has various components, including water, lactose, vitamins and minerals, and finally, some very distinct proteins -- one of which is casein.

The kicker is that casein is found in the solid part of the milk, which makes it difficult to obtain -- unless we are making cheese.

When cheese is made, it starts off as dairy milk, before undergoing a number of unique production processes. During these processes, the liquid component of the milk is separated from the solid to make it thicker. And then finally, the thickest curds are fully extracted to ensure it does not go lumpy.

While these curds were once considered to be a useless by-product of cheese production, they are now washed and dried to create casein protein powder.

What is Micellar Casein?

Something that is worth addressing is the fact that once casein is extracted from the milk it can be turned into one of three types of casein based protein powders.

The first is Calcium caseinate.

You can think of this as pure casein. It is very simply the protein extracted from the solid portion of milk (i.e. the curds), which then gets purified before being sold as a supplement.

Because it has undergone minimal processing, it is not all that well absorbed. Subsequently, it is considered to be the lowest quality form of casein supplement, and is more commonly used as a food ingredient.

Second on the list we have Micellar casein.

Micellar Casein undergoes an extensive purification process, making it the most well absorbed type of casein protein available. Interestingly, because it is derived from curds, micellar casein actually clumps a little in the stomach.

While this may not sound like a good thing, it is very beneficial because it allows the protein content of the powder to be released gradually into your muscle tissue over the course of six to  seven hours.

It is this slow rate of digestion that arguably makes casein such a desirable supplement. Taking micellar casein before bed can keep muscle protein synthesis high over the duration of the night, leading to better recovery and growth.

If you are after a “pure” casein supplement, then micellar casein is the perfect choice.

Last on the list we have milk protein powder.

Milk protein is a unique type of protein powder that actually contains both casein and whey protein (a different type of dairy-based protein powder).

With this in mind, it is composed of about 80 percent casein, and 20 percent whey. The addition of whey makes milk protein faster digesting that micellar casein -- which means it might make a slightly better option post workout.

Nutritional Information of Micellar Casein

As with most protein powders, micellar casein is full of protein (duh), while also containing very small amounts of fats and carbohydrates. While the precise breakdown of these differs slightly between brands, you can guarantee that they will be more similar than they are different.

For example, the Amino Z micellar casein contains 81.5 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbohydrates, and 1.3 grams of fat, per 100 grams of protein powder.

All of which suggests that a single serving of micellar casein will give you a potent dose of amino acids that your body can use to make gains.

The Benefits of Micellar Casein

As I have already alluded to, taking a micellar casein supplement on a regular basis can offer a number of significant benefits.

1.   Improved Muscle Growth

Arguably the biggest positive associated with micellar casein supplementation relates to its ability to increase protein intake, and consequently improve muscle growth.

A recently published meta-analysis combined the results of 49 individual studies and found that the minimal protein intake required to maximise muscle growth is about 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, per day [1].

And please note that I said this was the minimum amount to optimise muscle growth.

Further research has indicated that going as high as 2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight may have additional benefits [2] -- especially for people who are actively trying to maintain as much muscle as possible while maximising fat loss.

This means that if you weigh 80kgs, you should be eating somewhere between 128 and 176 grams of protein each day.

As a result, consuming micellar casein can have an immediate impact on your rate of muscle growth by ensuring you are reaching your daily protein targets.

2.   Better Recovery

This point builds upon the previous one in a fairly logical manner.

Protein is essential for the repair of damaged muscle tissue. While this has obvious implications for muscle growth, it also facilitates recovery after training.

Importantly, because micellar casein is absorbed slowly into the body, it provides a steady stream of amino acids into the bloodstream that can be used for muscle recovery. As a result, it makes it the perfect option to speed up recovery between training sessions.

Over the long term this can have huge implications for your progress, because it ensures that all of your training sessions are completed at a high intensity, and not impacted negatively by fatigue.

3.   Reduced Risk of Disease and Illness

Our last benefit is a little bit unique -- but that does not make it any less important.

Micellar casein contains several unique compounds that can have some huge benefits with respect to your general health and function.

Casein is full to the brim of unique bioactive peptides that have been shown to improve immune system function and digestive system health [3]. This will not only improve your ability to absorb the nutrients in the food you eat, but is also likely to stop you getting sick -- which is a great way to keep training consistently year round.

Moreover, some of these compounds have also been shown to lower blood pressure, which has a very positive impact on your cardiovascular health [4].

While this may not sound that important when it comes to making gains, it does suggest that micellar casein could have some significant benefits on keeping you disease free -- which is the key to making progress well into your eighties.

So, if you are interested in both maximising progress and optimising health, this is your answer.

Closing Comments

Casein is a unique type of protein that has some seriously positive benefits when it comes to maximising muscle growth, enhancing post exercise recovery, and even improving immune system function and cardiovascular health.

And micellar casein is hands down the most effective type of casein protein supplement -- so if you want to take your results to the next level, look no further.

References

1. Morton, Robert W., et al. "A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults." British journal of sports medicine 52.6 (2018): 376-384.
2. Stokes, Tanner, et al. "Recent perspectives regarding the role of dietary protein for the promotion of muscle hypertrophy with resistance exercise training." Nutrients 10.2 (2018): 180.
3. Mohanty, D. P., et al. "Milk derived bioactive peptides and their impact on human health–A review." Saudi journal of biological sciences 23.5 (2016): 577-583.
4. Fekete, Ágnes A., D. Ian Givens, and Julie A. Lovegrove. "Casein-derived lactotripeptides reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials." Nutrients 7.1 (2015): 659-681.

There are so many different supplements available on the market these days that it can be hard to know where to start.

I mean, with new options appearing almost daily, the industry has become saturated with compounds that don't actually have a whole lot of research to support their use -- which is why we pride ourselves on providing high-quality information on evidence backed supplements that actually work.

Supplements like carnitine, for example.

What is Carnitine?

Carnitine is a specific type of nutrient that plays a very important role in the human body. In this manner, it helps in the production of energy by transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria of your cells.

You can think of your mitochondria as the engines within your cells. They burn fatty acids to create usable energy for muscle contractions and cellular processes.

It is important to note that your body actually has the capacity to produce carnitine using the amino acids “lysine” and “methionine”. However, for your body to successfully make carnitine in sufficient amounts, you also need to have adequate Vitamin C available.

Moreover, you can also obtain small amounts of carnitine by eating animal products like meat or fish. Although you should be aware that most people don't actually consume enough carnitine or Vitamin C on a daily basis to maximise its availability -- which can lead to naturally lower levels of carnitine in the body.

It is for this reason that supplementing with carnitine can be so effective.

This is especially important for Vegans or people who follow a meat free diet, as it can further impact upon their natural carnitine levels.

Types of Carnitine

When we talk about carnitine, we are most often talking about the specific compound “L-carnitine”, which is the standard biologically active form of carnitine found in your body and in the food you eat.

Here are three other types of carnitine that you should be aware of:

• D-carnitine: is an inactive form of carnitine that may actually lead to the onset of a carnitine deficiency in your body by blunting the absorption of other forms of carnitine
• Acetyl-L-carnitine: is a form of carnitine that appears to be particularly effective in the cells of your brain
• Propionyl-L-carnitine: is a form that appears to be well-suited for circulatory issues, such as peripheral vascular disease and high blood pressure
• L-carnitine L-tartrate: is the form of carnitine most commonly added to sports supplements due to its rapid absorption rate.

When it comes to supplementation, both Acetyl-L-carnitine and L-carnitine appear to be the most well-absorbed, and by extension, the most effective.

What are the Benefits of Carnitine?

Given that carnitine plays a number of very important roles in the human body, it should stand to reason that its supplementation can offer a number of unique benefits -- which is very much the case when you take a look at the research.

1.   Carnitine improves fat loss

As we have already discussed in detail, carnitine plays an integral role helping transport fatty acids into the cells of your mitochondria, which ultimately allows them to be broken down for usable energy.

This means that supplementing with Carnitine can actually increase the rate at which you break down fatty tissue for energy, while simultaneously increasing the amount of fat you use to create energy [1].

This can lead to a greater proportion of the energy you burn every day coming from fat, which over time, can increase fat loss.

Now, the caveat here is that for you to actually lose weight, you still need to be in a sustained energy deficit over weeks or months, which can only be created through diet and exercise.

However, carnitine can make getting into a deficit easier.

2.   Carnitine boosts brain function

Interestingly, carnitine may also offer some potent benefits to brain function [2].

A large body of research in animals has shown that the supplementation of L-carnitine can help prevent age-related declines in mental function, while simultaneously enhancing various markers of learning.

More importantly, human studies indicate that taking acetyl-L-carnitine can actually reverse the decline in brain function associated with numerous brain diseases, while simultaneously improving many of the cognitive functions related to attention and memory.

While this may not seem like a huge deal for those of you whose main goal is to get as swole as possible, I firmly believe that it does offer some benefit by increasing your focus in the gym.

This could conceivably improve performance, leading to better gains.

3.   Carnitine helps your heart

Carnitine has also been shown to elicit a vasodilation effect in the human body, which means it makes your veins and arteries relax and widen. This facilitates blood flow throughout your body, essentially reducing how hard your heart is required to work.

With this in mind, supplementing with carnitine has been shown to cause reductions in blood pressure, and even prevent many of the inflammatory markers that are thought to contribute to heart disease [3].

Again, while this may not get you jacked in the short term, it is going to go a very long way to keep you training all the way into your nineties -- which can only be a good thing.

4.   Carnitine enhances exercise performance and recovery

Lastly, the long term supplementation of carnitine appears to impact exercise performance and recovery.

By improving fat metabolism, carnitine appears to have an impact on your body's energy production efficiency. This alone can have a net positive effect on your exercise performance by improving the amount of energy you have available to produce muscle contractions.

Moreover, by increasing blood flow to the working muscle tissue, carnitine can enhance the movement of oxygen to your muscle cells. This also leads to improvements in exercise performance, which over time, can translate to better training progress [4].

And importantly, this increase in blood flow also has an impact on recovery [5].

By increasing blood flow to your muscles after you finish training, carnitine can facilitate the transportation of essential nutrients into your muscle cells. This can speed up the recovery process, reducing muscle soreness, and getting you ready to train at your best again faster.

Talk about a win-win.

Is Carnitine Safe?

As carnitine is simply an amino acid found within the human body, its supplementation appears to be very safe.

In fact, in a recent study, people who took 3 grams every day for 21 days experienced no negative effects at all [6] -- suggesting that it is extremely well tolerated in moderate to higher dosages.

It is important to note that in a very small subset of the population carnitine has been reported to cause a couple of side effects, including:

• Stomach discomfort
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• A fishy body odor
• Abdominal cramps
• Feelings of nausea

Some people also suggest that the supplementation of high doses of carnitine without breaks over years may increase your risk of developing plaque buildup on your arteries, which would contribute to heart disease -- however, more research is needed to prove that is the case.

As always, if you are interested in supplementing with carnitine, we would recommend you seek advice from a medical professional first -- just in case.

Summary

Carnitine is a potent supplement that can aid in fat loss, boost mental performance, improve the health of your heart, increase exercise performance, and even enhance recovery after exercise -- all of which can lead to better gains.

This makes it a great choice, and one of the most well researched options on the market.

References

1. Pekala, Jolanta, et al. "L-carnitine-metabolic functions and meaning in humans life." Current drug metabolism 12.7 (2011): 667-678.
2. Badrasawi, Manal, et al. "Efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation on frailty status and its biomarkers, nutritional status, and physical and cognitive function among prefrail older adults: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial." Clinical interventions in aging 11 (2016): 1675.
3. Adeva?Andany, María M., et al. "Significance of l?carnitine for human health." IUBMB life 69.8 (2017): 578-594.
4. Brass, Eric P. "Supplemental carnitine and exercise." The American journal of clinical nutrition 72.2 (2000): 618S-623S.
5. Huang, Amy, and Kevin Owen. "Role of supplementary L-carnitine in exercise and exercise recovery." Acute Topics in Sport Nutrition. Vol. 59. Karger Publishers, 2012. 135-142.
6. Rubin, Martyn R., et al. "Safety measures of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation in healthy men." Journal of strength and conditioning research 15.4 (2001): 486-490.

There are a few supplements in the health and fitness industry that have stood the test of time. Supplements that are commonplace amongst top level bodybuilders, weekend warriors, and regular gym goers alike.

And Citrulline malate is one of them.

But what is it, and what does it do?

Citrulline Malate

Citrulline is a specific type of amino acid found in the human body that also appears naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including watermelon, squash, cucumber, pumpkin, rockmelon, and honeydew melon.

As an amino acid, citrulline is considered to be “nonessential” because your body actually has the capacity to produce some of its own.

However, your body's ability to make citrulline is predicated on having adequate nutrients available to facilitate its production. With this in mind, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that supplementing with additional citrulline can offer a number of unique benefits.

Which is where citrulline malate enters the equation -- in which it describes a type of citrulline supplement that is easily digested into the human body.

What does citrulline do?

Citrulline is an important amino acid that plays a number of different roles in the human body.

It is most well known for its role in the “urea cycle”, which is the process by which your body eliminates numerous harmful compounds. As a result, citrulline is integral to keeping your body healthy and toxin free.

Moreover, citrulline can also help dilate your blood vessels, which increase blood flow, and may even enhance exercise performance and aid in the development of new muscle tissue -- which leads us to our next section quite nicely.

Citrulline malate benefits

As I have already alluded to, Citrulline malate is simply a supplement form of citrulline. This means that it offers a great way to increase the amount of citrulline in your body beyond what it would normally produce.

And this can have some serious benefits.

1.   Better Gym Performance

Citrulline is a vasodilator -- which means it helps relax and widen your blood vessels. This can increase blood flow throughout your body and to your muscle tissue, enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients.

With this in mind, several studies have clearly demonstrated that citrulline malate can improve weight training performance. It appears to do this by increasing the number of repetitions you can perform at a given workload [1].

For example, without taking citrulline malate you might be able to bench press three sets of ten reps at 100kgs. Then with citrulline malate, you might be able to perform three sets of twelve reps using 100kgs.

While being able to lift more is obviously cool, its benefits extend far beyond that.

Increasing the number of reps you perform within your training session causes a subsequent increase in training volume. Over time, this can lead to marked improvements in muscle growth and muscle strength.

All of which means that citrulline malate could be one of the best options to take your training to the next level.

2.   Better Recovery

In conjunction with better exercise performance, the enhanced blood flow associated with citrulline malate supplementation will also improve your recovery after exercise [2].

By increasing the movement of proteins and nutrients into your muscle tissue after training, citrulline malate ensures that your body has everything it needs to repair and grow stronger. This can lead to faster recovery between sessions, combined with a reduction in muscle soreness.

Again, the big thing here is that improved recovery between training sessions will ensure that the quality of your training stays high year round -- which can cause substantial improvements in strength and size over a longer term training block.

3.    Lower Blood Pressure

Our last benefit deviates slightly away from the realm of exercise, and moves into the realm of health.

Because citrulline malate acts as a vasodilator, its supplementation can make it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout your body. As a result, it can lead to marked reductions in blood pressure, and improvements in cardiovascular health [3].

This can reduce your risk of heart disease, which will go a very long way to keep you training at the top of your game for years to come.

Citrulline Malate Dosing

So, how much should you take?

Research has shown that taking between 3 and 8 grams of citrulline malate about 60 minutes before exercise is adequate to improve exercise performance. Moreover, taking similar amounts every day can cause lasting effects in heart health.

With this in mind, we would suggest you start on the lower side and work your way up gradually to make sure you tolerate it well.

And of course, always seek advice from a medical professional before supplementation to make sure that it is safe for you to do so.

Take Home Message

Citrulline malate matt very well be one of the most potent supplements on the market. With the potential to improve gym performance, boost your recovery between sessions, and even enhance the health of your heart, it is a great choice.

References

1. Gonzalez, Adam M., and Eric T. Trexler. "Effects of citrulline supplementation on exercise performance in humans: A review of the current literature." The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 34.5 (2020): 1480-1495.
2. Sureda, Antoni, and Antoni Pons. "Arginine and citrulline supplementation in sports and exercise: ergogenic nutrients?." Acute topics in sport nutrition 59 (2012): 18-28.
3. Orozco-Gutiérrez, Juan José, et al. "Effect of L-arginine or L-citrulline oral supplementation on blood pressure and right ventricular function in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction." Cardiology journal 17.6 (2010): 612-618.

Testosterone is hands down the most anabolic hormone in the human body. It plays important roles in the metabolism of fat for energy, helps increase the production of bone, ligament, and tendon tissue, and of course, it also promotes muscle growth.

With this in mind, if your testosterone levels are low, you are leaving gains on the table.

Which is the reason why testosterone boosting supplements have become so popular amongst top level bodybuilders and weekend warriors alike.

The Testosterone Dilemma

When it comes to testosterone boosting supplements, there is strong rationale to suggest that they will not work for everyone.

In fact, most of the science would indicate that they are most effective for people who have naturally low levels of testosterone. Within this, they appear to have a small positive impact on people with moderate levels of testosterone, and little to no impact on people with naturally high levels of testosterone.

Which makes sense.

I mean, if your testosterone levels are high, your body will not increase its levels beyond that upper limit because there is no real need to do so (even if you are taking testosterone boosting supplements).

The thing I want to point out is that we are currently facing a testosterone dilemma.

Over the last 50 years we have seen the testosterone levels of the population drop by around 1% per year. Just to be clear, I don't mean that the testosterone levels of individuals are dropping by this amount [1].

I mean this in the sense that your average 30 year old male in 1991 would have had about 30 percent more testosterone than a 30 year old man in 2021 -- indicating that testosterone levels are decreasing at a population level.

While this does not mean that you are sure to have low testosterone, it would indicate that your chances of having low testosterone are higher than expected -- and a testosterone boosting supplement might be a good way to cover all your bases.

Best Testosterone Boosting Supplements

Now, the key thing to know here is that not all testosterone boosters are created equal. There are a number of supplements out there that include a mix of ingredients that have very little research to support their use.

As such, if you want to try a testosterone boosting supplement, you want to make sure that it contains some of the following ingredients.

1.   Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is a small leafy plant that is commonly referred to as “puncture vine” or “devil's thorn”.

This distinct plant is found growing throughout parts of the Mediterranean, India, Vietnam, China, Spain, and Mexico. With this in mind, it has been used in traditional eastern medicinal practices to boost libido for centuries.

Tribulus is quite unique because it contains two extremely bioactive compounds, being “saponins'' and “flavonoids”. These compounds interact with the body's endocrine system, causing changes in hormone secretion.

As a result, supplementing with tribulus can increase testosterone secretion. Importantly, it appears to become more effective in those individuals who have naturally low testosterone levels [2] -- suggesting that it is the perfect option for the modern era.

2.   D-Aspartic Acid

D-Aspartic Acid (or DAA for short) is an amino acid variant that is found in very small amounts throughout your body.

Although DAA is used in a number of different physiological processes, it is most well known for its impact on your neuroendocrine system -- where it can enhance the production of numerous growth factors and hormones.

As such, DAA supplements have been shown to increase testosterone secretion, while also blunting the secretion of estrogen and cortisone [3] -- all of which creates a much better environment in the body for muscle growth.

This makes it one of the most effective testosterone boosting compounds on the planet.

3.   Horny Goat Weed

Horny Goat Weed (or “Epimedium” if you are feeling scientific) is a small plant that has been used to boost libido in eastern countries for centuries.

More recently, this unique plant has made its name as a supplement that can improve sexual performance, help treat erectile dysfunction, and even enhance mental health.

Oh, and of course, it also has an impact on testosterone -- although it acts a little differently to many of the other compounds listed in this article.

Instead, once it enters the human body, horny goat weed mimics testosterone without causing a reduction in natural testosterone secretion. This can improve strength and muscle growth without having a direct impact on your testosterone levels [4].

While it may not technically fit the bill as a “testosterone booster” it is a core ingredient that should be in any testosterone enhancing supplement.

4.   Tongkat Ali

Togkat Ali is a plant found growing in Malaysian rainforests. Over the last few years it has managed to get the nickname “Malaysian Viagra” because of its potency with respect to erectile dysfunction, libido, and sexual performance.

This malaysian plant contains a family of unique compounds known as “Quassinoids'', which interact with the body's reproductive and hormonal systems. In this manner, it has the ability to increase testosterone levels throughout the body.

And given that there is research demonstrating that people who supplement with Togkat Ali while undergoing a weight training program gain more muscle than those who undertake the same program without the supplement [5], well, we can be certain it is effective.

5.   Boron

Boron is a naturally occurring trace mineral that is found all over the world.

While it is extremely common in industrial settings where it is used to create things like fiberglass and ceramics, it has more recently been making its mark in the wonderful world of supplements.

This is because once in the human body, it plays a key role in the production of various hormones, including testosterone.

While boron is found in things like coffee, apples, and nuts, it is only found in small amounts. In fact, the average human is believed to consume a mere three milligrams of the mineral on a daily basis.

However, supplementing with Boron to increase your daily intake has been shown to cause significant increases in testosterone [6] -- making it a fantastic option.

6.   Maca Root

Maca (or as it is known in scientific circles, “Lepidium meyenii”) is a type of vegetable found growing throughout Peru.

With an appearance that is very similar to that of a radish or turnip, it has been eaten for centuries by Peruvian locals. But more important is the fact that the root of the plant is a known aphrodisiac, where it has been used to boost libido for centuries.

This plant contains a compound called “macaridine” which has been shown to impact upon the function of your endocrine system, causing an increase in testosterone production. Within this, it can also reduce fatigue and improve energy, which is a nice bonus [7].

While it is not the most potent option on this list, its effects on energy and fatigue make it a worthy addition to any test booster.

Take Home Message

It should be apparent that there are a variety of different supplements that have the ability to increase testosterone levels. Which, when we consider the global decline in testosterone we are seeing in modern day, could make them a worthy addition to your supplement regime.

However, it is important to note that because many of these supplements interact with your endocrine system, you should seek advice from a medical professional before supplementation.

Remember, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

References:

1. Travison, Thomas G., et al. "A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men." The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 92.1 (2007): 196-202.
2. Hussain, Ahmed A., et al. "Study the biological activities of Tribulus terrestris extracts." World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 57 (2009): 433-435.
3. Roshanzamir, Farzad, and Seyyed Morteza Safavi. "The putative effects of D-Aspartic acid on blood testosterone levels: A systematic review." International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine 15.1 (2017): 1.
4. Zhang, Zhen?Bao, and Qing?Tao Yang. "The testosterone mimetic properties of icariin." Asian Journal of Andrology 8.5 (2006): 601-605.
5. Hamzah, S., and A. Yusof. "The ergogenic effects of eurycoma longifolia jack: a pilot study.” Br J Sports Med 37 (2003): 464-470.
6. Naghii, Mohammad Reza, et al. "Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines." Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology 25.1 (2011): 54-58.
7. Gonzales-Arimborgo, Carla, et al. "Acceptability, safety, and efficacy of oral administration of extracts of black or red maca (Lepidium meyenii) in adult human subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study." Pharmaceuticals 9.3 (2016): 49.