Do Testosterone Boosters Effect Natural Testosterone ?

Testosterone pills are frequently promoted as an easy way to raise testosterone levels, improve sexual performance, increase sex drive, and aid in muscle growth. Although these claims may seem impressive, there is frequently little scientific data to back them up. 

Are testosterone pills effective? And what is testosterone, first and foremost?

The main sex hormone for men is testosterone. It controls male sexuality and is the key hormone that generates characteristics of masculinity like large amounts of muscle, facial hair, libido, and sperm production.

Moreover, testosterone serves other essential duties because its primary chemical makeup is steroidal, and steroids are known to have major physiological and psychological impacts on men, particularly adults. 

Testosterone supports men’s:

● Bone thickness

● distribution of fat

● Strength and the bulk of muscles

● Body and facial hair

● Synthesis of red blood cells

● Sex drive

● Sperm generation

What is the Normal Testosterone Level?

Blood tests are used to measure testosterone levels, which are expressed in nanomoles per liter (nmol/l). Adult male readings are considered “normal” when they are 0.30 nmol/l and higher, with 0.45 nmol/l being desirable.

T-levels begin to fall at an annual rate of 1% after age 30.

What alters as we age in terms of testosterone levels?

Beginning around the age of 30, men’s testosterone production gradually decreases. As a result, as people age, their blood levels of testosterone gradually decrease. Hence, a wide range of physiological and psychological symptoms, such as a lack of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, severe depression, weariness, poor energy, and insomnia, may be experienced by men.

It’s critical to distinguish between a low testosterone level in older men and one caused by a condition (hypogonadism).

Because of a problem with the testicles or the pituitary gland, which regulates the testicles, hypogonadism impairs the capacity to produce normal quantities of testosterone. Hypogonadism may also result from certain medical conditions and medicine’s side effects. They consist of the following:

● A testicular injury

● Prostate cancer

● Diabetes type 2

● Obesity

● Klinefelter syndrome and other genetic conditions

● Pituitary gland abnormalities, such as Cushing’s syndrome and acromegaly

● Thyroid conditions

● HIV

● Inflammatory illnesses like TB and sarcoidosis

● Cancer therapies such as chemotherapy

● Prescription opioids

According to researchers who published their findings in the journal of Physiology & Behavior, persistent psychological stress is another possible reason for low testosterone levels. Nonetheless, they note the possibility that not everyone will respond similarly.

For example, an individual’s testosterone levels may fluctuate more frequently if they have trouble managing their stress and have shaky social ties.

A blood test is done to determine whether someone has low testosterone.

What are the treatment options for men with low testosterone levels?

Medical experts may use testosterone replacement therapy to treat low testosterone levels (TRT). However, TRT is only accessible with a doctor’s or other healthcare professional’s prescription.

TRT functions by ingesting synthetic testosterone right into the body. This hormone can be given intramuscularly, topically via patches that contain medication, or orally with pills. 

This strategy is not advised for those with prostate cancer, significant cardiovascular disease, or blood-clotting issues. TRT may benefit men with hypogonadism in a variety of ways, including improvements in libido, sexual function, bone density, muscle mass, body composition, mood, blood cell formation, cognition, quality of life, and cardiovascular disease, according to a review published in the journal Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management.

Over-the-counter (OTC) items that are marketed as testosterone boosters or supplements can also be purchased. There is no testosterone in these supplements. Instead, they have nutrients, herbs, and vitamins encouraging testosterone creation.

The usage of testosterone boosters is becoming more and more common among the younger generation due to the increasing interest in herbal ingredients and other dietary supplements worldwide. Still, several adverse effects have been reported.

What are testosterone boosters?

Testosterone boosters are over-the-counter (OTC) supplements rather than prescription drugs.

These boosters commonly feature ingredients such as:

● zinc

● fenugreek

● vitamin B6

● Tribulus terrestris

● magnesium

● boron

● diindolylmethane (DIM)

Generally, high-quality supplements containing the above ingredients are considered safe to use. 

Using illegal compounds like androstenedione and androstenediol, as well as over-the-counter medications like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and D-aspartic acid, are examples of testosterone supplements (DAA). Moreover, they might include herbs, plant extracts, and other substances thought to boost the production of this hormone.

When are testosterone booster supplements used?

When testosterone replacement therapy is not an option, testosterone supplements, often known as “testosterone boosters,” are frequently used. In addition, athletes and bodybuilders frequently use them. 

When your natural testosterone levels begin to decline is the ideal moment to start taking testosterone boosters. Unfortunately, short of a blood test, there is no reliable way to determine that.

Most people can instead seek a few clear signs of reduced testosterone levels. Try the top testosterone pills if you’re dealing with a few of these problems:

● Aging – At age 30, testosterone levels will naturally decrease by 1% yearly. Older men may be more susceptible to difficulties in other areas, but the drop is too minor to constitute a worry on its own.

● Sexual health – Although other variables may be more likely to cause it, lower testosterone can have an impact on erectile function. Moreover, it may result in less sex urge.

● Having trouble gaining muscle – Testosterone is necessary for adding new muscle. Having low testosterone levels can make gaining muscle more challenging.

● Low testosterone levels have a negative impact on both fitness levels and energy levels. Fatigue is a typical sign of insufficient testosterone.

● Testosterone is crucial to maintaining excellent mental health if you have a depressed mood. Low testosterone may negatively impact your IQ because some evidence links testosterone and cognition.

● Gaining weight – Low testosterone is frequently associated with weight gain. Increasing testosterone to appropriate levels can facilitate weight loss and muscle growth.

Are testosterone supplements really safe?

Testosterone boosters purchased from reliable sources and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions could pose certain health hazards. More investigation is required to corroborate the current findings and verify whether the benefits seen in this case report would be statistically significant in larger samples in order to ensure an ideal outcome without any serious side effects.

But it’s wise to consult your doctor about taking supplements before doing so. To prevent taking more vitamin or herbal supplements than is advised, make sure you adhere to the dosing instructions on the package.

Also, keep in mind that there isn’t much clinical research on these substances and that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t analyze or regulate supplements the same way it does medicines.

According to an article by Chase G. Clemesha, only 90% of “T booster” pills claimed that they would increase testosterone. However, 24.8% of these had evidence to back up their assertions. In addition, 10.1% of the total components contained information that might harm testosterone. 

Many received vitamin and mineral dosages that were occasionally over the upper tolerable intake level and supratherapeutic. Therefore, patients should be made aware that “T booster” pills might not actually contain the substances they claim to.

What are the adverse effects?

Men with normal hormone levels who take testosterone supplements may experience serious negative effects. After a user introduces the synthetic hormone, the body is unable to generate testosterone on its own.

Moreover, using TRT experimentally without a prescription may have the unintended effect of reducing the normal amounts of testosterone your body produces. Your body begins to believe that it no longer needs to manufacture testosterone on its own when you take certain testosterone boosters.

The most typical side effects are as follows:

● fluid encumbrance

● acne worsens

● breast expansion

● testicular enlargement

● Slumber apnea

● elevated blood pressure

● lower sperm count

● stimulating the synthesis of red blood cells excessively, which increases the chance of a blood clot developing. 

As a result, it is possible for a clot to become free, travel through the bloodstream, and then settle in the lungs, obstructing blood flow (pulmonary embolism).

After taking the first course of the commercial testosterone booster, there was a noticeable rise in the levels of ALT, AST, and gamma-glutamyl transferase; the levels then began to fall following the second and third courses.

This sudden rise in liver enzyme levels following the first course may be caused by the interruption of liver function caused by commercial testosterone boosters due to the effects of their contents.

A deeper voice, hirsutism, a reduction in breast size, and male pattern hair loss are some examples of more masculine characteristics that women can develop.

Should you discuss testosterone therapy with your doctor?

If you have any doubts about whether testosterone therapy is the best option for you, discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor. Before recommending testosterone therapy, your doctor will most likely do at least two testosterone levels tests on you.

It is not recommended to use testosterone therapy to treat natural aging. However, your doctor might propose natural methods to increase testosterone, such as decreasing weight and building muscle mass through resistance training, if there isn’t a medical disease causing your testosterone levels to fall.

Conclusion

Even if the testosterone boosters were purchased from reliable sources, certain health dangers are associated with their use. To support the current findings, more research must be conducted over a lengthy period of time with a big sample size.

Given the availability of very effective Food and Drug Administration-authorized medicines, patients should be advised against choosing T-Boosters in the absence of additional human research.

REFERENCES

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