Found in both men and women, testosterone is commonly referred to as a male hormone and is responsible for the development of secondary male sexual characteristics, including body hair, deepening of voice and libido. After the age of 30, testosterone levels naturally start to decline. Research indicates that certain supplements are effective for boosting testosterone production in the body. Consult your health-care provider before taking any supplements.
BCAAs
Branched chain amino acids, or BCAAs, consist of the amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine. BCAAs play a critical role in protein metabolism and might also boost testosterone levels, according to a study conducted by researchers from College of Charleston. For four weeks, subjects performed high-intensity exercise while consuming BCAAs or a placebo. Scientists reported in the April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research" that the BCAA group had significantly higher testosterone levels than the placebo group.
Forskolin
In research published in the May 2005 issue of the journal "Obesity Research," scientists from the University of Kansas studied the impact of the herb forskolin in overweight and obese men. They discovered that subjects supplementing with 250mg of forskolin twice daily for 12 weeks experienced increases in testosterone levels compared to those receiving a placebo.
D-aspartic Acid
Scientists from the Universita di Napoli Parthenope e Fondazione IRCCS-SDN in Italy examined the effects of the amino acid D-aspartic acid on testosterone levels in healthy men. They reported in the October 2009 issue of the journal "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology" that subjects consuming D-aspartic acid for 12 days increased their testosterone levels compared to those with a placebo. D-aspartic acid boosts the release of luteinizing hormone, which stimulates the testes to produce testosterone.
Onion Extract
Researchers from Islamic Azad University in Iran investigated the impact of allium cepa, also known as onion, on testosterone levels in rats. At the end of the study, which was published in the February 2009 issue of the journal "Folia Morphologica," scientists discovered that rats consuming fresh onion juice for 20 days experienced increases in testosterone levels compared to the control groups.
References
- PubMed.gov: Amino Acid Supplements and Recovery from High Intensity Resistance Training
- Obesity Research: Body Composition and Hormonal Adaptations Associated with Forskolin Consumption in Overweight and Obese Men
- Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology: The Role and Molecular Mechanism of D-aspartic Acid in the Release and Synthesis of LH and Testosterone in Humans and Rats
- PubMed.gov: Evaluation of Androgenic Activity of Allium Cepa on Spermatogenesis in the Rat
