Testosterone has been noted to increase athletic performance and increase muscle mass. However, using testosterone is unethical for athletes and is illegal to possess without a prescription from a physician. So with this in mind, many individuals have turned to testosterone boosters to aid them in their athletic performance and help increase muscle mass. Stacking additional supplements with a testosterone booster may provide additional benefits.
What Is a Testosterone Booster?
A testosterone booster is a supplement that is intended to increase the natural production of testosterone. In younger males, testosterone boosters may not provide much of an increase in testosterone, since their levels are already relatively high. Testosterone boosters should not be confused with a prohormone, which in some cases is an actual steroid. A prohormone is an inactive precursor that has the ability to be converted into testosterone.
D-aspartic Acid
Depending on the ingredients in your testosterone booster, you may want to consume a supplement containing D-aspartic acid, or DAA. Research in "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology" has shown that consumption of 3.12 g of DAA increased testosterone production by 40 percent in males as well as increased production of growth hormone.
Diindolylmethane
Diindolylmethane, or DIM, is a nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. With increased testosterone comes increased estrogen. Estrogen helps provide protective effects on the body, such as keeping a healthy cholesterol level. Diindolylmethane has been shown to help decrease estradiol, the "bad" estrogen, and help increase the formation of the "good" estrogens, which help provide protective effects and anti-cancer properties. A proper dosage is 100 to 200 mg per day.
Fish Oil
High levels of testosterone can cause stress to the cardiovascular system. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil provide fats that create protective and anti-inflammatory substances known as cytokines. These may help decrease cardiovascular strain due to high testosterone levels. Taking 1 to 3 g of fish oil per day may be beneficial. Fish oil may also help decrease the protein, known as sex hormone-binding globulin -- or SHBG -- that binds to testosterone, rendering it unavailable for use. This decrease in SHBG allows for more unbound testosterone to aid in muscle size and recovery.
Liver Detoxifier
If the testosterone supplement label looks more like a chemistry class paper with ingredients like 2a,17a Di Methyl Etiocholane 3-one, 17b-ol, then it may be in your best interest to consume a supplement that is designed to help detoxify and protect the liver. These ingredients may be very difficult on your liver and may cause harm. Look for a supplement that contains N-acetyl cysteine, milk thistle and S-adenosyl methionine -- or SAMe, as these are all effective liver detoxifiers.
References
- "Anabolics (10th Edition)"; William Llewellyn; 2011
- "Human Reproduction"; Population Variation in Age-Related Decline in Male Salivary Testosterone; Peter Ellison, et al.; 2002
- "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology"; Opposing Effects of D-aspartic acid and Nitric Oxide on Tuning of Testosterone Production in Mallard Testis During the Reproductive Cycle; Maria Di Fiore, et al.; July 2008
- All About DIM; Safer Estrogen with Phytonutrition; Michael Zeligs, M.D.; 1999
- "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism (5th Edition)"; Sareen Gropper; 2009
- "Nutrition and Cancer"; Relationships Between Types of Fat Consumed and Serum Estrogen and Androgen Concentrations in Japanese Men; Chisato Nagata, et al.; 2000
