Testofen review : Fenugreek extract benefits for testosterone
According to some manufacturers of Testosterone supplements, Fenugreek may very well be the best herb you never heard of. This herb hails from India, Pakistan and other parts of Asia has been used for centuries as a spice, food and a variety of health ad medicinal purposes. It is widely used for bedroom purposes and caught my attention because I had received praise for Testofen, a specific Fenugreek extract in a couple of forum threads and emails. For exmaple, one poster wrote, “Testofen is good; Tribulus sucks for me.”
Of course, one can also just eat the seeds. Again, fenugreek has been used for centuries in various dishes, but also to heal anti-inflammatory conditions, especially those in the GI tract, and as a digestive aid.
Testofen is currently one of the most popular testosterone supplements or testosterone boosters available today. It is sold in GNC stores and many other retail stores. It can also be purchased from many websites online.
[amazon bestseller=”testofen” items=”3″]
There are many Testofen reviews raving about the product such as Nugenix. Many of the reviews claim that the supplement can help boost testosterone levels. Some reviews even claim that they are using the product successfully instead of undergoing hormone replacement therapy.
Overall, it seems that Testofen can be an ingredient/product worth trying if you are suffering from lower-than-normal testosterone levels.
Testofen vs Fenugreek
While fenugreek extract has been known for quite some time to be associated with Testosterone, Testofen is a unique fenugreek extract that has a large number of phytochemical components.
These include saponins and Furostanol. Each of these has many different health benefits. This blend of ingredients is what experts believe causes this natural testosterone booster to boost sexual vitality.
Men with an Andropause diagnosis may benefit from supplementation with Testofen in order to prevent drops in free testosterone levels. Clinical study results consistently show improvements in male energy levels, libido, muscle mass and overall feelings of well-being when using Testofen.
Gencor is the pharmaceutical company that holds the patent for Testofen, with the product undergoing several clinical trials with positive results. In each test, the supplement provides the desired effects on men’s libidos. Testofen also provides an increase in muscle development and physical strength. The average user of this supplement reports noticeable improvements to physicality and sex drive within a few month of taking Testofen.
Important points on Testofen and Fenugreek
There are few caveats worth mentioning – we cover those below – but what guy cannot help but lust at all the benefits of fenugreek? There are many, but we list the heavy hitters below:
1. Aphrodisiac. Fenugreek as a food and herb has always been known for its ability to fan sexual desire. Recently, the lore was verified using a specific extract of fenugreek, called Testofen, was shown in a double-blind study of healthy males to sigificantly increase both libido and the ability to orgasm. [1] Younger guys can scarcely imagine not being able to orgasm, but delayed (or even completely absent) orgasm is a problem for some older men. (Testofen is very reasonable if acquired through a bulk discounter like Amazon: Testofen Fenugreek Extract 300 mg 60 Caps.) NOTE: The study was partially sponsored by the manufacturer.
2. Blood Glucose Control. Fenugreek has almost magical powers over blood glucose levels after a meal. Of course, normally after one eats, there is a substantial spike in glucose that occurs and, particularly, as we get older, this ages and glycates our tissues. Fenugreek’s ability to help has been documented in many animal studies and even in one human study on both healthy and diabetic participants. [4] (Remember that that glucose spike hammers testosterone, so this aspect could potentially be long term testosterone protective.) How does Fenugreek protect diabetic and insulin resistant individuals. Researchers believe this is through reducing the oxidative (free radical) load that normally follows a meal for those with these conditions based on animal research. [8]
3. Testosterone. This is a complex one. There are some animal studies that show that Fenugreek actually decreases testosterone. [6][7] However, the above supplement Testofen, which has standardized itself to 50% fenuside, one of the key phytochemicals in fenugreek, is claimed (by the manufacturer) to be relatively neutral to total testosterone and actually increase free testosterone. [9]
CAUTIONS: One area of concern is that the company web site admits that testofen increases prolactin levels. [9] Prolactin is known for fighting testosterone and the effects of dopamine, both of which could be bad for erections. This is verified by the fact that women are sometimes advised to take large amounts of fenugreek while breastfeeding: prolactin is the “nursing hormone.”
Another area of concern is that some animal studies show significantly decreased fertility resulting from Fenugreek consumption. [6][7]
4. Growth Hormone. One study on rat cells showed increases in growth hormone output from an extract of fenugreek seeds. [2] If it really works that way, then maybe we can get a little boost in this “fat burning” hormone. Hopefully, we’ll get a study on humans sometime soon.
5. Muscle. Fenugreek is likely anabolic. Researchers found in a study on (castrated) rats that it did not raise testosterone but was anabolic, i.e. muscle-building. [2] Again, hopefully, we’ll get a study on humans sometime soon.
6. Weight Loss. Several animal studies show, particularly in those with insulin resistance and/or diabetic-related issues, that fenugreek can help drop the pounds. [5] If you have insulin and glucose issues, it is very hard to shed the pounds or even maintain your weight. Fenugreek appears to be a significant help in this category.
7. Inflammation. Inflammation, as you know, is the root of all evil and will hammer your arteries and endothelium. Fenugreek has a historical reputation as being anti-inflammatory and a number of studies have verified this. [11] One interesting study found that a blend of fenugreek, cinnamon and curcumin actually helped with post-recovery workout inflammation for example. [12]
8. Triglycerides. Trouble with elevated triglyceride levels? Well, you’re not alone and fenugreek can help. A couple of studies show that it lowers levels in the liver. [12]
Fenugreek, Testosterone, DHT, and Prolactin
Most people think that fenugreek is only used as an ingredient to normalize and increase male testosterone levels.
This isn’t the case. Since fenugreek also contains galactagogues which have the distinctive ability to increase prolactin levels, which is why fenugreek is also marketed to women to increase their lactation during pregnancy.
Although men taking fenugreek won’t likely start producing milk, it’s still very much likely that supplementing with the herb can lead to elevated prolactin, which is somewhat detrimental for testosterone production via inhibition of dopamine
For obvious reasons, the T-booster manufacturers using fenugreek are pretty silent about the issue.
Prolactin aside, does fenugreek actually increase testosterone
The answer is maybe, but also maybe not. You see, initial studies (sponsored by fenugreek manufacturer) showed very promising results, as fenugreek supplementation increased testosterone levels and improved body composition in resistance trained males.
Since the herb has compounds such as apigenin, luteolin, protodioscin, magnesium, and calcium – all of which can contribute to increased testosterone production – it was all but plausible that fenugreek would become the next big thing in the supplement industry (and it certainly did).
The thing is that fenugreek extracts haven’t always performed this well on scientific studies.
Although in rodents, the extract increased muscle growth, it failed to have any impact on circulating testosterone levels. In an effort to replicate the first human study sponsored by Indus Biotech, Bushey et al. found that in their trial, fenugreek did not increase either free or total testosterone levels, but it ended up lowering DHT due to 5-a reductase inhibitory effect.
Lastly, a study using 600mg/day of fenugreek extract called “Testofen” on healthy male subjects, failed to show any increases in testosterone levels. Recently, several lawsuites have been filed against companies using testofen in their testosterone boosters.
Fenugreek can have some anti-thyroid effects, as it was found to disrupt the normal rise in thyroid hormones in rodents administered T3 and T4, this effect was likely due to a compound called trypsin, which can inhibit protein digestion and thyroid hormone transportation in the body.
User Reviews on Testofen
#1
I’m 54 years old and I’ve been suffering from depression lately. I read online that this may be a sign of low testosterone. After having my testosterone levels checked, I was diagnosed with low testosterone. The doctor suggested hormone replacement therapy which means I have to take testosterone shots once or twice a month and monitor testosterone levels regularly. I don’t like this option so I searched around for alternative treatments.
I found Testofen in a supplement store and decided to give it a try because there are many good Testofen reviews online. I am pleased with the results and have been using it for half a year now. According to my latest testosterone blood test, my level is still on the lower range but it has increased considerably. Testofen is definitely a good testosterone supplement.
#2
I was obese most of my life ever since I could remember. This is probably the reason my hormone levels are abnormal. Even if I diet hard and exercise daily, it is still very difficult to lose weight. For years, I have been struggling to lose weight. I have lost over 50 pounds but I’m still overweight and have about 50 more pounds to lose. My doctor suggested that I may have low testosterone because of the symptoms like moodiness, difficulty in gaining muscle and stubborn body fat.
Instead of undergoing hormone replacement therapy, I decided to try testosterone boosters first. I found lots of positive customer feedback and Testofen reviews online so I decided to give this supplement a try. After using it for about a month, I noticed a considerably difference and my weight loss started again. I also started feeling good and my mood problems disappeared. Testofen is a great product and I have noticed no adverse effects from this testosterone booster.
REFERENCES:
1) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ health/article-2005453/Herbs-used-curries-spice-things-bedroom.html
2) Chemistry & Biodiversity, Sep 2008, 5(9):1753 1761, “Rat Growth-Hormone Release Stimulators from Fenugreek Seeds”
3) Phytotherapy Research, Oct 2010, 24(10):1482 1488, “Effect of furostanol glycosides from Trigonella foenum-graecum on the reproductive system of male albino rats”
4) Nutrition Research, Dec 1986, 6(12):1353 1364″Effect of fenugreek seeds and leaves on blood glucose and serum insulin responses in human subjects”
5) MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Volume 224, Numbers 1-2, 45-51, “Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) seed powder improves glucose homeostasis in alloxan diabetic rat tissues by reversing the altered glycolytic, gluconeogenic and lipogenic enzymes”
6) Contraception, 73(3):301-306, “Evaluation of the potential antifertility effect of fenugreek seeds in male and female rabbits”
7) Phytotherapy Research, Mar/Apr 1993, 7(2):134-138, “Efficacy of the steroidal fraction of fenugreek seed extract on fertility of male albino rats”
8) Indian J Physiol Pharmacol, 2001 Oct, 45(4):408-20, “Restoration on tissue antioxidants by fenugreek seeds (Trigonella Foenum Graecum) in alloxan-diabetic rats”
10) International Journal of Obesity, Feb 2006, 30:1298 1307, “Alleviation of hepatic steatosis accompanied by modulation of plasma and liver TNF- levels by Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) seeds in Zucker obese (fa/fa) rats”
11) International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Abstract Submissions, 2(1):18, “Effects of Fenugreek, Cinnamon, & Curcumin on Post Workout Inflammatory Response”
12) Hannan J, Rokeya B, Faruque O, et al. Effect of soluble dietary fibre fraction of Trigonella foenum graecum on glycemic, insulinemic, lipidemic and platelet aggregation status of Type 2 diabetic model rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;88(1):73-77.
13) Turkyilmaz C, Onal E, Hirfanoglu I, et al. The effect of galactagogue herbal tea on breast milk production and short-term catch-up of birth weight in the first week of life. J Altern Complement Med. 2011;17(2):139-142.
14) Carani C, Granata A, Fustini M, Marrama P. Prolactin and testosterone: their role in male sexual function. Int J Androl. 1996;19(1):48-54.
15) Wilborn C, Taylor L, Poole C, Foster C, Willoughby D, Kreider R. Effects of a purported aromatase and 5a-reductase inhibitor on hormone profiles in college-age men. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010;20(6):457-465.
16) Aswar U, Bodhankar S, Mohan V, Thakurdesai P. Effect of furostanol glycosides from Trigonella foenum-graecum on the reproductive system of male albino rats. Phytother Res. 2010;24(10):1482-1488.
17) “Fenugreek Extract Supplementation Has No effect on the Hormonal Profil” by Brandon Bushey, Lem W. Taylor et al. . IJESAB. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss1/13/. Accessed June 2, 2017.
18) Steels E, Rao A, Vitetta L. Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum extract and mineral formulation. Phytother Res. 2011;25(9):1294-1300.
19) Tahiliani P, Kar A. Mitigation of thyroxine-induced hyperglycaemia by two plant extracts. Phytother Res. 2003;17(3):294-296.
About Author
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Bright Futures for Families is your online resource for health and fitness related issues. Online health portals have come a long way in physician - patient education; they not only provide information to the patients but also are a valuable source of information to the physicians. Bright Futures team consists of qualified health professionals, dietitians, researchers and fitness enthusiasts. Our goal is to study the research objectively (without bias) and provide the most authentic reviews and information to you.
I wanted to understand whether the claims behind this herb had any evidence to them. And if so, how it worked. I eventually got to the point where I was emailing back and forth with some of the PhD researchers studying this herb right now. And, although the science hasn’t totally figured out all of the interactions behind why it works the way it does, I’ll still dive in to a couple of theories. Before we get into the proven effects of fenugreek researchers have found, we need some background.
Fenugreek is a herb that, appearance wise, is similar to clover, and native to the Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, and Western Asia. The herb id used as a spice in various traditional foods, and also in traditional medicine. Many choose to make their own teas from the seeds. While some companies sell the herb in pill form as a dietary supplement.When people talk about the plant, it’s important to note that there are different parts of the plant that are studied, as Dr. Beth Steeles has explained.
There are many different chemical compounds in both the fenugreek herb, the fenugreek seed, and also there are different extracts. Some that contain the seed husk, and others that take the husk out before extraction. For example, tea made from the seeds of the herb, has consistently proven to increase milk volume in breast feeding women. The study published in the journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine had on group of new mothers ingesting tea brewed with fenugreek seeds at three cups per day.On the third day, they measured mean breast milk volume. The women drinking the tea produced a mean 73 ml versus the control group, which produced just 31 ml. They also found the babies of the fenugreek tea mothers got back up to their birth weight faster. For the guys watching this, apparently after babies are born, they actually lose weight before they gain it back. Don’t worry, I didn’t know that either. And in both women and men, there is talk of it promoting hair growth. Which, I will come back to a bit later.
Heres where things get confusing though. In recent years, manufacturers have been selling fenugreek as a testosterone booster. Now, I’m gonna get this out if the way, based on the evidence, it doesn’t look like pure, unaltered fenugreek alone in any way increases muscle and strength. Studies have however shown increases in libido in men. But, testing for a rise in testosterone has been unreliable. When talking about testosterone, it’s also important to mention another, even more potent hormone, dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.
This hormone is similar to testosterone, but is far more potent in activating androgen receptors, the receptors on cells that cause men to display manly features. In our body circulating testosterone is acted on by an enzyme, which turns it into this DHT. DHT is also one of the active hormones responsible for male and female pattern hair loss. DHT is anywhere between 2.5 to 10 times more potent than testosterone at activating androgen receptors in your body.
And while studies on fenugreek have occasionally shown a mild increase in testosterone, these usually go hand in hand with a mild decrease in DHT. In one study, DHT levels in men dropped by 9%. It is thought that this occurs because something in fenugreek in inhibiting the alpha reductive enzyme, leading to a back log in testosterone, which isn’t being converted into DHT. Which, in theory, could mean a slight benefit, if you are suffering from male or female pattern hair loss. But this is also the only thing fenugreek does, which can clearly be explained by measurable hormone changes. Just using a tiny testosterone increase, and DHT decrease, doesn’t explain why people report their libido increasing. First of all, testosterone changes which have been detected are only minor. And secondly, the brains androgen receptors primarily only respond to DHT, and not testosterone.
So, if fenugreek means less DHT, if anything, shouldn’t libido drop? Well, it turns out, as I said, things are just more complicated than that. But, I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to explain this for you guys. Dr. Steeles explained to me that there are multiple biochemical pathways working at once, and that libido is a complex thing, which she believes might be related to the ratio between may hormones.
With testosterone being just one part of it. When you ingest fenugreek, it has many interactions with the bacteria in your gut, which can have a ripple effect throughout the body, and an impact in normalizing effect on many hormones. I also note that the same protodioscin found in tribulus can be found in fenugreek. It is very possible that fenugreek, like tribulus, is effecting or synthesizing the anabolic signaling pathways in the brain in ways other than simply raising hormone levels. Whatever the mechanism, evidence for a libido boost in men is pretty robust. More research will need to be conducted before scientists truly understand this mechanism. Something researchers are currently exploring more deeply are the anti diabetic affects of fenugreek. It has been found that ingesting between two to five grams of fenugreek seeds help lower blood glucose levels, and improve glucose tolerance. Something helpful for diabetics, and pre-diabetics. This could be in part due to the soluble fiber in the seeds, slowing down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.
That’s the explanation given by diabetes.co.uk. So, to recap, studies have shown that women who ingest fenugreek while breastfeeding produce more milk. Men who ingest fenugreek report an increase in their sex drive. Both male and female pattern baldness are related to DHT levels, which fenugreek may slightly lower, based on a few studies. To me clear though, no specific study has shown that fenugreek reduces this hair loss, so this is all theoretical. Through studies, it has also been shown to reduce blood glucose levels and spikes. If any of these benefits interest you, I encourage you to do your own research. As I said, there’s a lot of unexplored territory when it comes to this herb. I don’t usually like making videos on topics I don’t fully understand. But, my take away is that I don’t think anyone fully understands this herb yet.
Testofen is a specialized form of fenugreek extract standardized at 50% of active ingredient, now Testofen has multiple clinical studies which support healthy sexual desire for virility, vitality also improve muscle mass increasing your free testosterone levels it also helps reduce normal symptoms of andropause in men, now how does it work well its main claim to fame is the fact that it can help increase your free testosterone levels significantly by 100% and does potentially doubling your free testosterone levels now unfortunately in the real world when I’ve tested it it doesn’t seem to work as well when used by itself.
now what’s the difference between total free testosterone levels now as you may already know testosterone is the primary hormone that controls your libido you know your sex drive that mental happiness increasing your muscle mass decreasing body fat and overall improvement in sense of all being unfortunately over 95 percent of your total testosterone is bound to various proteins in your blood so most of it is basically inactive and not really useful does only 5% or less is quote-unquote free to travel around your body and kind of work its magic now think of your total testosterone as maybe your gross income when it comes to making money and your free testosterone levels as your net income the money you get to keep after all of your expenses and taxes that’s what we really care mostly about is increasing your free testosterone levels which is what tests up and can help with now in regards to side-effects and warnings
second problem when using only one ingredient to achieve a health goal such as test affinities example is that your body will quickly adapt to it does it stops working after a couple of weeks and this is natural because this is that’s how your body basically works the survival mechanism is to adapt and grow and fortunately as your body adapts you have to use a higher and higher dosage which after a few weeks your body adapts again and now you have to increase the dosage even more this gets very expensive and can lead to negative side-effects eventually however if you use a stacking tactic which I’ll talk to you about in a minute you’ll dramatically reduce the adaptational having to increase the dosage now problem number three is the negative conversions now the final challenge is that your goal is not to only increase your testosterone and this is because as you age your body creates various enzymes which converts testosterone to these negative hormones such as estrogen and prolactin DHT cortisol and so forth now all of these conversions decrease your positive testosterone right and then increase these negative hormones which is not what you want so your high testosterone levels right quickly comes back down again and this is why people stop feeling the positive effects after a couple of weeks now what you want to do is increase your testosterone levels and more importantly keep it high by preventing and stopping the conversions to these negative hormones and accomplish this goal you’ll need to use other ingredients which will help block these conversions naturally again !!
Our testosterone levels decline this happened due to old age it’s also due to eating food that’s cooked and plastic so don’t microwave food and plastic and well fenugreek is is known for boosting testosterone levels by stopping an enzyme that kind of breaks it down you might be thinking well I need you need testosterone what’s it good for and well you need testosterone. For starters is a hormone and women needed two hormones like managers tell cells what to do and for guys we needed because for our libido to improve that increase that because like a saying goes a happy wife creates a happy life and well that’s kind of important in relationships we need it for our to build muscles bones how about energy levels yeah we need for energy levels we need it so we can have a voice like a man and not talk like a little girl so we need it for a lot of different reasons now the truth is women need it too would they just need a smaller amount they need it for their sex drive these for that it’s also for their mood and well-being it plays a part in that as well as there’s some anti-aging effects for women so they need it as well so the million-dollar question is does it work you know as your studies that prove that works and according to a study by the United States National Library of Medicine they took 60 guides into volume into two groups one group received a placebo which was like this sugary pill the other group received this herb and actually received 66 hundred milligrams fenugreek per day at the end of study the group that took better group showed increased levels of muscles improve levels of muscle strength energy well-being libido as well as improved orgasms that’s pretty cool and even better there’s no change to sleep levels so you’re betting it all jacked up like some of these uh herbs out there for libido or whatever that’s pretty good so you might be wondering sounds too good to be true there’s gotta be some side effects or some dangers and there is there is a few side effects and dangers one of them is is if a woman is pregnant they should take fenugreek because it really affects the with the uterus the uterine and can can really damage a baby in there but the truth is a woman the woman’s pregnant they should take any herb or any supplement really unless it’s like omega-3 um.. that’s just the way it is next in a group can really increase insulin levels and this and actually decrease blood sugar levels no yeah for a lot of people has good news it’s great news it’s a lot about problems with that with all the good sugary foods out there but however somebody is on medicine for diabetes yeah you can see there’s it could lower blood sugar levels too much that could be bad and this could lead to suck like irritability just hunger and somebody just tremors passing out in a coma those are signs if somebody has to lower blood sugar levels another dangerous side effects is some people’s bodies may just not like it they could be allergic reaction and some signs of that would be safe like stomach pains diarrhea there could be some some swelling in the face tightness in the chest trouble breathing hives rash these are all signs of the body going hey I don’t like this get this fenugreek thing out of my body so that that is a risk but that’s a risk with any verb out there or any supplement really and there’s one last danger and that is is fenugreek can thin the blood and again for a lot of people that’s good news it really is because blood is life in energy and it’s almost like a supercharger a car you know supercharger throws more air into the engine so the engine moves and that’s why I fenugreek can improve energy levels and can be beneficial in that way however if somebody’s on blood thinning medicine as you can see it could thin the blood too much.
So in a nutshell if somebody is on it on any prescription drug they should talk to their doctor buffet before taking the fenugreek are really any herb or out there just to be kind of be on the safe side really so you might have thinking okay I’m sold I want to eat it what do I do and this is the next challenging part because the supplement industry there’s just so many choices and there’s all this marketing going on so every product says are the best thing since sliced bread you get the problem where the industry is unregulated so there’s some crap out there because companies are supposed to police themselves and their studies showing that there’s some supplements have missed labeling and contaminations and stuff plus their supplements and combined stuff so what’s up with those so it’s confusing.