Anybody who has heard of TestoTek by Tek Naturals and wants to find out if the revised version beats the original.
I am busy - summarize it for me
They say the sequel is never better than the original (apart from Godfather Part 2). Are they right?
Tek Naturals have overhauled their flagship test booster and we find out whether this is an Aliens and The Godfather type sequel ... or a Highlander and Zoolander type sequel.
TestoTek has been around for a few years now and made itself a major player. Like Tek Naturals, the company that makes it, it’s been growing and developing.
We climbed back into the ring with this test boosting heavyweight to put it through it’s paces again.
The first time round, TestoTek didn’t have a formula that got us excited. But as Winston Churchill one said;
To improve is to change: to be perfect is to change often
So … has TestoTek v2.0 changed for the better?
If it’s going to be a proper photo finish then the difference is going to be in the small details. Handy that we’ve got them then, as TestoTek 2.0 has no proprietary blends. We’ve got all the ingredients listed in full with their amounts.
There’s really no deadweight in the TestoTek formula. Tek Naturals have done some work on this and picked a star line up.
So why only 8/10. Well two reasons. Firstly we’d have liked to have seen more DAA, although as has been pointed out in the comments, if the form of DAA is calcium chelate then the 2000mg per serving is adequate. Also we are not sure why so much vitamin B6 has been included, there are no studies supporting those levels of B6.
The thing that has annoyed us about the formula is the fact they’ve used vegetarian plant caps rather than gelatin (well done guys) … and then gone and blown it by including oyster extract in the formula which means it’s not suitable for vegetarians and those with shellfish allergies.
Price
8/10
TestoTek have nailed it here, and transformed a middle ranking no-hoper into a title contender. They were smart enough to use the best products on the market as inspiration for a new formula.
It’s not just the formula though, they have cloned the whole business model. Product pricing, discounts, guarantees.
However, you get what you pay for. We can’t give a score over 8/10 to a product retailing at $69.99. It’s expensive.
Trustworthiness
9/10
TestoTek is manufactured in California and has all the guarantees and assurances associated with FDA approved cGMP manufacturing.
There are no reports (that we could find) that would suggest there’s anything untrustworthy about Tek Naturals.
We also like the money back guarantee – 30 days. So you don’t have to take the product for months to decide it’s not working for you, you can return it after 30 days and get a refund if you are not satisfied.
Testimonials
8/10
The testimonial section on the TestoTek website is impressive, a real rarity.
It has names, photos and professions of guys who use it, along with compelling testimony. There’s a really nice spread of ages in the feedback too which is a plus.
They’ve also got a testimonial from one of the most terrifyingly shredded 47 year olds we’ve seen in a while. Josh, autoshop owner from NY State. Presumably he’s saved a fortune on tools and can now just bend cars back into shape with his bare hands…
Company
11/10
Tek Naturals, the makers of TestoTek, are an impressive company considering they only started up in 2015. They aim for quality rather than quantity, a small range of products done well. Testosterone boosting and male enhancement, two fatburners (one for men, one for women) and the Mind Ignite nootropic.
We like the fact they updated and improved TestoTek, most manufacturers don’t bother to do that.
One of the aspects of the company we really like though is Tek Cares – the charity supported by Tek Naturals. And good on them for not shouting this from the rooftops as a sales tool.
The company donate 2.5% of every sale to charity organizations dedicated to making children’s lives better. That’s 2.5% more than everybody else in the marketplace. Making Tek Naturals the only company ever to get 11/10 on our ratings.
How Do I Take It?
4 caps per day, or 2 caps in the morning and evening. TestoTek recommends taking them on an empty stomach.
Any TestoTek Side Effects?
It is a possibility. 25mg of Zinc alongside zinc rich oyster extract means that total is certainly edging towards the the upper tolerance of 40mg per day, especially if you have a zinc rich diet. Worthwhile to be aware of, it is a test booster though and you’d be disappointed if it didn’t contain zinc.
The other issue is the level of vitamin B6. As already mentioned, 50mg is 2941% of RDA. In the US the FDA changed the upper limit to 100mg in 2000, so it’s well within that. B6 is water soluble though, and excess should be passed in urine. Side effects are only reported at levels 20 times the amount in Testotek – http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-B6
Where Can I Get It?
TestoTek is available from the official website for $69.99 for a month’s supply, with a discount if you subscribe for monthly bottles. Other discounts are available, if you hit their site and there’s a discount … cash in.
K2 is a vitamin found in meats and is important for maintaining plasma levels in the body and our own supply of testosterone. It’s also a support to D3, allowing it to work more effectively by prevent calcification in the arteries and soft tissue.
This is one of the ingredients topped up in the new version of TestoTek.
This vitamin B complex contains 3 B vitamins: 2, 5, 6, totaling 80mg.
B6 is given the biggest share which is good as it’s the most important. This vitamin can slow the production of the female hormone estrogen and lower the influence of the estrogen already in your system. Remember estrogen creeps up as we age and if it’s up, T is down.
Zinc
Low zinc and low T often go hand in hand. This is because crucial building blocks for T – like luteinizing, growth and follicle stimulating hormones – all depend on a healthy supply. It’s tough to get enough from food, so a boost of 25mg here is welcome.
Augmenting the formula with oyster extract pushes the zinc intake still further and zinc in the diet is likely to push that up, it’s something to be aware of.
D-AA is a potent amino acid which stimulates the brain encouraging a supply of the same key hormones as zinc (luteinizing hormone, growth hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.)
Significant evidence also suggests that D-AA may remove rate limits in testosterone synthesis in the testes. This enables us to achieve higher peaks.
The beta sitosterol in this ingredient is effective at lowering SHBG. Sex Hormone Binding Globulin is a protein which attaches itself to testosterone preventing it from being used in the right way. If it is lower that means we have more Free T racing round our system to be put to good use.
We get vitamin D3 mainly from sunlight and in actual fact it isn’t a vitamin at all. It’s a hormone we need it to survive.
In the right amount it’s also proven to raise T. Sadly the 2000IUs in TestoTek is not all it could be. The vitamin D Council’s most recent advice is 5000IUs, and many supplement manufacturers are boosting D3 levels behind that based on even more recent research.
In the right amount this can raise libido, stimulate androgens, and help balance blood sugars. That last one is important as this helps regulate insulin and stops skewed levels getting in the way of T. Just 75mg is unlikely to have much of an effect though. Another choice skimped on unfortunately.
Long thought to be a strong aphrodisac it also contains many useful trace elements and is rich in zinc.
Panax Genseng
Used often in traditional medicine. Ginseng has shown ability to boost nitric oxide in the body, helping healthy blood flow which can helps with issues such as erectile dysfunction.
As well as helping to regulate blood sugar in a similar way to Fenugreek, Ginseng contains steroidal saponins which can increase T levels, luteinizing hormone and androgens in men.
Despite a strong showing, it’s a pity there’s no magnesium in TestoTek to help further lower SHBG and raise free T. Or boron to improve the balance of testosterone and estrogen.
However, you can’t have everything, and it’s a strong line-up.
Overall
It’s always a worry when a sequel comes out – are they just trying to cash-in or make it better.
Thankfully TestoTek falls squarely into the Godfather category of sequels. No.2 is a blockbusting classic that would grace any collection.
A massive improvement and a strong contender, easily taking the silver medal in our muscle building boosters category.
Pilz, S et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Medical University of Graz, Austria (2011)
Takumi, N et al Dietary vitamin K alleviates the reduction in testosterone production induced by lipopolysaccharide administration in rat testis. Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (2011)
Bliskind & Bliskind Inactivation of testosterone propionate in the liver during vitamin B complex deficiency. Alteration of the estrogen-androgen equilibrium (1945)
Kilic, M et al. The effect of exhaustion exercise on thyroid hormones and testosterone levels of elite athletes receiving oral zinc. Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey (2006)
Topo E, Soricelli A, D’Aniello A, Ronsini S, D’Aniello G. The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Napoli, Italy (2009)
D’Aniello et al D-Aspartate, a Key Element for the Improvement of Sperm Quality . Advances in Sexual Medicine, Vol. 2 No. 4, 2012, pp. 45-53
Yamada T, Nakamura J, Murakami M, Okuno Y, Hosokawa S, Matsuo M, Yamada H. Effect of chronic L-dopa administration on serum luteinizing hormone levels in male rats. Environmental Health Science Laboratory, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan (1995)
Gansser D, Spiteller G. Plant constituents interfering with human sex hormone-binding globulin. Evaluation of a test method and its application to Urtica dioica root extracts. Lehrstuhl Organische Chemie I, Universität Bayreuth, Bundesrepublik, Deutschland (1995)
Kochhar A, Nagi M. Effect of supplementation of traditional medicinal plants on blood glucose in non-insulin-dependent diabetics: a pilot study Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India (2005)
Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity. Northumbria University, UK (2005)
tl; dr ... Short and to the Point
Who is this article aimed at?
Anybody who has heard of TestoTek by Tek Naturals and wants to find out if the revised version beats the original.
I am busy - summarize it for me
They say the sequel is never better than the original (apart from Godfather Part 2). Are they right?
Tek Naturals have overhauled their flagship test booster and we find out whether this is an Aliens and The Godfather type sequel ... or a Highlander and Zoolander type sequel.
In this review, you state the 2000mg of D-AA is light (under-dosed) and recommend at least 3,500mg. Yet, your #1 product in this category is Prime Male, which only has 1,600mg. You don’t mention any issue of that level in the Prime Male review. Why the contradiction?
Good spot that – you are right, I’ve not explained this well enough here. Prime Male uses the calcium chelate form of DAA (D-AA-CC) which is much more expensive and more effective, meaning you need less of it in the formula. TestoTek uses the cholecalciferol variant. So whilst it seems it has more in it, it’s not as clear cut as that. Thanks for the comment though, you are right to question it. This is from the Prime Male website;
PrimeMale uses the calcium chelate form of D-AA, which is 75 times more soluble in water than conventional D-AA. Greater solubility means improved absorption and bioavailability without causing the stomach problems associated with ordinary D-AA.
Hi Murray – OK, it’s a good question. I’ve pinged Tek Naturals support to clarify this.
I’ll be amazed if it DAA Calcium Chelate though, and I’ll tell you why. If they are using that variation of DAA they would be saying so. It’s a LOT more expensive, it’s a lot harder to source. That causes all sorts of manufacturing problems and supply chain delays.
So the question that may be on your mind is ‘Why use DAA Calcium Chelate if causes those problems?’. Answer, you need less of it. When you are making a supplment there are loads of ingredients you want to include, but unless you want each capsule to be the size of a hotdog you have to make compromises on amount 3000mg daily dosage is a lot, even when spread out over 4 pills. If you can reduce that you make space for other great ingredients.
Anyway … I’ll update this when they come back and confirm.
Dosage is incorrect in your article. Where it says “How do I take it?”, you wrote “3 servings of 4 caps per day”. Its only 4 caps per day, or 2 caps in the morning and evening. TT also recommends taking them on an empty stomach. It says that on the bottle.
Thanks for doing this article, its nice to confirm that I chose a good product from a good company. I’ve been taking it for over a year and I never knew about the portion of each sale going to charity. That’s cool AF! Cheers
7 comments
Chris Jenkins says:
In this review, you state the 2000mg of D-AA is light (under-dosed) and recommend at least 3,500mg. Yet, your #1 product in this category is Prime Male, which only has 1,600mg. You don’t mention any issue of that level in the Prime Male review. Why the contradiction?
Rob Wright says:
Hi Chris,
Good spot that – you are right, I’ve not explained this well enough here. Prime Male uses the calcium chelate form of DAA (D-AA-CC) which is much more expensive and more effective, meaning you need less of it in the formula. TestoTek uses the cholecalciferol variant. So whilst it seems it has more in it, it’s not as clear cut as that. Thanks for the comment though, you are right to question it. This is from the Prime Male website;
Murray Spens says:
Ok, I am dragging up an old topic – so how do you know that this isn’t D-Aspartic Acid Calcium Chelate then?
Rob Wright says:
Hi Murray – OK, it’s a good question. I’ve pinged Tek Naturals support to clarify this.
I’ll be amazed if it DAA Calcium Chelate though, and I’ll tell you why. If they are using that variation of DAA they would be saying so. It’s a LOT more expensive, it’s a lot harder to source. That causes all sorts of manufacturing problems and supply chain delays.
So the question that may be on your mind is ‘Why use DAA Calcium Chelate if causes those problems?’. Answer, you need less of it. When you are making a supplment there are loads of ingredients you want to include, but unless you want each capsule to be the size of a hotdog you have to make compromises on amount 3000mg daily dosage is a lot, even when spread out over 4 pills. If you can reduce that you make space for other great ingredients.
Anyway … I’ll update this when they come back and confirm.
Thanks,
Rob
Rob Wright says:
Oops – totally forgot to update this comment. TEK Support (I love that name) came back really fast. It’s not the Calcium Chelate version.
Rob
Mike Boyer says:
Dosage is incorrect in your article. Where it says “How do I take it?”, you wrote “3 servings of 4 caps per day”. Its only 4 caps per day, or 2 caps in the morning and evening. TT also recommends taking them on an empty stomach. It says that on the bottle.
Thanks for doing this article, its nice to confirm that I chose a good product from a good company. I’ve been taking it for over a year and I never knew about the portion of each sale going to charity. That’s cool AF! Cheers
Rob Wright says:
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the comment. You’re right, that was badly phrased in the article, I’ve updated it. Glad it’s working out for you!
All the best,
Rob