The winners podium. We talk through what we look for, what's important, and why these three have taken the 1,2,3.
Welcome to our ‘best test boosters’ for the low test category. Suitable for older guys who want to help their body regenerate its own testosterone in an inexpensive, safe and natural way.
We’ve put this page together to make life easy for you.
Before we get started, let’s quickly cover the points we assess when we are rating a test booster. We go quite in-depth in this site in individual reviews, but to sum up what we are evaluating;
• The Ingredients – Not just what is in it, but the dosages … and also what it is missing.
• Price – Not just the overall cost but the value for money that the product offers
• Where to Buy – Is there anything more frustrating than a great product you can’t get a hold of
• Trust – You will be ingesting these products! We need to be confident of their safety
• Testimonials – What are others saying about it
• The Manufacturer – Who is behind the product
We’ve kissed a lot of frogs to bring you these princes. A LOT of frogs. And we don’t like kissing frogs [Editor: Well, apart from Andy, I think he might].
The point is that we’ve kissed the frogs so you don’t have to.
Our top 3 low test boosters are summarized below for you. As always, more information is just a click away and we’ve also linked to the manufacturer’s site to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
Find out who are currently in the top three podium positions for the low test boosters...
#1 Centrapeak
Centrapeak is more than just a test booster, it's a male vitality booster. It is designed for men in the 35+ category with low test (or suspected low test) and low mood. Men who could use a boost in every department.
By using the latest and best test boosting ingredients and dropping the high volume candidates that don't deliver for the Low T crod, they have made space for effective cognitive enhancers to get you feeling better.
The end result is a product packed with ingredients with extremely strong clinical pedigree in elevated test levels in men with low test, elevating mood, increasing energy and reducing stress.
If any of the above rings true with you then you should look into it. It also represents excellent value for money.
GOLD MEDAL - We expect to see more of this type of product launched through 2019, it's a fantastic formula and easily takes the number one spot as MVP. If you have low test (or suspect that's the case) and are feeling down, get your hands on a supply of this.
It's currently only available in the USA and Canada unfortunately, so any of our readers living elsewhere will need to look further down the list.
OK, you could be forgiven for asking what on earth our top Muscle Building test booster is doing in the Low T top three. It's a bit like Michael Phelps - just because he wins the 200m butterfly doesn't mean he can't come second in the 200m freestyle.
Hunter Test makes it into the number 2 position in the Low T category by virtue of the fact that, just like Michael Phelps, it's the complete package.
Hunter Test has been aimed squarely at the professional men in their 40s and 50s who have started to lose that edge in the boardroom. That freshed faced young graduate who only joined the firm last year?. The one who has started playing golf with the boss?. The one you caught sitting in the chair in your office when he thought you were out to lunch?. Time to nuke him from orbit with a couple of bottles of Hunter Test.
It is a premium product (which basically means it's good but very expensive). It has a very strong formula using modern well researched ingredients. It's certainly a top low test boosting product.
Why is it not the top low test booster? 2 Things. Firstly: the inclusion of such a large quantity of DAA means it's more suitable for the gym, and having that in it means they've had to sacrifice a lot of ingredients Centrapeak has been able to add. Secondly: the price.
SECOND PLACE - Hunter Test is our top ranking Muscle Building Test booster, and was a real contender here.
A very strong formula, and free nutrition and workout guide on the 4 box deal make it is a worthy second place and well deserved podium finish.
Propura, the creators Prime Male, are clearly clued up on what a body over 30 needs to stay at hormonal peak.
Great natural choices to counter estrogen in the form of vitamin B6 and luteolin. Mucuna Pruriens, zinc, boron and nettle root for test, coupled with a high dose of D3 coupled with magnesium and K2. It's a strong product.
A strong (and fully disclosed) formula, a good solid company, a ludicrous number of positive testimonials. Worldwide shipping, distribution from the US and UK. Worthy runner up, it's a good product.
BRONZE MEDAL - For a long while Prime Male led the pride. It's an excellent formula and the testimonials section should offer reassurance to anybody doubting whether the product really works outside the lab.
You can't stay alpha male forever though. It sat on it's laurels, the formula hasn't been updated in four years and Prime Male was eventually usurped by a couple of younger, fitter and hungrier beasts. Still well worthy of the bronze medal position though.
Before we start looking at the herbs, vitamins, and nutrients that’ll put the fire back into the smolder of your testosterone production, it’s important to look at exactly why you’re hormone levels are simmering on the background rather than exploding in the face of your significant other.
Low testosterone is an issue facing more and more men.
There are over 3 million Americans suffering from clinically low anabolic hormone levels.
And according to large reviews such as the HIM study (Mulligan, T et al. Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract. 2006 Jul 1; 60(7): 762-769) , 40% of men aged 45 have low testosterone.
What’s a healthy and safe testosterone level?
It’s pretty difficult to say exactly what your blood testosterone should be because it naturally changes based on genetics, lifestyle, and age.
The standard 300-1,000 ng.dL is a benchmark that most clinicians use. And as soon as you fall below that lower threshold, your doctor will diagnose you with hypogonadism – low T.
But remember this. It’s different for everyone.
One man could feel on top of the world with a T level of 350 ng.dL. He might be able to run a fast 10 km race, lift his body weight on the bench press, and leave his lover a quivering mess from multiple orgasms after a 2-hour bedroom marathon.
Another man might have a T level of 500 ng.dL and feel lethargic, tired, weak and much more interested in watching the game than going to bed early with their partner.
Because testosterone is produced as part of a complex system of communication between your brain, glands, and testes, there’s a lot that can go wrong.
However, most guys that suffer from low T find that it’s caused by one of two mechanisms;
Regardless of the cause, the result of low T is always the same though.
The specific symptoms of low T vary from one man to the next. Both in terms of type and magnitude.
If you’re lucky, you might just suffer a bit of muscle loss and a bit of belly fat. Less fortunate guys might end up depressed, feel worthless, be at risk of a range of illnesses and even die early.
Here are the common side effects of hypogonadism:
So we figured that there’s a good chance you are here because;
And you want to look at all the options. 10 years ago there weren’t many options, but nowadays there are plenty. We’ve already covered the natural test booster angle, let’s take a quick look at the other alternatives you’ve got.
OK, we are going to transport you back in time to High School chemistry lessons here. To make it more interesting, in your mind’s eye replace your chemistry teacher with Walter White from Breaking Bad.
So every ten minutes the levels of effective free test halve. After one hour, levels are 1/64 of the original. This constitutes ‘perishable’. To stop it perishing they esterify the testosterone in oil, and it can then be injected into muscle using a basic hypodermic syringe. Easy.
Surgical implants sound very modern but testosterone implants have been about since Adolf Hitler was in power. 3 to 6 crystallized testosterone pellets are inserted under the skin arond the thighs and abdomen and break down over a period of 6 months releasing test into your system.
Now this one is a modern development. The testosterone is taken twice a day in tablet form, you hold it in your cheek next to the gum whilst it dissolves.
By absorbing it in this way it gets into the bloodstream very quickly, and less of the test is metabolized by muscular tissue.
Applied via a patch or gel, daily in the morning. Transdermal testosterone patches were initially developed to be applied directly to a shaved scrotum.
You can imagine how popular that was. Presumably the halfwit that came up with that plan was quickly dismissed and new more acceptable application method developed.
A very uncommon TRT method in the USA (as the FDA never approved the testosterone derivative used), but more common in Europe. Not new, been available for many years.
Although a large proportion of men suffer from low T as they age, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s not age itself that lowers your hormone levels – it’s just your lifestyle catching up with you [2].
And that means you CAN put measures in place to reverse the hole that you find yourself in. And you can DEFINITELY rediscover that young man that you once were.
Whether you’re in your early thirties, fifties or seventies, you can make a change – and that’s where testosterone-boosting nutrients come in.
Not all testosterone boosting nutrients are made the same. The unfortunate truth is that some manufacturers give you false hope. They make promises that your physiology just can’t cash in. You try the product for a few weeks and absolutely nothing, leaving you feeling disappointed and out of pocket.
But there are some that will take your low hormone levels and ramp them up faster than you could ever imagine.
Because nature has given you everything you need to get back on track. You just need to put your focus into something that actually works, rather than spending your hard-earned money and time on pipe dreams.
Here are the very best testosterone-enhancing nutrients to get you from hypogonadal to hypermasculine.
Known as the sunshine nutrient, vitamin D is a type of secosteroid hormone.
Ideally your body would make all the vitamin d you need from the UV rays of the sun. Through a complex series of chemical conversions, UV light is converted in vitamin D by your own body.
In terms of testosterone, vitamin D acts as a precursor. And various studies have found a strong association between the two.
One German research project found that when 54 overweight men were given 3,333 IU of vitamin D3 per day for 12 month, total T increased from 10.7 – 13.4 nmol.L and free T from 0.22 – 0.27 [3].
Unless you live on a beach in the hottest climate on earth, chances are you don’t get enough to support optimal conversion.
Even foods high in vitamin D such as oily fish, eggs and fortified cereal rarely provide enough of the nutrient to optimize hormonal health.
In fact, one study found that as many as 42% of American are deficient in the sunshine nutrient [4]. Those that live further from the equator or have darker skin are very unlikely to get what they need from the sun.
Current guidelines suggest higher doses of vitamin D3 – the most potent version of vitamin D is best for health and performance.
It’s estimated that the body requires 3000-5000 IU of vitamin D per day to meet the needs of every tissue and cell in the body [5].
This includes raising and maintaining testosterone levels in men too.
However, higher doses of 6,000-8,000 [6] IU have been linked to better athletic performance, testosterone enhancement and better muscle recovery, so premium vitamin D3 products tend to go towards the higher end.
The humble mineral zinc is found in foods such as oyster, beef and shellfish. It’s an essential nutrient meaning your body can’t make its own. You have to get it from your diet.
The problem is that with 2 billion people worldwide suffering from zinc deficiency, chances are you don’t get enough of it [9].
Zinc promotes overall health by regulating cell growth, controlling metabolism, maintaining brain function and making sure your prostate stays healthy. There’s also a strong link between zinc supplementation and lower risk of cardiovascular disease too.
If you’re the kind of guy that likes to hit things hard in the gym, znc is your new best friend. Heavy exercise decreases testosterone temporarily, but when volunteers used 3 mg per kg of body weight over a 4-week period, their testosterone levels didn’t decrease [10].
If you’re struggling with fertility zinc is your go-to nutrient. In a group of nearly 40 men, zinc supplements used as testosterone boosters helped increase both T and DHT (a type of strong androgen hormone like testosterone) [11].
In fact, results were so potent that 9 of those men not only regained their fertility but managed to get their partners pregnant too… so be careful out there!
Optimal dose: 30 mg
It might be the hardest nutrient on this to pronounce, but ashwagandha is one for your shopping cart if hormone optimization is your end goal.
As an adaptogen, Ayurvedic herb, ashwagandha contains several bioactive ingredients – alkaloids, fatty acids and steroidal lactones being the most common.
Its name might mean ‘smell of horse’. But don’t let that put you off. It’s been used to boost mood (which is why it’s used more and more in nootropic supplements), exercise performance and cognitive function in both young and older guys.
But what’s really of interest here is its potential to ramp up testosterone.
It’s understudied at present, but the studies that are available show promising results. One in particular jumps out as it showed 15% increases in androgen hormone levels after only 8 weeks of trial during intense weight lifting [12].
They also reported lower levels of muscle damage too, meaning recovery was better after hard workouts with weights.
That was in a sample of with guys including some in their 50s too.
Optimal dose: 600 mg
Another dietary mineral, boron is chemical element found in foods such as raisins, brazil nuts, prunes and apricots.
Boron acts as an important ‘chaperone’, helping shuttle other minerals such as calcium and phosphorous where it’s needed. It reduces symptoms of osteoporosis, arthritis and helps regulate cell membrane function too.
In terms of testosterone, boron is the uber-cool new kid on the block. Although there aren’t as many clinical trials to fall on compared to nutrients like vitamin D3, short-term boron supplementation has been shown to increase free testosterone by 14.7%, DHT by 10% and decreased testosterone’s worst enemy SHBG by 9% [13].
And another found that a big boron dose of 10 mg taken each day over a 4-week period accelerated T levels by a modest 11.4%. That’s not bad at all for a short space of time [14].
And finally, boron has been shown to increase androgen levels in elite bodybuilders too – by 62% over 9 weeks. And that was with a small dose of only 2.5 mg [15].
Don’t be a moron. Take boron… or something like that anyway.
Optimal dose: 2.5-10 mg
Indole-3-carbinol (I3C for short) is a formed from a chemical called glucobrassicin. As the name suggests, it’s found in ‘brassica’ vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and collard greens.
And well, you know, veggies are pretty good for you.
I3C has been shown to prevent some types of cancers, respiratory illness and fibromyalgia. It’s also an important regulator of energy and metabolism too.
This important compound elevates testosterone in a different way to all of the other nutrients mentioned on this list.
Its main action is to reduce aromatization – the process of excess testosterone being converted to the female hormone, estrogen [16]. By slowing down the amount of T that gets converted to estrogen, there’s much more bioavailable test ready to be taken up by the tissues over your body.
The result? More strength, more energy, lower body fat and more muscle mass.
When I3C breaks down during digestion it forms another chemical called diindolymethane (DIM) – another compound known to optimize hormone levels.
Optimal dose: up to 200 mg
12 comments
Kevin W Chapman says:
I can’t pay for my dr.prescription. .too much…please …I need to know best pills to take
Rob Wright says:
Hi Kevin,
That’s why we put this page together! Just about every option on this site will be a fraction of the cost of TRT. Good luck,
Rob
Manav says:
How often does these top test boosters change in your list?
Rob Wright says:
Hi Manav,
It depends … is the politician’s answer. Entirely dependant on what new products are coming onto the market, their price, formula, reputation, availability. As it happens there are good new low test boosting products launching in 2019 (after a long spell with nothing mindblowing appearing on the horizon). So our top 3 list is very much up to date with the best available!
Hope it helps you. Thanks,
Rob
Ryan Jordan says:
What is the difference between test boosters for low test and the muscle building products? A lot of the ingredients are the same, I am 35 but do not got to gym. Should I get one of these boosters on this list or am I too young?
Rob Wright says:
Hi Ryan,
This is a good question (it gets asked a lot on this site).
Yes, there are differences. First of all in the research. Take a product like Centrapeak for example, the ingredients all have very strong results in academic research and studies. But not for young guys in the gym with normal test levels, those studies were all done on older guys with confirmed low testosterone. So that manufacturer can be confident in their product as that’s the market they are trying to appeal to.
They are not saying the product will elevate test levels above the normal range. The products in the muscle category are aiming to do that. They tend to have a slightly different ingredient profile and dosages. Ingredients such as DAA which are specifically aimed at muscle building guys. The low t products will often have ingredients associated with libido which the muscle building products aimed at younger guys don’t include.
There are many overlaps though as you point out. Muscle building boosters will have ingredients which increase nitric oxide and blood flow because this will help in the gym building muscle and repairing muscle damage. Increased nitric oxide and blood flow help in the bedroom too though (low test booster territory) so the same ingredients can be found in them.
So yes, the differences go beyond the packaging. And yes, there is an overlap in ingredients too. Take your time and read through the reviews on the site before making your purchase. There will be a test booster that’s just right for you, our ‘Best of’ pages will help narrow that down.
Thanks,
Rob
Bill Martin says:
I anm a 56 year old, live in the USA. I’ve found physicians far too quick to put guys on TRT, I’ve had buddies put straight onto that. It costs too, I keep reading about health care plans covering the cost of testosterone therapy but I sure don’t know anyone who didn’t have to pay for it. Maybe there are some real premium plans that cover it. You should do an article on TRT costs, it’s hard to find answers on that.
Rob Wright says:
Hi Bill,
Thanks for your comment. We did actually start an article on TRT costs some time ago, but it never got published. We just couldn’t come up with figures worth writing about, costs (in the US certainly) were totally dependent on health insurance policies and as you probably know, there are thousands of different health insurance policies. And each one tailored to the specifics of the individual based on their medical history and a load of other factors including family medical history.
Prices also varied wildly from clinic to clinic. And it also depend on what you need TRT for. It may be covered under your policy for the treatment of a health condition … trouble is that increasing energy, improving libido, losing fat etc. aren’t health conditions, they are desirable lifestyle improvements. So are unlikely to be covered in a lot of cases.
We do know this – one way or another it’s a heck of a lot more expensive than buying a T Boosting supplement, that’s for sure. It’s a good point you raise though, we should try harder to get a useful article written on the subject.
Thanks,
Rob
patrick says:
do I need to take an estrogen blocker with these?
Rob Wright says:
Hi Patrick,
It’s a good question, it’s actually been asked a couple of times recently in the comments on the site. The answer in relation to these products is ‘No’. The top low test boosters on this page contain estrogen control ingredients to manage estrogen levels.
You can definitely stack these products with other supplements – protein, creatine, carbohydrate, even fat burners. However, we definitely wouldn’t recommend combining them with any other testosterone related products. You should also be conscious of combining these products with multi-vitamins. A Multi-vit will often contain zinc and magnesium, you need to be aware of the combined levels to ensure they don’t go over tolerable thresholds.
Hope this helps,
Rob
MR BIG says:
Real Test that you take with an injection TRT is the only thing that will help anyone with Low T. The cost is nothing compared to what you get back from the TRT. I have been battling this since I was 30 years old and for $200-300 a month makes you feel 20 years younger and keep living life to the fullest is priceless. Any kind of test booster you can get online like pills that you take for 3-4 weeks and then you are supposed to feel better is a . waste of money none of it works. If you cant find a Dr. or are scared to talk to one go pay for a blood panel of your test levels and Im sure you can find one online!
Rob Wright says:
Thanks for the info Mr Big,
It is definitely useful to know what you are paying. And I wouldn’t disagree with you – in terms of increasing testosterone levels, nothing is going to be more effective than being injected with a great big syringe full of synthetic testosterone.
You say you don’t think natural test boosters work … but then you are saying you’ve been having testosterone injections for many years – and you wouldn’t be taking a test booster in conjunction with TRT. Which tells me you have not actually taken a test boosting supplement for many years? So what I’m reading into this is that you’re saying they don’t work, but you’ve not actually tried any of them for many years, if at all?
I’ve been involved in the supplements industry for a long time, I’ve seen countless testimonials sent in by guys in relation to test boosters – and that includes their bloodwork results. For me there is no question they can be cheap, healthy and effective. So you are right – a test injection is a guaranteed way to boost test. But it’s also $200-300 dollars a month, and you have to go to the doctors to get it administered. It’s just not practical for a lot of guys (especially needle-phobics), and there can be other downsides that have been listed above.
However, saying that – if it’s working for you then that is great! I think the important thing to note from all this is that there are a lot of options which suit different budgets, lifestyles, ages and preferences. You can try different approaches, taking one route doesn’t commit you to that for the rest of your life. So if it works for you then you’ve nailed it. If not then keep trying.
All the best, thanks for your comment and keep it big Mr Big!! 🙂
Rob