JPost Jobs. Cancel Subscription. Customer Service. The Jerusalem Post Group. Breaking News. Iran News. World News. JPost NY Conference. Diplomatic Conference. IvritTalk- Free trial lesson. The Jerusalem Report. Jerusalem Post Lite. March of the living. Kabbalat Shabbat. Shapers of Israel. Maariv Online. Maariv News. Tools and services. Among the bodybuilding community, it is thought that tribulus increases levels of luteinizing hormone , known as LH, which stimulates production of testosterone, a hormone associated with building strength and muscle mass.
Its growth in popularity is due to the belief that it works well, and in a safe, natural, and legal manner. Tribulus is not considered a banned substance by the International Olympic Committee. There have been a few studies on the effectiveness of this extract.
Many have been performed on animals. Although a few studies showed that tribulus has an aphrodisiac effect in animals, no recognized studies have shown it to have strength-building properties in humans. Despite a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of tribulus, many athletes continue to use it.
Tribulus is a neutral substance that does not hinder the effects of other supplements, making it a popular ingredient for stacking. Scientists are investigating the effects of tribulus on inflammatory and allergic skin reactions.
An antioxidant found in its fruit — called rutin — suppresses an overactive immune response in the skin. Applying the fruit extract to the skin of mice reduced inflammation. It worked by preventing the activation of mast cells, immune cells that drive skin inflammation and cause redness [ 48 , 49 ]. It had similar effects in the colon in mice with inflammatory bowel disease [ 39 , 50 ]. Some researchers found that tribulus may increase the activity of melanocyte stimulating hormone MSH in hair follicles in the lab.
MSH increases melanin levels, which gives hair a darker color. Animal and human trials need to determine whether it can prevent or reduce greying hair, based on this potential mechanism [ 52 ]. In chronically-stressed rats with depression , tribulus decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improved mood [ 53 ]. A couple of research groups aim to find out if tribulus is active against the following microbes in cell culture:. Scientists are also studying the effects of tribulus and its active compounds such as Terrestrosin D on different cancer cell types [ 56 , 57 , 58 ].
Lastly, acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter orchestrates cholinergic activity in the body and is vital for memory, learning, alertness, and attention. Tribulus weakly-blocked the activity of acetylcholinesterase in a cell study, but its impact on acetylcholine in humans is completely unknown [ 59 ]. The evidence is mixed, especially when it comes to healthy men with normal testosterone levels and sexual function.
Future studies should use standardized extracts, as the effects may also vary depending on the concentration and type of active compounds. Tribulus alone or in combination with other supplements did not enhance exercise performance or body composition in athletes in several clinical studies [ 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Tribulus caused weight gain in rats by raising testosterone levels, but it failed to affect testosterone in humans. In one study of 65 men with poor semen quality, tribulus decreased body fat and increased lean mass [ 17 , 24 ].
Although tribulus is often advertised for increasing testosterone levels, research does not support its effectiveness for this use. Studies have found that tribulus increases testosterone levels in rats, mice, and primates.
But the same line of research has not been fruitful in humans. On the contrary, tribulus did not increase testosterone levels free or total in multiple studies in men with either low or normal testosterone levels [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 26 , 14 , 25 , 12 , 66 ].
Both studies had the same authors and used people from an outpatient clinic at Cairo University. Their findings were never replicated [ 14 , 13 ]. In a trial of 40 women, tribulus increased testosterone levels. Dihydrotestosterone DHT is a more potent form of testosterone that gives men their characteristic facial and body hair growth. On the other hand, excessive DHT is also implicated in baldness in men. In a couple of clinical studies, the effect of tribulus appeared to be mixed.
For example, two studies found a strong effect. However, the ingredients in this formulation were not specified [ 35 , 27 ]. However, the study included participants with normal cholesterol levels. It is theoretically possible that this plant only affects raised levels in people at risk of heart disease, though much more research is needed [ 68 ]. Tribulus also protected blood vessels from damage caused by a cholesterol-rich diet in animals and decreased total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in rats and chickens.
These effects have not been proven in humans [ 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ]. Although it looks to be promising for a couple of conditions, many of the benefits of Tribulus are yet to be confirmed by clinical trials. Users report that Tribulus increases libido, gives them a boost of energy, and provides a general feeling of well-being.
Some users report headaches and increased irritability and aggression. The opinions expressed in this section are solely those of the users who may or may not have medical or scientific training.
Their reviews do not represent the opinions of SelfHacked. SelfHacked does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Do not consider user experiences as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on SelfHacked. We understand that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.
Tribulus terrestris is a herb with a long history of use that can help improve libido and sexual function. This herb is also under investigation for potential benefits to fertility, blood sugar levels, and the heart. Although it is often touted to increase testosterone, research strongly suggests it has no such effect in healthy men. It may boost testosterone in men with low levels and in women, but the evidence is weak.
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