The way everyone talks about testosterone, it’s made out to be some miracle hormone for men. It’s what makes you a macho man. It’s what fires up that manly sex drive. And it’s the God of all things for muscle growth.

That’s something along the lines of what you hear, right? When someone wants to get bigger, stronger, and add more muscle mass, you juice. When you want to light up your life in the bedroom, you find natural testosterone boosters.

Testosterone is the go-to hormone for all things manly, and if you’ve been struggling to gain lean muscle mass and strength, dealing with erectile dysfunction, or your overall meal sexual health has taken a dip, it could be because your T levels are slipping a little lower than they should be.

Maybe it’s because you’re missing key nutrients, or maybe it’s a natural decline. In any case, we’re here to uncover the complex link between testosterone and muscle and everything you need to know about the best testosterone booster for men and the best testosterone boosting supplements to maximize muscle mass.

What Is Testosterone?

Testosterone represents all things male. It’s the primary androgen in the male body that’s responsible for, most notably, sex drive and muscle growth, but also a lot more. Adequate levels of serum testosterone are required for 1, 2:

  • Strength
  • Muscle mass
  • Body fat levels
  • Insulin sensitivity
  • Mood
  • Bone mineral density
  • Libido and sexual performance
  • Physical performance

It’s one of the most powerful hormones in the male body, and if you’re not supporting it, you’re going to take notice pretty quickly. However, like women go through menopause around their 50s, men also hit what’s called ‘andropause’ resulting from hypogonadism.

It’s what scientific studies refer to as “the male climacteric,” which is characterized by reduced potency, low libido, erectile dysfunction, irritability and mood swings, fatigue, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and hot flushes 3. Sounds pretty similar to menopause, doesn’t it?

Hypogonadism is a broad term used to describe a clinical syndrome caused by low levels of androgens, which can have several adverse effects on multiple organ functions and overall quality of life.

In general, there are two types of hypogonadism a man can experience 4:

  • Primary hypogonadism: The result of underactive testicular function resulting in low testosterone production. This is usually the result of an inherited genetic trait or physical injury to the testes.
  • Secondary hypogonadism: Results from damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, both of which regulate testosterone production. Secondary hypogonadism can result from an inherited condition or disease, along with aging, obesity, medications, or concurrent illnesses.

If hypogonadism isn’t diagnosed, low testosterone can also result from the normal aging process. Studies suggest that testosterone levels decline by about 1% per year, with more pronounced declines in free testosterone levels because of alterations in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) 5.

The rate at which men experience testosterone decline highly depends on the individual. Still, factors like obesity, illness, chronic stress, lack of exercise, and medications will exacerbate the condition.

But by managing health and lifestyle factors, making healthy choices, and adding in the best testosterone booster supplements, you can prevent low testosterone levels.

Keep in mind that it’s not just older men that experience low levels of testosterone. Although relatively uncommon, younger males and adolescents can experience low testosterone from either congenital or acquired conditions that disrupt testicular production of testosterone or interfere with signaling from the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis 6.

In general, the symptoms common to older men are not usually experienced with young men, so it can be difficult to tell. The primary complaints are fatigue and low energy, but difficulty gaining or maintaining lean muscle can also be a good indication.

With all of that said, natural testosterone boosters can be a great addition to your supplement stack, whether you struggle with low testosterone levels or just want to boost your levels to maximize muscle gain. And how you do that is what we’re talking about next.

The Complex Relationship Between Testosterone And Muscle Growth

Supplement manufacturers are the first to claim that low T levels in the body are the reason you’re not gaining mass.

They claim that when you increase testosterone levels, you’ll find that you turn into an absolute animal in and out of the gym; you’re stronger, more energetic, and an all-around upgraded version of yourself.

If all of that sounds a bit too good to be true, it’s probably because it is. The promise of permanently increased testosterone may sound like the best thing since sliced bread, but the actual link between testosterone and muscle isn’t as straightforward as they make it out to be.

Let’s break it down for you.

Let’s start at the top before we get into the complexities. Testosterone is required for muscle growth, period.

If your levels are normal or on the high end of normal, chances are you’ll have an easier time gaining muscle than someone with naturally low testosterone.

Simply put, the more testosterone you have, the more muscle you can gain—diet, training, and lifestyle factors aside.

It’s been evident for quite some time that the increase in post-workout testosterone levels has relatively little impact on the amount of muscle gained long term.

Studies consistently show that the link between exercise-induced testosterone increases and gains in muscle mass is pretty weak 7.

Another study showed some pretty interesting results where testosterone and muscle gain are concerned.

They find that the amount of testosterone you have at rest may not dictate the extent of growth you experience either.

Research shows that people who put on the most muscle weren’t the men with the highest testosterone levels. 8 Actually, it was the ones with the most significant number of androgen receptors that did.

What’s this about androgen receptors?

For testosterone to do its job—especially build muscle—it needs to interact with muscle tissue, and the way it does that is via androgen receptors. These receptors respond to testosterone by signaling to muscle cells to increase the speed at which new muscle proteins are formed.

Long-term, this increase in muscle protein synthesis (MPS) results in bigger and better gains. But like the study above suggested, it’s not necessarily the amount of testosterone a man has that dictates how much muscle he’ll gain; it has more to do with how sensitive his body and muscles are to the testosterone it has.

Basically, you need sensitive androgen receptors to actually make use of the testosterone you have. But on the flip side, low testosterone levels won't do your receptors any favors either.

Some endocrinologists refer to testosterone as a “permissive” hormone—hormones that elicit profound effects on cells’ ability to respond to other hormones 9. Basically, once you have enough testosterone in your system, you can “permit” your muscles to grow.

However, if your testosterone levels are below average, you’ll probably find that gaining muscle is a slow and challenging process.

It’s the reason why anabolic steroids make muscle growth exponentially easier; when T levels are several hundred percent higher than normal levels, it’s a lot easier for your muscles to grow bigger faster.

Fluctuations in testosterone are normal, but when levels are consistently low, it’s time to consider a natural testosterone boosting supplement to help add muscle mass that much quicker.

So, how do you do that?

It’s simple: Testo Lab Pro®.

The Best Testosterone Boosting Supplement

Testo Lab Pro® is the first natural testosterone booster supplement designed to unlock the natural energy and virility you had in your youth using the world’s most advanced anabolic testosterone support.

It’s a powerful combination of five of the cleanest and most effective research-backed testosterone boosting ingredients that provide full-spectrum support for everything that makes you man. They work synergistically to:

  • Restore missing nutrients needed for testosterone production
  • Boost muscle building capacity and exercise performance
  • Elevate training intensity
  • Increase energy levels
  • Kill feminizing factors that reduce T levels
  • Increase masculine sexual power and performance
  • Regulate stress hormone levels to maximize testosterone synthesis

It’s the most advanced testosterone booster on the market that will unleash the high-T swagger that makes you the man you are.

Let’s take a look at how Testo Lab Pro® works.

The Best Testosterone Boosting Ingredients

When you combine five powerful natural testosterone boosters like Testo Lab Pro®, you’re sure to get the maximum muscle-building benefits you want. With each dose of Testo Lab Pro, you’re getting:

  1. NutriGenesis vitamin and mineral complex
  2. KSM-66® Ashwagandha
  3. Mucuna Pruriens extract
  4. D-Aspartic acid
  5. Luteolin

Nutrigenesis Vitamin And Mineral Complex

We’ll use the analogy of building a car. For your car to run properly, you need wheels, an engine, brakes, fuel, and everything else that makes a car a car.

In order for your body to build testosterone, it needs parts—those parts are vitamins and minerals. Specifically, we’re talking about five precursors that help your body produce testosterone: zinc, magnesium, boron, vitamin D, and vitamin K.

Zinc and vitamin D are some of the most widely researched nutrients for increasing T levels, but the others play a pretty good supporting role as a testosterone booster.

The link between zinc and testosterone isn’t apparent, but there’s a large body of evidence supporting the role of zinc as a natural testosterone booster for men struggling with hypogonadism.

One study found that hypogonadal men supplementing with 30 mg of zinc daily boosted free testosterone levels significantly compared to the placebo 10.

Another study published in 1996 showed an obvious link between zinc and testosterone levels. Young men were given a diet practically void of zinc to trigger a zinc deficiency 11.

Testosterone levels were measured, and results showed a drastic decrease in testosterone levels by nearly 75% after 20 weeks following a low-zinc diet.

On the other hand, we have vitamin D—one of the most widespread and powerful vitamins that plays a role in nearly every body system.

Regarding testosterone levels, the male reproductive tract is one of the identified target tissues for vitamin D, and several studies have shown a link between vitamin D3 levels and testosterone in men.

One study found that healthy overweight men undergoing a weight reduction program supplementing 3,332 IU vitamin D3 daily for one year saw significant increases in total testosterone levels, bioactive testosterone, and free testosterone levels compared to those taking the placebo 12.

The how on this isn’t completely clear, but what is clear is that vitamin D3 is essential for maintaining normal testosterone concentrations and is one of the best testosterone boosters.

Where magnesium, boron, and vitamin K come into the picture is for a supporting role. Together, they help regulate inflammation, enhance the conversion of total testosterone to free testosterone, and support steroidogenesis in the testes, all helping boost your testosterone levels.

And with patented NutriGenesis®, you’re only getting clean-cultured, nature-identical vitamins and minerals lab-grown for enhanced absorption and activity.

They’re the perfect option for restoring and raising testosterone and are, of course, the only option for the best testosterone boosters on the market.

KSM-66® Ashwagandha

Remember how we mentioned that chronic stress can kill testosterone levels faster than anything else? That’s because of the major stress hormone cortisol. Several studies show a direct link between cortisol and testosterone levels.

Research finds that high doses of glucocorticoids have an inhibitory effect on testicular Leydig cell function, which results in decreases in testosterone production 13. It’s suggested that cortisol disrupts the testicular testosterone production process via disruption of the hormone’s biosynthesis pathway.

The reason ashwagandha is such a powerful testosterone booster is because of its ability to modulate the body’s response to stress and increase resiliency.

It’s classified as one of the most powerful adaptogenic herbs—compounds that help support the body’s natural stress response and attenuate the negative effects of stress on the body. But that’s not it.

Ashwagandha is also a herb that’s been used for centuries to promote youthful vigor, enhance muscle strength and endurance, and improve overall health 14.

Studies find that because it can reduce circulating cortisol via influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal hormonal axis, it can also naturally boost testosterone levels.

And if you want more, ashwagandha helps support:

  • Physical and mental stress resistance
  • Virility (semen volume, sperm count)
  • Stoic mindset
  • Mental clarity
  • Muscle strength
  • Muscle size
  • Physical endurance

KSM-66® is one of the most potent Ashwagandha supplements on the market, and it’s obviously the only choice for Testo Lab Pro®.

It’s a full-spectrum, 100% certified organic ashwagandha extract standardized to 5% active withanolides that has been extensively studied for its masculine vitality and testosterone booster benefits.

Mucuna Pruriens Extract

Never heard of this one before? Most people haven’t, but it’s one of the newest on the scene for male sexual support and a super-effective testosterone booster.

Also called velvet bean, this compound has been used for centuries in Eastern herbalism practices and is prized for its abilities to support masculine vigor, virility, and sex drive.

The main compound in velvet bean, levodopa (L-DOPA), and its metabolites are some of the most powerful compounds for boosting brain concentrations of dopamine. Not only is dopamine the pleasure neurotransmitter, but it also stimulates the male sex drive.

Studies find that supplementing with Mucuna pruriens can improve testosterone levels, LH, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in the body in infertile men, and offers a profound effect on sperm count and motility 15.

It’s been suggested that increased dopamine concentration in the brain may not just optimize the release of hormones like testosterone, which leads to heightened sexual drive and improved performance, but it may also help reduce psychological stress 16. It’s a 2-for-1 deal that you shouldn’t pass up on.

Combined with the other ingredients in Testo Lab Pro®, velvet bean helps to:

  • Increase testosterone levels in men with low sperm count
  • Improve sex drive, semen volume, and sperm quality
  • Reduce prolactin, the hormone that produces milk in women
  • Fight the negative effects of mental and physical stress on the body

D-Aspartic Acid

D-aspartic acid (DAA) is an amino acid that’s naturally present in the central nervous system and reproductive tissues.

As an amino acid, they’re typically used to build proteins, but D-aspartic acid is actually used preferentially for hormone production, making it an exceptional testosterone boosting supplement.

Studies find that aspartic acid can influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG) at three different levels: the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary, and the testes.

Because aspartic acid accumulates at these sites, it up-regulates testosterone production, along with upstream effectors of the HPG axis, including luteinizing hormone 17.

Early research suggests that 3g daily of DAA boosted total testosterone in untrained men by more than 40% 18.

The popularity of aspartic acid supplements in recreational resistance training has skyrocketed thanks to the discovered link between testosterone levels and various mechanisms of muscular hypertrophy.

Research also points to the role of DAA for enhancing the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), as well as acting on the pituitary gland to stimulate secretion of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), and growth hormone (GH); and in the testes, it’s involved in testosterone and progesterone release 19.

Luteolin

Extracted from oranges, luteolin is a powerful botanical antioxidant that effectively delays late-onset hypogonadism in aging men and acts as a natural testosterone booster.

Studies find that luteolin can help support normal testosterone levels by blocking aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, but also by enhancing steroidogenesis via upregulation of StAR expression 20, 21.

Luteolin’s bioactivity works alongside all the other ingredients in Testo Lab Pro® to support healthy testosterone levels.

It stacks with D-aspartic acid to maximize DAA’s influence on testosterone, and for men over 40, luteolin is a super effective compound for regulating aromatase’s testosterone-to-estrogen conversion rate, which increases with age and is linked to age-related testosterone decline.

So, if you’re looking for a good complementary testosterone boosting ingredient to add to your formula, luteolin is it.

Final Thoughts

Testosterone-boosting supplements are a great addition to your stack if you want to take muscle gains even further.

Testosterone is one of many factors involved in developing muscle bulk and strength, but without sufficient amounts, it’s going to be difficult to put on the amount of mass you want.

So, whether your levels tend to normally fall on the low end or you’re experiencing age-related declines, testosterone boosting supplements are a must if you’re looking to build muscle at 30, 50, or even 70+.

But remember, they’re not the be-all-end-all for maximizing your body’s muscle-building capacity. Sure, your body requires a sufficient amount of testosterone to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, but if you’re relying on testosterone boosters to get the job done, you’re not going to see the results you want.

You need to combine the best testosterone boosters on the market with a solid resistance training program to see results. It’s a simple equation. Muscle growth requires stress, so if you’re not pushing your muscles out of their comfort zone, you’re not going to see growth.

Testo Lab Pro® is one of the strongest testosterone booster supplements available to boost testosterone levels, enhance sexual performance, improve energy levels, and take your training and overall health to an entirely new level.

With only natural ingredients and a slew of other health benefits, it’s one of, if not the, best test boosters around.

References

  1. MM Shores, NL Smith, CW Forsberg, BD Anawalt, AM Matsumoto. Testosterone treatment and mortality in men with low testosterone levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97(6):2050-2058.
  2. C Wang, G Cunningham, A Dobs, et al. Long-term testosterone gel (AndroGel) treatment maintains beneficial effects on sexual function and mood, lean and fat mass, and bone mineral density in hypogonadal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004;89(5):2085-2098.
  3. P Singh. Andropause: Current concepts.Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013;17(Suppl 3):S621-S629.
  4. P Kumar, N Kumar, DS Thakur, A Patidar. Male hypogonadism: Symptoms and treatment.J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2010;1(3):297-301.
  5. AM Matsumoto. Andropause: clinical implications of the decline in serum testosterone levels with aging in men.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002;57(2):M76-M99.
  6. J Cohen, DE Nassau, P Patel, R Ramasamy. Low Testosterone in Adolescents & Young Adults [published correction appears in Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Jul 14;11:449]. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;10:916.
  7. DW West, SM Phillips. Associations of exercise-induced hormone profiles and gains in strength and hypertrophy in a large cohort after weight training.Eur J Appl Physiol. 2012;112(7):2693-2702.
  8. RW Morton, K Sato, MPB Gallaugher, et al. Muscle Androgen Receptor Content but Not Systemic Hormones Is Associated With Resistance Training-Induced Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy in Healthy, Young Men.Front Physiol. 2018;9:1373.
  9. CC Malbon, PJ Rapiejko, DC Watkins. Permissive hormone regulation of hormone-sensitive effector systems.Trends Pharmacol Sci. 1988;9(1):33-36.
  10. LR Brilla, V Conte. Effects of a Novel Zinc-Magnesium Formulation on Hormones and Strength. J. Exerc. Physiol. 2000 Oct; 3(4):26-36.
  11. AS Prasad, CS Mantzoros, FW Beck, JW Hess, GJ Brewer. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. 1996;12(5):344-348.
  12. S Pilz, S Frisch, H Koertke, et al. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men.Horm Metab Res. 2011;43(3):223-225.
  13. DC Cumming, ME Quigley, SS Yen. Acute suppression of circulating testosterone levels by cortisol in men.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983;57(3):671-673.
  14. AL Lopresti, PD Drummond, SJ Smith. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males.Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(2):1557988319835985.
  15. KK Shukla, AA Mahdi, MK Ahmad, SN Shankhwar, S Rajender, SP Jaiswar. Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.Fertil Steril. 2009;92(6):1934-1940.
  16. KK Shukla, AA Mahdi, MK Ahmad, SP Jaiswar, SN Shankwar, SC Tiwari. Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile Men.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2010;7(1):137-144.
  17. GW Melville, JC Siegler, PWM Marshall. The effects of d-aspartic acid supplementation in resistance-trained men over a three month training period: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2017;12(8):e0182630.
  18. E Topo, A Soricelli, A D'Aniello, S Ronsini, G D'Aniello. The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats.Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009;7:120. 
  19. A D’Aniello. D-Aspartic acid: an endogenous amino acid with an important neuroendocrine role. Brain Res Rev. 2007;53(2):215-234.
  20. DF Lu, LJ Yang, F Wang, GL Zhang. Inhibitory effect of luteolin on estrogen biosynthesis in human ovarian granulosa cells by suppression of aromatase (CYP19).J Agric Food Chem. 2012;60(34):8411-8418.
  21. LJ Martin, M Touaibia. Improvement of Testicular Steroidogenesis Using Flavonoids and Isoflavonoids for Prevention of Late-Onset Male Hypogonadism.Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(3):237.