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Home > Natural T-Booster: Review by Rehan Jalali and Sofia Ghani, Pharm.D., IRONMAN Jan '00 ![]()
Natural T-Booster: Review by Rehan Jalali and Sofia Ghani, Pharm.D., IRONMAN Jan '00![]()
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| Natural T-Booster: A New Weapon in the Battle
to Increase Testosterone Levels and Enhance Performance
by Rehan Jalali and Sofia Ghani, Pharm.D., IRONMAN Jan '00
We all know how powerful pro-hormones can be, as evidenced mainly by real-world results and a small amount of new scientific research. Many bodybuilders and athletes knew about them even before that fateful day when an eager reporter discovered the now-famous bottle of androstenedione in Mark McGwire’s locker. Thanks to that incident, androstenedione had arrived, but, despite the fact that it was receiving a lot of attention, the negative outweighed the positive. Critics were taking potshots at pro-hormones left and right. Some of their concerns were ludicrous, but many were real issues.
There’s no doubt that pro-hormones have worked for a large number of bodybuilders and other athletes by increasing testosterone levels. Even so, there’s a price that comes with pro-hormone use. First of all, since pro-hormones can boost testosterone levels significantly, unwanted by-products of testosterone synthesis, like estrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can result. In fact, androstenedione can actually convert directly into estrone, a form of estrogen. Now, unless you’re preparing to breast-feed, that’s not good.
Another problem is that pro-hormones may cause a false positive on a test for anabolic steroids because they may elevate the testosteron-to-epitestosterone ratio to above the allowable NCAA, Olympic and NFL levels of 6-to-1. What’s more, they have to be cycled and cannot be taken continuously over a long period of time because they may cause a negative feedback inhibition that can actually suppress natural testosterone levels, something that typically happens when people use steroids and end up having to take human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG) after their cycle to stimulate testosterone levels again.
Let’s take a step back and start with a relatively generic question: Why is it good to boost testosterone levels?
Testosterone is one of the most powerful muscle-building hormones in the human body. Many athletes and scientists have known about its amazing effects for years; however, what’s really interesting is that not only can it help you build muscle, but research indicates that it may also boost sex drive, slow aging and even enhance your mood. Normal testosterone levels for males are between 300 and 1,000 nanograms per deciliter. A lot of your testosterone is bound to sex-hormone-binding globulin, also known as testosterone-binding globulin, so it’s important to elevate your free, or more usable, testosterone.
What if there was a way to boost testosterone levels that was safer and more natural than taking pro-hormones or anabolic steroids? What if there were nutrients that were proven in clinical studies to have testosterone-boosting effects and to help improve athletic performance? The product we’re about to describe may be one of the most beneficial supplement combinations on the market today. So put your tray tables up and your seat in the upright position and get ready for takeoff!
The first ingredient in this compound is well-known for its powerful natural testosterone-boosting effects. Tribulus terrestris, an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine that’s also known as puncture vine, has been shown to boost testosterone levels naturally through a unique mechanism. Basically, it stimulates leutinizing hormone (LH) production from the anterior pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates testosterone production. Some clinical studies have shown that trib can enhance LH and free testosterone levels in healthy subjects by 70 and 40 percent, respectively. A Bulgarian study revealed that more than 200 men suffering from impotence—which is often caused by low testosterone levels—showed improved testosterone and LH levels as well as sperm production after the subjects supplemented with a preparation of tribulus terrestris. The research also shows it to be very safe. The LD50, a measure of an ingredient’s lethal toxicity, for tribulus in rats was more than 10 grams per kilogram of bodyweight, which is an incredibly high number. The active compounds of tribulus terrestris that may be responsible for its anabolic and aphrodisiac properties are the furostanol saponins, including protodioscin. It works at a divided dose of about 750 to 1500 milligrams per day.
The next ingredient is muira puama, an herb that’s also known as potency wood. It’s native to Brazil and has been used as a powerful aphrodisiac and nerve stimulant for many years. A French study done at the Institute of Sexology in Paris under the direction of Dr. Jacques Waynberg, one of the world’s foremost authorities on sexual dysfunction, involved approximately 262 patients who complained of impotence and lack of libido. The results showed that muira puama supplementation had a tremendous positive effect in the majority of the subjects. It seemed to correct impotence and improve sex drive through an unknown mechanism, but that effect may be due to increases in testosterone levels or, possibly, a positive effect on nitric oxide (NO) levels, which would improve erectile function. In the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs (CRC Press, 1985) James Duke also talks about the positive effects of muira puama with regards to restoring libido and improving erectile dysfunction. Although the direct impact of the herb on testosterone levels is speculative, it does have merit—which brings up the real possibility of the herb’s being a natural Viagra.
Now we come to the exciting new vitamin-and-mineral combination called ZMA™. It’s a special combination of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6. The zinc is specifically formulated as zinc aspartate and zinc mono L-methionine, which makes it incredibly bioavailable because of the two forms of chelates. The magnesium is also found in a chelated form bound to aspartate, which makes it very bioavailable as well. In fact, the magnesium and zinc are bound together to the aspartate, which can also, chemically speaking, enhance absorption, meaning you get more of their benefits.
ZMA is the creation of Balco Labs and Executive Director Victor Conte, who’s been studying the effects of minerals and trace elements for more than 15 years. Research conducted by Balco Labs on strength athletes shows that ZMA’s precise combination of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 can increase total and free testosterone levels by 30 percent. That study, which has been accepted for publication in the Sports Medicine, Training, and Rehabilitation Journal showed that nightly supplementation with ZMA increased strength and power as well. That’s exciting news for performance athletes and bodybuilders. ZMA has also been used very effectively by world-class athletes, including the NFL champion Denver Broncos.
How do the ingredients in the ZMA increase sports performance and testosterone? Zinc is a micromineral involved in the action of several hormones, including insulin, growth hormone, testosterone and estrogen. It plays a role in more than 200 enzymatic reactions. Research has indicated that people who exercise have a greater need for zinc, as they’re more prone to a zinc deficiency. But is it proven to increase testosterone levels in healthy subjects? You betcha!
A 1996 study titled “Zinc Status and Serum Testosterone Levels of Healthy Adults” by Ananda Prasad, M.D., Ph.D., that was published in the journal Nutrition showed that taking 30 milligrams of supplemental zinc daily doubled the testosterone levels of healthy men who were experiencing moderate zinc deficiency in six months. Now, that’s a testosterone booster! In addition, zinc has been shown in several research studies to increase growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and it has antioxidant activity that helps support the immune system. Zinc deficiency seems to be prevalent among athletes because not only do they lose minerals due to strenuous exercise, but they also lose a lot through sweat and urine. It’s important to note that several things can inhibit zinc absorption, such as calcium, copper and phytates, the latter of which are found in grains and many cereals. Consequently, it’s vital that you take zinc on an empty stomach, preferably before bed. It’s not enough to just take a multivitamin and -mineral supplement, as too much negative interaction and competitive absorption of minerals occurs.
Magnesium is a macromineral that’s involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, creatine phosphate formation, nucleic acid synthesis, amino acid activation, cardiac- and smooth-muscle contractability, cyclic AMP formation and, most important for strength athletes, protein synthesis. Magnesium is a versatile mineral that has some major implications for athletes, and it’s been studied quite extensively. It competes with phosphorous and calcium for absorption in the intestinal mucosa, which is the reason you don’t want to take magnesium together with calcium and phosphorous.
Magnesium is also a cofactor of the enzyme creatine kinase, which converts creatine into creatine phosphate, or phosphocreatine, the storage form of creatine. Since creatine monohydrate supplements are extremely popular and have been proven effective, magnesium may be an important mineral in helping to optimize creatine function.
As for magnesium’s key role in protein biosynthesis, it’s necessary for the activation of amino acids and helps “make” proteins. In other words, protein synthesis depends on optimal magnesium concentrations. It’s hypothesized that low magnesium levels may negatively affect protein metabolism and may result in diminished strength gains in a structured workout regimen.
Increased losses of magnesium from the body have been seen during and after exercise, and athletes do seem to have magnesium deficiencies. One 1992 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition titled “Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Strength Training in Humans” studied the effects of a dietary magnesium supplement on strength development in 26 untrained subject during a seven-week strength-training program. The results of the double-blind study showed that the group that got oral magnesium supplements had significantly greater strength gains than the control group. Other studies show that serum magnesium levels may be reduced in response to strength training, and it’s been noted that maximal contraction of the quadriceps correlates positively to serum magnesium status.
The final ingredient in the ZMA formula is vitamin B6, which is also known as pyridoxine and has some major influences on protein synthesis. The coenzyme form of the vitamin is associated with a vast number of enzymes, and the majority of them are a part of amino acid metabolism. It’s necessary in glycogen catabolism to unlock carbohydrate energy, and vitamin B6 has been shown to diminish the actions of certain steroids such as cortisol.
So there you have it, an advanced natural formula designed to safely but effectively boost testosterone levels, athletic performance and strength. It’s a unique blend of scientifically based supplements that can help you get the most out of your workouts. The tribulus terrestris enhances testosterone levels through increased LH secretion, the muira puama has aphrodisiac properties through an unknown mechanism—which may turn out to be increased testosterone levels—and the ZMA has been formulated to maximize the amazing effects of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6. The future of testosterone-boosting supplements is here, and it starts with natural TMZ, available from Muscle-Link, 1-800-667-4626 or Home Gym Warehouse 1-800-447-0008.
Editor’s note: Rehan Jalali is the president of the Supplement Research Foundation and a nationally ranked natural bodybuilder. He can be reached via the Internet at rehan@tsrf.com or by fax at (954) 426-0763. IM
Click here to order Muscle-Link Z-MAT
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