Fact checked by Robert Iafelice, MS, RD, LDN
FACT CHECKEDIf you've been searching for a testosterone booster online or in retail stores, you know you're entering a saturated market. There are so many options, each claiming to be the ultimate solution to your low testosterone problems, that you can easily be overwhelmed. Sadly, many of these products are overpriced, over-hyped underperformers.
At Set for Set, we feel responsible for pointing consumers to the good and helping them avoid the bad. That's why we invest much time and effort into reviews like this.
Today, our attention goes to Ageless Male, a popular product with common testosterone booster ingredients like ashwagandha, Vitamin D, and magnesium. But does it work? Read on to find out whether you should spend your precious dollars on Ageless Male and, if not, what to choose instead.
Table Of Contents:
Ageless Male is a testosterone-boosting supplement manufactured by a company named New Vitality. The official website claims that it is the best-selling brand of testosterone booster supplements on the market but provides no research to support this assertion.
The company sells three testosterone boosters - Ageless Male, Ageless Male Advantage, and Ageless Male Max. The critical difference between them is that, besides boosting testosterone, Ageless Male Max works as a boost nitric oxide booster to increase blood flow. Ageless Male Advantage includes an extra defense blend. This article is about Ageless Male.
Overall, we were disappointed with Ageless Male. A quick glance at what's in it looks promising, but when you check deeper, you find that most of the ingredients are underdosed, those in the proprietary blend ridiculously so. You end up with an overpriced Ashwagandha supplement, with Vitamin D and magnesium thrown in.
In short, you can buy ashwagandha as a stand-alone product for a lot less than you pay for this product. We recommend considering T-boosters that have effective dosages of multiple testosterone-support ingredients. You'll find three great examples of this in our alternatives section further down the page.
Overall Verdict: FAIL
The ingredients and their dosages are make or break of any supplement. Let's drill down on what you get in Ageless Male.
Vitamin D is essential for hormone production, immune system regulation, and bone health. Some research suggests that it is related to testosterone production, though the mechanisms by which this happens are not fully understood. It may influence the production of Leydig cells in the testes, which control testosterone secretion.
Vitamin D also has anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit testosterone synthesis and may reduce insulin resistance, which is linked to lowered testosterone levels. For more on this, read Does Vitamin D Boost Testosterone?
According to research, the effective dosage for testosterone-boosting effects is between 1,000 and 4,000 IU (25-100 mcg). So, the Ageless Male dosage of 83 mcg is pretty good.
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin vital for metabolism, neurotransmitter function, and energy production. The evidence supporting its use as a testosterone booster is minimal and contradictory, but its ability to impact mood neurotransmitters may help balance hormones, including testosterone.
B6 also contributes to insulin sensitivity and blood sugar metabolism. However, it's quite a stretch to say that vitamin B6 is a testosterone-boosting ingredient. The 10 mg dose here is higher than the RDA and is considered an effective supplementary dose.
Calcium is essential to many physiological processes, including bone health, neuron function, muscular contraction, and hormone control. However, it is not considered a substance that directly increases testosterone. The dosage of 314 mg is much lower than the 1000 to 1300 mg RDA.
Phosphorus, while being an essential mineral that is needed for energy metabolism and bone health, does not have a direct correlation with increased testosterone production. So, as with calcium, we're not sure why it's been included in Ageless Male. Even if you were taking it for its energy-boosting ability, the low dosage provided here isn't going to do anything for you.
Magnesium is a mineral required for a whole range of bodily functions, including energy production, muscle function, brain activity, bone health, and metabolism. There is some evidence that magnesium can increase testosterone levels, but at a much higher dosage than a paltry 34 mg.[1]
Magnesium is linked with insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance can lower testosterone levels, so this ability may indirectly help increase testosterone. Having enough magnesium in the body may aid with stress management and sleep improvement, both of which can affect hormonal balance.
The magnesium dosage provided here of 34 mg is too low to have an appreciable effect.
Zinc is an essential mineral for many biological activities, including DNA synthesis, enzyme function, and wound healing. Low levels have been associated with reduced testosterone levels. It is unclear whether zinc will help boost testosterone production in people with healthy mineral levels.
In one study, 30 mg of zinc supplementation per day experienced an increase in free testosterone levels [2]. So, the 30 mg dosage in Ageless Male is about right.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb used for centuries to promote general health. There is some evidence that it can help boost testosterone levels, but the evidence is inconclusive. There is no doubt, though, that ashwagandha has stress-reducing properties. Stress reduction is essential for hormonal health as prolonged stress can interfere with hormone levels, particularly testosterone.
Chronically high cortisol levels can suppress the production of testosterone. Ashwagandha may help lower these levels. Ashwagandha also possesses antioxidant qualities that may help to protect cells, especially those involved in hormone production.
In a 2019 study, 43 overweight men were given either an ashwagandha extract or a placebo for eight weeks [3]. The ashwagandha group had a 14.7 greater increase in total testosterone supply than the placebo group. To learn more, check out our article: Ashwagandha And Testosterone: What's The Connection?
Doses are frequently standardized to a particular concentration of active substances known as withanolides. A dosage of 300 to 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract per day are typical dosages utilized in research investigations. So, the 675 mg provided in Ageless Male fits within this general range.
The Ageless Male ingredient label groups fenugreek, maca, tribulus, and ginkgo extract as a 210 mg proprietary blend. This is disappointing as it robs us of the ability to know how much of each ingredient we're getting.
Fenugreek contains furostanolic saponins, which may be able to increase testosterone production. In one study, a daily dosage of 600 mg of fenugreek for eight weeks significantly increased testosterone levels. A dosage of at least 600 mg is what you'll find in most clinical trials. [4]
However, the total male vitality support blend dosage is 210 mg - less than half of what you need for fenugreek! Maca extract has also been shown to affect testosterone, but there is also far too little in this blend to have an effect.
New Vitality makes a lot of bold claims in its marketing. Here's what they say their product will do for you:
Like many testosterone boosters, Ageless Male claims to improve libido, improve sex drive, and possibly help with erectile dysfunction.
New Vitality asserts that the ingredients in Ageless Male will naturally boost the production and secretion of free testosterone in the bloodstream. Free testosterone is the amount of testosterone that is not attached to proteins.
By increasing testosterone production, Ageless Male claims to be able to support reduced body fat and the development of lean muscle mass combined with resistance training.
Muscle endurance may be boosted when muscle protein synthesis is enhanced. Higher natural testosterone production, as Ageless Male claims to promote, will increase protein synthesis, which will also lead to greater muscle endurance.
Such Ageless Male ingredients such as Vitamin B6, phosphorous, and magnesium promote energy metabolism.
All of the ingredients in Ageless Male are safe when taken in line with the manufacturer's suggestions. Some ingredients may have slight adverse effects, but the doses given are so low that it will not be a concern with this product.
There are a lot of fake reviews for Ageless Male online, including on Amazon. Here are a couple of Amazon reviews we've verified as genuine:
(source)
(source)
Ageless Male may be taken by men with low testosterone levels (below 300 ng/dL) or want to increase their levels to enhance muscle and strength development. It should not be taken by people under the age of 18.
The manufacturer guidelines state to take two capsules in the morning and a third capsule in the evening. The capsules can be taken with or without food.
By now, you may be getting the idea that we consider Ageless Male to be, at best, a mediocre testosterone booster. Here are three alternatives that we have a lot more confidence in:
TestoFuel is a popular natural testosterone booster made by Roar Ambition. It contains the following research-supported ingredients to safely increase total testosterone:
TestoFuel is popular with bodybuilders, who swear by its ability to increase protein synthesis and energy for workouts. A couple of standout ingredients are D-aspartic acid, dosed at 2000 mg, and boron, at 8mg. D-Aspartic acid stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone, a precursor of testosterone production. The trace mineral boron has also been shown to positively impact testosterone secretion.
TestoFuel sells for $65 on the official website and is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TestoFuel is considered to be a revolutionary, exhaustively researched muscle building supplement with one very focused aim...to smash down the barriers to growth by opening your testosterone floodgates...
TestoPrime is another popular natural T-booster. UK company Wolfson Brands Ltd. manufactures it. This product is designed to boost mental and physical energy, support protein synthesis, and increase confidence and overall mood by providing the environment for increased natural testosterone secretion.
TestoPrime contains the following 12 ingredients:
This complete ingredient profile has many of the most well-attested T-boosting ingredients. Better yet, they are generally dosed according to clinical recommendations. Your order comes with a no-hassle money-back guarantee. It also costs $65 on the official website.
TestoPrime is an all-natural testosterone support that can help any man take control of his youthful vitality with a flood of new and natural testosterone...
Testo-Max is a testosterone booster under the CrazyBulk label, especially popular among bodybuilders. There are 11 ingredients in this product, including D-aspartic acid, fenugreek, zinc, magnesium, and boron, all of which have research backing their testosterone-boosting ability.
The claimed benefits of TestoMax, which are attested to by the many positive online reviews, include increasing testosterone production, boosting libido, supporting muscle mass, improving mood, encouraging muscle recovery, supporting fat burn, and improving sleep quality.
The recommended dosage of TestoMax is four capsules per day. This product also sells for $64.99 and comes with a money-back guarantee.
Testo-Max pumps up your testosterone levels naturally. No illegal steroids required. Formulated from a testo-boosting mega-mix of D-Aspartic acid, magnesium, zinc, vitamins D, B6, K1, and more...
Let's answer some more of your questions about Ageless Male below.
The main difference between Ageless Male and Ageless Male Max is that Ageless Male Max combines a testosterone-boosting ability with ingredients that increase nitric oxide levels. By boosting nitric oxide, you promote greater blood flow so that more oxygen and nutrients can reach your muscle cells.
We have not found any verified cases where doctors have recommended Ageless Male.
Based on our analysis of the ingredients, we are not confident that Ageless Male will significantly boost testosterone levels. The only ingredient that may prove beneficial is ashwagandha. The amount of magnesium is far too low. Moreover, you can purchase these as stand-alones at a much lower price.
Men should take a product like Ageless Make when their natural testosterone production declines with age. This usually occurs at around age 30.
In this Ageless Male review, we have identified that Ageless Male is not a great testosterone booster.
It contains several ingredients that don't really belong, with only a couple of those that are being effectively dosed. By combining fenugreek, maca, and ginkgo into a pitifully low-dosed proprietary blend, New Vitality has missed an opportunity to deliver a product that really works.
Instead, they've basically got an overpriced ashwagandha supplement with a few other underdosed ingredients thrown in.
TestoFuel is considered to be a revolutionary, exhaustively researched muscle building supplement with one very focused aim...to smash down the barriers to growth by opening your testosterone floodgates...
Rather than spending your money on Ageless Male, we believe TestoFuel is a far better investment. To learn more about this supplement, read our TestoFuel Review: Does It Really Boost Testosterone?
References
Cinar V, Polat Y, Baltaci AK, Mogulkoc R. Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011 Apr;140(1):18-23. doi: 10.1007/s12011-010-8676-3. Epub 2010 Mar 30. PMID: 20352370.
BRILLA, L. R., & VICTOR, C. (2000). Effects of a Novel Zinc-Magnesium Formulation on Hormones and Strength. Journal of Exercise Physiology, 3(4).
Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Smith SJ. 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 Mar-Apr;13(2):1557988319835985. doi: 10.1177/1557988319835985. PMID: 30854916; PMCID: PMC6438434.
At SET FOR SET, we strive to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed for your fitness journey. Our team of experts, including certified trainers, dietitians, and athletes, brings over a decade of industry expertise. Our goal is to be your primary resource for all fitness inquiries, guiding you toward a stronger and healthier life. Sign up to stay up-to-date!
Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more…
© 2024
SET FOR SET.
Powered by Shopify
Steve Theunissen
Author