"Testosterone Boosters" and Male-Enhancement Products: Claim Check

What reviews of the products found

Ingredient by ingredient

• Ashwagandha: a 2026 meta-analysis of 20 randomized trials (1,249 adults) found a small increase in testosterone (standardized mean difference 0.33) and in muscle strength (the strength gains were seen in physically active people, not in untrained groups). [3] An earlier review of 32 studies of 13 herbs found only 9 studies with a significant rise in testosterone, naming fenugreek and ashwagandha extracts as the ones with positive effects. [4] Promising but limited for the lab number; whether it relieves symptoms in men with true deficiency is not shown by these abstracts. See Adaptogens and Adaptogen safety.
• Fenugreek: a 2026 meta-analysis of 13 trials found a small favorable effect on total testosterone (SMD 0.25) but no stable effect on free testosterone; the certainty was very low and the authors concluded the evidence does not support clinical or commercial testosterone-boosting claims. [5] Insufficient evidence.
• Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia): the 52-study review rated it "possibly effective" for men with late-onset hypogonadism and healthy men, based on a small number of studies. [2] Promising but limited.
• Tribulus and maca: the evidence for sexual function was judged insufficient in a 2026 meta-analysis. [6] Insufficient evidence.
• Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, D-aspartic acid and others: these were among the 27 products reviewed, and most boosters in that review failed to raise total testosterone. [2] I did not read the individual trials, so no single-ingredient claim is made.

Male-enhancement and sexual-performance pills

The US Food and Drug Administration says many products that claim to help with sexual enhancement, such as male enhancement supplements, ED treatments, male energy pills and stamina pills, are likely to be contaminated with dangerous hidden ingredients. They are sometimes falsely advertised as dietary supplements, food or all-natural treatments, often have positive reviews, are sold online and in stores, and can lead to severe health issues and hospitalization. An FDA list covers only a small fraction of the contaminated products, so a product not on the list is not necessarily safe. [7]

Why hidden drugs matter: prescription erection medicines are not usually given together with nitrates taken for chest pain. [8] If a product contains a drug that is not on the label, neither you nor your doctor can check for that kind of interaction. (This is a reasoning step, not a finding about any one product.)

Related reading: Unsafe products and warnings, Product quality and contamination, How supplements are regulated and Medication interactions.

A safer path

1. If you are worried about energy, sex drive or strength, start with the checks on Testosterone and low testosterone and Erectile dysfunction.
2. Look at sleep, weight, alcohol and medicines first; they matter. [9]
3. Tell your doctor about every supplement you use. [10]