Tribulus terrestris is a small leafy plant. Both the root and fruit of the plant have been used medicinally in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurveda medicine 3. Traditionally, people have used this plant for a variety of potential effects, including to enhance libido, keep the urinary tract healthy and reduce swelling 3. Today, Tribulus terrestris is widely used as a general health supplement, as well as in supplements that claim to increase testosterone levels 4.
Summary: Tribulus terrestris is a plant that has been used for a variety of potential health benefits for many years. It is popular as a general health supplement and as an ingredient in testosterone booster supplements. Although people often take Tribulus terrestris for its potential effects on sexual function and testosterone, it has also been studied for other important effects.
One study examined the effects of taking 1, mg of Tribulus terrestris per day in 98 women with type 2 diabetes. After three months, women taking the supplement experienced lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, compared to those who took a placebo 5.
Animal studies have also shown that Tribulus terrestris may reduce blood sugar levels , help protect against blood vessel damage and help prevent increases in blood cholesterol 6 , 7. While these findings appear promising, more research is needed before this plant can be recommended for these health benefits.
Summary: Preliminary evidence shows that Tribulus terrestris may improve blood sugar control and cholesterol in people with diabetes. However, research in humans is limited. A quick online search for Tribulus terrestris supplements shows that many products made with the plant are focused on boosting testosterone. The studies lasted from 2—90 days, and the participants included healthy people and those experiencing sexual problems.
The researchers found that this supplement did not increase testosterone 4. Other researchers found that Tribulus terrestris may increase testosterone in some animal studies, but that this result is not usually seen in humans 8. Summary: Despite marketing claims, Tribulus terrestris does not appear to increase testosterone in humans.
This conclusion is based on studies in men and women of various health statuses and ages. Even though this supplement may not increase testosterone, it may boost libido.
Other studies have also reported that supplements containing the herb enhanced sexual desire, arousal and satisfaction in women with low libido Some research shows that taking mg of this supplement per day may not effectively treat erectile dysfunction However, other reports showed significant improvements in erections and sexual satisfaction with a dose of 1, mg per day While it seems that Tribulus terrestris may improve libido in women and men, more research is needed to clarify the extent of the sexual effects of this supplement.
Summary: Research has found that Tribulus terrestris may improve libido in women and men with reduced sex drives. Studies on the herb as a treatment for erectile dysfunction have shown mixed results, with higher doses appearing to be more beneficial.
Active individuals frequently take Tribulus terrestris supplements to improve their body composition by increasing muscle or decreasing fat In fact, research is also very limited on whether the plant improves body composition or performance in active individuals and athletes.
One study examined how Tribulus terrestris supplements affected the performance of elite male rugby players. The men took the supplements during five weeks of weight training. However, by the end of the study, there were no differences in improvements in strength or body composition between the supplement and placebo groups Another study found that eight weeks of taking this supplement with an exercise program did not improve body composition, strength or muscle endurance more than a placebo Unfortunately, no research is available on the effects of Tribulus terrestris in exercising women.
Summary: Tribulus terrestris does not seem to increase muscle, decrease fat or improve exercise performance more than a placebo. In addition to the potential health effects discussed already, Tribulus terrestris may have several other effects in the body:. However, almost all of these effects have only been studied in animals or test tubes, and even then, the evidence is very limited 3. Much more research, both in animals and humans, is needed to find out whether Tribulus terrestris has these effects.
Summary: Although many people speculate about the health effects of Tribulus terrestris , there is very limited support for many of these claims. Much of the existing research has been conducted in animals or test tubes, not humans. Researchers have used a wide variety of doses to assess the effects of Tribulus terrestris. Studies investigating its potential blood sugar-lowering effect used 1, mg per day, while research examining libido enhancement used doses from —1, mg per day 4 , 5.
Other studies prescribed dosages relative to body weight. For example, several studies have used doses of 4. So, if you weighed about pounds 70 kg , you might take a dose of —1, mg per day 4. Saponins are chemical compounds in Tribulus terrestris , and they are thought to be responsible for its health benefits.
Many supplements list the dose along with the percentage of saponins, which refers to the amount of the supplement that is made up of these compounds. Importantly, a higher percentage of saponins means that a lower dose should be used, as the supplement is more concentrated. Several studies using a variety of dosages have reported minimal side effects and no safety concerns 12 , TT is touted as a testosterone booster and remedy for impaired erectile function; therefore, it is targeted at physically active men, including male athletes.
Based on the scientific literature describing the results of clinical trials, this review attempted to verify information on marketing TT with particular reference to the needs of athletes. It was found that there are few reliable data on the usefulness of TT in competitive sport. In humans, a TT extract used alone without additional components does not improve androgenic status or physical performance among athletes. The results of a few studies have showed that the combination of TT with other pharmacological components increases testosterone levels, but it was not discovered which components of the mixture contributed to that effect.
TT contains several organic compounds including alkaloids and steroidal glycosides, of which pharmacological action in humans is not completely explained. One anti-doping study reported an incident with a TT supplement contaminated by a banned steroid.
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