[rmike]

Tribulus Terrestris is often touted as a "testosterone booster," and supplement manufacturers claim it can help you get bigger and stronger.

So what does the research say? Here's one study I found:



Tribulus terrestris is an herbal nutritional supplement that is promoted to produce large gains in strength and lean muscle mass in 5-28 days (15, 18). Although some manufacturers claim T. terrestris will not lead to a positive drug test, others have suggested that T. terrestris may increase the urinary testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio, which may place athletes at risk of a positive drug test. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of T. terrestris on strength, fat free mass, and the urinary T/E ratio during 5 weeks of preseason training in elite rugby league players. Twenty-two Australian elite male rugby league players (mean +/- SD; age = 19.8 +/- 2.9 years; weight = 88.0 +/- 9.5 kg) were match-paired and randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to either a T. terrestris (n = 11) or placebo (n = 11) group. All subjects performed structured heavy resistance training as part of the club's preseason preparations. A T. terrestris extract (450 mg.d(-1)) or placebo capsules were consumed once daily for 5 weeks. Muscular strength, body composition, and the urinary T/E ratio were monitored prior to and after supplementation. After 5 weeks of training, strength and fat free mass increased significantly without any between-group differences. No between-group differences were noted in the urinary T/E ratio. It was concluded that T. terrestris did not produce the large gains in strength or lean muscle mass that many manufacturers claim can be experienced within 5-28 days. Furthermore, T. terrestris did not alter the urinary T/E ratio and would not place an athlete at risk of testing positive based on the World Anti-Doping Agency's urinary T/E ratio limit of 4:1.


I did NOT write this but I thought it is a good article
Strong and Fit: Lose Fat, Build Muscle This is where I found it. My friend showed it to me and I thought some of you may like to read it.

[_Smitty_]

Here's a recent study that supports the general consensus that it does nothing but support libido, which also may be a stretch:

Effects of Tribulus terrestris on endocrine sensitive organs in male and female Wistar rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Investigate the possible effects of Tribulus terrestris (TT) on endocrine sensitive organs in intact and castrated male rats as well as in a post-menopausal rat model using ovariectomized females. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different dose levels of TT (11, 42 and 110mg/kg/day) were administered to castrated males for 7 days and to intact males and castrated females for 28 days. In addition to TT treatment, all experiments also included a group of rats treated with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). In experiments using castrated males and females we also used testosterone and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol, respectively, as positive controls for androgenicity and estrogenicity. RESULTS: Neither DHEA nor TT was able to stimulate androgen sensitive tissues like the prostate and seminal vesicle in both intact and castrated male rats. In addition, administration of TT to intact male rats for 28 days did not change serum testosterone levels as well as did not produce any quantitative change in the fecal excretion of androgenic metabolites. However, a slight increase in the number of homogenization-resistant spermatids was observed in rats treated with 11mg/kg/day of TT extract. In ovariectomized females, TT did not produce any stimulatory effects in uterine and vaginal epithelia. CONCLUSIONS: Tribulus terrestris was not able to stimulate endocrine sensitive tissues such as the prostate, seminal vesicle, uterus and vagina in Wistar rats, indicating lack of androgenic and estrogenic activity in vivo. We also showed a positive effect of TT administration on rat sperm production, associated with unchanged levels of circulating androgens.

[Gorilla]

im tired of this ........
i dont know how to put it delicately .... but hey you alll are in amerika if there is a herb that can give you strenght/ hormone boost this herb will be eleminated why becouse some fat person will loose a lot of money .........if trebistan is made in the right way and its made from the right part of the plant it will have effect yes! but then a lot of shiny and useless products will drop sales and a lot of people will loose hell lot of money......so yes tribestan works as long as you are buying the right thing.

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

im tired of this ........
i dont know how to put it delicately .... but hey you alll are in amerika if there is a herb that can give you strenght/ hormone boost this herb will be eleminated why becouse some fat person will loose a lot of money .........if trebistan is made in the right way and its made from the right part of the plant it will have effect yes! but then a lot of shiny and useless products will drop sales and a lot of people will loose hell lot of money......so yes tribestan works as long as you are buying the right thing.

i agree that it's an exhausted subject, but the research in support of trib's uses as a booster are marginally supportive, at best.

even if protodioscin is not specifically extracted, it will have an effect as there is literature that cites its oxidative impact on the corpus cavernosum, as well as its aphrodisiac properties.

emerging research is basically disproving it as having any androgenic/estrogenic effects, so it's use in the training realm seems futile, though its use in the bedroom may have benefits.

[rmike]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

im tired of this ........
i dont know how to put it delicately .... but hey you alll are in amerika if there is a herb that can give you strenght/ hormone boost this herb will be eleminated why becouse some fat person will loose a lot of money .........if trebistan is made in the right way and its made from the right part of the plant it will have effect yes! but then a lot of shiny and useless products will drop sales and a lot of people will loose hell lot of money......so yes tribestan works as long as you are buying the right thing.

Well then why dont you post the "right thing" So that we know. Im interested in how I can boost my hormone levels. Thank you very much
Im not trying to bash any products im just putting some info out there for my friends to read.

[Gorilla]

again why people loooove to compare /contrast tribulus and pct gear ?!?!? i wonder keep wondering!
u cant make big ass cycle and take only tribestan for pct no!
+depents what cycle r u doing thats not important now
the question is that why tribulus will help you have you **** sticks around 24 -7 but cant help you in the gym?
what makes you **** get hard?
and last i think even some people buy good tribestan they use only tribestan and have biig expectations for the first 3 weeks.
tribestan works best in combination with other stuff moreover our body prefer some sups better then others so 1st find good stuff 2nd lern more and how it works 3rd find the best sups for the best combo 4th look r these stuff working ok with your body....
last one have some patience tribestan is not creatine it takes time.

glad if i helped someone.... :)

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

the question is that why tribulus will help you have you **** sticks around 24 -7 but cant help you in the gym?

these are two different modes of action... trib might create an oxidative pathway to the erectile tissue, shuttling blood to where it needs to go in that region.

just because you're erect, doesn't necessarily mean that it has a hypertrophic effect on skeletal muscle.

think of the PDE-5 inhibition of pharm drugs like cialis or viagra... you're erect, but you're not swole.

[Weesil]

Does use of TT in high amounts cause DHT then?

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Weesil

Does use of TT in high amounts cause DHT then?

the research i've seen (Gauthaman, 2008) indicates that there is a high percentage increase of DHT levels (between 30/32%, dependent on the dosage amounts)... though i've found no studies using human subjects.

[Weesil]

so u could lose your hair, and not gain much muscle?

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Weesil

so u could lose your hair, and not gain much muscle?

well, it's a strong claim to make with all of the controversial/conflicting research... but, if those percentage increases could be transposed to human use, then, yes... it's a possibility.

[Weesil]

how about after effects. such as sexual dysfunction, low natural test etc?

are they possible?

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Weesil

how about after effects. such as sexual dysfunction, low natural test etc?

are they possible?

it's quite doubtful due to it having seemingly very little to no effect on the endocrine system.

it's extracted from a natural herb, so it's perfectly safe to use... but given the clinical research findings, the question is, why would you want to use it?

[Weesil]

Ive used it.
Unbiasedly i can confirm gains in strength after 5 days,
sexually i feel no different, however, my testes seem fuller
and orgasms are more intense.

So from my experience it does something...

side note: the effects i experienced were a combination of TT, ZMA and creatine.

TT alone did nothing for me, in fact, it may have decreased my sex drive....

[Gorilla]

Originally Posted by _Smitty_

these are two different modes of action... trib might create an oxidative pathway to the erectile tissue, shuttling blood to where it needs to go in that region.

just because you're erect, doesn't necessarily mean that it has a hypertrophic effect on skeletal muscle.

think of the PDE-5 inhibition of pharm drugs like cialis or viagra... you're erect, but you're not swole.

i dont have time now .....

it may create oxidative pathways and technicaly what will do is like you said will transport the blood where it needs to go! why the blood will need to go there!?! why the brain tells the blood go there.
if you put gas in your car you can drive it ....but if you do not put gas nobady will and the car will never move!
sth make you put gas in the car so you can drive it! its the same thing with the tt
:)

plus post and during workout trib may shuttle the blood where it needs to be ????? feeding the muscle!

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Weesil

So from my experience it does something...

side note: the effects i experienced were a combination of TT, ZMA and creatine.

TT alone did nothing for me, in fact, it may have decreased my sex drive....

i'm confused... did it or did it not work?

if you had noticeable results after a longer period of time, i'd be fast to attribute strength gains to the creatine.

[Weesil]

first time i ever used any supplement it was tribulus.
(a friend gave it to me)
I felt it decreased my sex drive (could have been stress though).

I decided to give it another try about a year later.
I bought a ZMA/trib combo. The trib was 3 times the amount i used before. (about 1.2 g as opposed to the 400mg first try.)
as well as creatine.

creatine alone has never given me the strength gains that the trib/zma/creatine combo gave me.

my conclusion is:

strength gains : yes
size gains: no (slight weight increase prob. from creatine)
maintainable: no

the strength gains slowly diminish to where u were before over a period of about 4 weeks.

[_Smitty_]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

it may create oxidative pathways and technicaly what will do is like you said will transport the blood where it needs to go! why the blood will need to go there!?! why the brain tells the blood go there.

plus post and during workout trib may shuttle the blood where it needs to be ????? feeding the muscle!

i'm confused by this, too... the pharmacodynamic effect of trib in the body isn't universal. by that i mean, just as PDE-5 inhibitors like cialis and viagra target one specific enzyme, true, too that trib may do the same.

if it were universal, then there would be clinical research that cites its effectiveness across a broader range instead of simply specifiying it's uses.

from what i gather, there's really no favorable research that discusses trib's effects on muscle development.

i'm willing to concede subjective opinions and those who may have found it beneficial... the same happens with ecdysterone, which i respond well to, though there's research that would suggest otherwise.

[rmike]

That makes sense to me. Good post smitty.

[l DUB l]

Originally Posted by _Smitty_

i'm confused by this, too... the pharmacodynamic effect of trib in the body isn't universal. by that i mean, just as PDE-5 inhibitors like cialis and viagra target one specific enzyme, true, too that trib may do the same.

if it were universal, then there would be clinical research that cites its effectiveness across a broader range instead of simply specifiying it's uses.

from what i gather, there's really no favorable research that discusses trib's effects on muscle development.

i'm willing to concede subjective opinions and those who may have found it beneficial... the same happens with ecdysterone, which i respond well to, though there's research that would suggest otherwise.

nice research Mike

[A-Ron21]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

im tired of this ........
i dont know how to put it delicately .... but hey you alll are in amerika if there is a herb that can give you strenght/ hormone boost this herb will be eleminated why becouse some fat person will loose a lot of money .........if trebistan is made in the right way and its made from the right part of the plant it will have effect yes! but then a lot of shiny and useless products will drop sales and a lot of people will loose hell lot of money......so yes tribestan works as long as you are buying the right thing.

No. It won't work because your testosterone acts on a negative feedback loop.

Also, everyone - DHT is the ACTIVE form of testosterone in ALL tissues.

[gym_addict]

For me it seems to work. I use the stuff from My Protein. Every time i use it i come out in some spots on my shoulders and back and abit on chest and i swear i get more hairyer

[A-Ron21]

Originally Posted by gym_addict

For me it seems to work. I use the stuff from My Protein. Every time i use it i come out in some spots on my shoulders and back and abit on chest and i swear i get more hairyer

Its not dude. Trust me. Its not possible. Whats happening is that, when you take it, you are expecting a rise in testosterone from it. But, it may not the tribulus, but in fact could be the placebo effect, your body can indeed produce a LITTLE BIT more testosterone for a SHORT period of time if you really believe it will work. But that goes away. Placebo effect doesn't always produce a real response, but it can sometimes.

[rmike]

I just realized I totally spelled terrestris wrong. lol

[borobulker]

The effectiveness of Tribulus Terrestris (as with most all herbs) relies on the extraction and the extraction process...

[A-Ron21]

Originally Posted by borobulker

The effectiveness of Tribulus Terrestris (as with most all herbs) relies on the extraction and the extraction process...

I still disagree, again, because of the basic negative feedback loop principle.

[Cork]

Originally Posted by Weesil

Ive used it.
Unbiasedly i can confirm gains in strength after 5 days,
....the strength gains slowly diminish to where u were before over a period of about 4 weeks

Originally Posted by A-Ron21

Whats happening is that, when you take it, you are expecting a rise in testosterone from it. But, it may not the tribulus, but in fact could be the placebo effect, your body can indeed produce a LITTLE BIT more testosterone for a SHORT period of time if you really believe it will work. But that goes away. Placebo effect doesn't always produce a real response, but it can sometimes.

The placebo effect is probably the most powerful side effect used in the supplement industry. If you believe strongly enough in the claims made, you MAKE it come true.

Originally Posted by borobulker

The effectiveness of Tribulus Terrestris (as with most all herbs) relies on the extraction and the extraction process...

Would it be called something of a different name then? How can you differentiate between processes?

[Weesil]

"placebo effect" FTW!
worth every penny

[Gorilla]

Originally Posted by A-Ron21

Its not dude. Trust me. Its not possible. Whats happening is that, when you take it, you are expecting a rise in testosterone from it. But, it may not the tribulus, but in fact could be the placebo effect, your body can indeed produce a LITTLE BIT more testosterone for a SHORT period of time if you really believe it will work. But that goes away. Placebo effect doesn't always produce a real response, but it can sometimes.

everybody has his own opinion i m not trying to change others opinion so... be it
it works i will tell you why
first when i took it i didn't know what to expect i've never made an illusion that its a powerfull thing, no i just took it just a try.... i will tell you a whole new improvement in my training system - more intesive more strenght.
and everyfreeking moening little me is waking me up hahhha :) i end up lockin my room so nobady can see whats happning......

a-ron i think that if you believe that this is placibo effect and if realy tribestan is all about placibo effect.... then who cares its working as long as you get what you need !!!! if it is realy placibo then believe in this and start taking tribulus and it will work becouse its placibo.

:)

most important we are al different if 5 people from here each eat 1 tomato everyone will digest it differently so .... you all know where im going with this :)

[Kevsworld]

I actually tried a few brands of trib before I did this research and wrote the before-mentioned article. But as I said, I think the evidence for trib is underwhelming.