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Doctor Reviews: Nugenix Total-T

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Nugenix Total-T is marketed as a supplement that boosts testosterone levels, aiming to help users build lean muscle and enhance libido. But do these claims hold up? Let’s break down the ingredients and see if Nugenix Total-T delivers on its promises.

Ingredients of Nugenix Total-T

Below is a list of the key ingredients in Nugenix Total-T, along with the dosage per capsule.

Nugenix-Total-T-review-ingredients
Ingredients of Nugenix Total T supplement

We’ll evaluate the effectiveness of these doses and explore whether there’s scientific evidence supporting their ability to improve exercise performance and libido.

B Vitamins, zinc, and boron

B vitamins, zinc, and boron are often highlighted as essential for muscle growth and exercise performance, especially for those who work out intensely. But does taking these nutrients as supplements actually make a difference in your results?

  • B Vitamins – Research suggests that supplementing with folic acid and vitamin B12 daily for two years does not improve hand strength or physical performance, such as walking, when compared to a placebo. This indicates that simply adding more B vitamins may not boost your workout results.
  • Zinc – Similarly, a study found that supplementing with zinc and selenium didn’t affect body composition or exercise performance for people on a weight loss program. This suggests that additional zinc might not have the muscle-boosting effects some people expect.
  • Boron – When it comes to boron, a small study involving male bodybuilders found that taking boron supplements didn’t increase lean muscle mass or testosterone levels compared to a placebo. This challenges the idea that boron can significantly impact your muscle gains or hormone levels.

So, why don’t supplements seem to help, even though these nutrients are important? The key lies in moderation. While a diet rich in these nutrients is crucial during training, taking more than your body needs through supplements doesn’t necessarily lead to extra muscle growth or improved performance. There’s also no evidence that supplementing with these nutrients boosts testosterone levels or libido in humans.

L-Citrulline Malate

L-citrulline, a non-essential amino acid, is naturally found in foods like watermelon, squash, and pumpkins. Interestingly, it was first discovered in watermelon. But does it really help with workouts, or is it just another ingredient that sounds good on the label?

When it comes to resistance exercises like weight-lifting, studies show that taking L-citrulline before anaerobic workouts can slightly reduce how exhausted you feel and may ease muscle soreness compared to a placebo. Some research even suggests that it might help you squeeze out a few more repetitions before hitting exhaustion. However, it’s important to note that a clinical study found L-citrulline doesn’t actually increase lean muscle mass or strength compared to a placebo.

For aerobic exercises, the results are a bit mixed. In one small study on running, taking L-citrulline before a treadmill test didn’t boost performance, though it might help you last longer before feeling worn out. On the other hand, a small cycling study found that daily L-citrulline intake before cycling slightly improved performance and intensity, but it didn’t speed up recovery times.

So, what can we take away from this? Research suggests that L-citrulline might help reduce exhaustion and improve certain performance measures, like the number of repetitions during anaerobic resistance exercises. But, it probably won’t help you gain muscle mass or increase your strength. For aerobic activities, the benefits of L-citrulline are less certain and seem to vary depending on the type of exercise.

Also, it’s worth noting that studies used doses of L-citrulline malate ranging from 3 to 9 grams before exercise, with 8 grams being the most common dosage. However, Nugenix Total-T provides just over 1 gram, which is likely too low to be effective. Lastly, there’s no evidence that L-citrulline boosts testosterone levels or libido in humans.

Fenugreek extract

Fenugreek, an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean, has been studied for its potential benefits in athletic performance and testosterone levels. But how effective is it really?

A small clinical study found that taking a specific fenugreek extract for eight weeks while training can slightly decrease body fat and may even improve performance in exercises like leg presses and bench presses when compared to a placebo. Supporting this, a meta-analysis of smaller trials suggests that fenugreek extracts might help boost various aspects of athletic performance and reduce body fat. Additionally, these studies noted an increase in testosterone levels.

When it comes to libido, research shows promising results, especially for older men. In one study, taking fenugreek seed extract for 12 weeks slightly increased libido in men aged 43 to 70 compared to a placebo. Another study focusing on middle-aged to older men (aged 35-60) with low testosterone levels found that after 12 weeks of taking fenugreek, participants experienced improvements in both libido and mood.

Research suggests that fenugreek extracts may enhance athletic performance and potentially increase testosterone levels, particularly in older men or those with low testosterone. This could lead to improved libido, especially in these groups.

ElevATP

The proprietary blend of peat and apple fruit extract, known as elevATP, has been the subject of limited research, primarily in two small studies funded by the manufacturer. But how effective is it really?

In one study, men who were undergoing resistance training and taking elevATP showed some improvements in athletic performance. However, the actual benefits were modest. When you break down the study data, the average improvement in performance was just about 3.6% compared to a placebo. While that’s something, it’s not particularly impressive, especially considering the study was funded by the manufacturer.

The second study looked at body composition, focusing on metrics like body weight, body fat, and muscle thickness. The results suggested that elevATP might increase muscle size without affecting fat mass. But when we dive into the data, there’s no significant change in weight or body fat percentage. There was a small 7.6% increase in muscle thickness, but this was paired with an 8.7% increase in fat thickness. So, while there was a slight increase in muscle size, it was accompanied by a similar increase in fat, meaning the blend didn’t significantly enhance muscle mass without also adding fat.

While elevATP has been studied more than many other supplements, the results show that its impact on athletic performance and muscle size is minimal. The improvements are small, and any gains in muscle might come with an increase in fat as well.

Eurycoma Longifolia

Eurycoma Longifolia, commonly known as Tongkat Ali or Longjack, is a tree native to Southeast Asia. It’s been studied for its potential benefits on athletic performance, but the findings are mostly underwhelming.

In one small study involving cyclists, taking Tongkat Ali daily didn’t lead to a significant improvement in endurance compared to a placebo. Similarly, research on male athletes showed no noticeable enhancement in running performance with Tongkat Ali supplementation.

Another study focused on men found that while a particular brand of Tongkat Ali extract didn’t boost physical fitness, it did seem to enhance libido. There’s a theory that Tongkat Ali may slightly increase testosterone levels, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to a libido boost in healthy, younger men. Only those with existing libido issues seem to notice a difference.

In summary, Tongkat Ali is unlikely to improve physical fitness or athletic performance. However, it may slightly increase testosterone levels and boost libido, particularly in men who already have libido concerns. It’s also important to note that the doses used in these studies are higher than those found in Nugenix Total-T.

Is Nugenix Total-T effective?

Nugenix Total-T may offer some minor benefits when it comes to exercise performance and testosterone levels, particularly because of the fenugreek extract and Tongkat Ali included in its formula.

Nugenix-Total-T-review-ingredient-analysis
Nugenix Total T supplement review ingredient analysis

However, it’s important to note that it’s unlikely to significantly increase muscle mass. The small boosts in testosterone and libido are most likely to benefit older men who already have low testosterone levels.

Overall rating

Nugenix-Total-T-review-overall-summary-rating
Overall rating Nugenix Total T review summary

Rating Nugenix Total-T by effectiveness for improving exercise performance and boosting testosterone, I’m giving it a C. It may have some weak effects on exercise performance, though you likely won’t notice any difference in muscle mass. It may also boost testosterone, but mostly in men with low testosterone levels to begin with.

Rating it by cost, I’m giving it an D. You can easily replicate its effects with generic ingredients at a much lower cost.

Rating it for safety, I’m giving it a C. Fenugreek can lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels, potentially interacting with antidiabetic or antihypertensive medications if you’re taking them.

Overall rating, I’m giving a C. It might slightly improve exercise performance and boost testosterone levels if they’re low, but taking fenugreek extract by itself will likely do the same thing at a far cheaper cost.

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Citations

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