When it comes to\u00a0evaluating the science behind supplement ingredients, I’m often caught between a rock and a hard spot.\u00a0\u00a0Why?\u00a0 I’ll be blunt: sometimes the science just ain’t there.\u00a0 Or even more maddeningly, it’s there, but it’s\u00a0very questionable stuff – like\u00a0a study\u00a0published by little-known researchers\u00a025 years ago in\u00a0some obscure Russian or Chinese-language-only journal.\u00a0 This doesn’t automatically mean “bogus,” but it makes it damned tough to\u00a0credit claims, in the absence of other supporting\u00a0information.<\/p>\n
Herbal testosterone-boosting supplements are a case in point.\u00a0 Individual ingredients have often been used as aphrodisiacs in different cultures, so they’re obvious choices for supplemental use.\u00a0 Unfortunately, most of the studies that show positive effects\u00a0have been\u00a0done in rats\/mice, and published in small, non-mainstream journals.\u00a0 Past that point, there’s\u00a0only manufacturer-conducted\u00a0“in-house” data to rely on, which – to put it kindly – I don’t.\u00a0 All you get are cherry-picked results and limited details on how they were obtained.\u00a0 This isn’t science as I know (and love)\u00a0it: my background is in “hard” research (click here for an open source example<\/a>), and this stuff just doesn’t pass the smell test.\u00a0 If they’re going to claim scientific credibility for their products, then they need to play by scientific “rules” – it’s that simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, there’s plenty of pretty solid data available on other uses of – say – Tribulus, LongJack or “Horny Goat Weed” – these plants are stuffed full of bioactive compounds that do all kinds of interesting things.\u00a0 Thus, it’s conceivable that they “work” at some level to raise testosterone (either total or free).\u00a0 Despite the extensive use of these supps, however, there’s virtually no decent,\u00a0independent user\u00a0documentation.\u00a0 I see positive anecdotal\u00a0“reviews” posted\u00a0all the time, but they’re all depressingly similar…the user takes the supp, experiences an increase in libido\/morning wood and\/or strength, and assumes his test is jacked.\u00a0 Well, maybe…maybe not.\u00a0 For starters, there are other mechanisms that can enhance libido that aren’t dependent on testosterone.\u00a0 And as for strength – well, it’s rare that users take a product in isolation, or don’t change other factors (diet\/workout) as well, so let’s just say these assessments are less than objective.<\/p>\n So here’s the deal…I’m doing my own “test” test.\u00a0 I’ve got a willing victim and a product in hand.\u00a0\u00a0The “lab rat” is my husband John – who just took his baseline blood test this morning.\u00a0 John’s 51, healthy and works out regularly, although he just recently discovered the joys of lifting heavy (thanks to his “trainer” – who happens to be yours truly).\u00a0 I’ll be curious to see the results of this morning’s test: his libido and “capacity” are certainly\u00a0in pretty good shape (I can vouch for this), although he does have\u00a0some torso flab (midsection and pecs) that’s been\u00a0somewhat hard to shift; and strength increases are slow (steady, but nonetheless slow).\u00a0<\/p>\n In other words, he’s\u00a0a perfect\u00a0“regular guy” guinea pig.\u00a0 Changes in body comp, strength and\/or libido will be easy to track.<\/p>\n The supplement?\u00a0 iSatori’s IsaTest<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0iSatori is a reputable company, so\u00a0IsaTest\u00a0should be\u00a0a good stand-in for most products of this kind.\u00a0 In addition, I was able to get it for free (h\/t to Paul and\u00a0iSatori’s CEO, Stephen Adele<\/a>).\u00a0 Blood tests aren’t cheap, so every little bit helps.<\/p>\n