PMD Methyl Andro Testosterone Booster Review

Ben BA(Hons), PGCert

My PMD Methyl Andro Review

First Look

Anything that has ‘methyl’ and ‘andro’ on the box is trying to cash in on sales from people who have read a little about anabolic steroids to increase testosterone and may think that this will have similar effect.

This is very rarely the case because they would be illegal or wouldn’t be on the shelf for long, I do have a problem with products called similar names to steroids as it is tricking some people in to buying them.

Let’s be clear, this is marketed as a natural test booster, there’s nothing illegal about this at all.

Although, these marketing names do make people wonder if they have somehow slipped the net and managed to get out in the public domain under the nose of the FDA.

Sorry to disappoint.

However, as I am keen to increase muscle size and strength (I’m about to hit the bench press in 60 minutes!) I want to dissect this ingredient profile to see if it can actually effectively stimulate an increased level of natural testosterone.

TL:DR – Video Review

Ingredients: The Science

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a seed and a leaf that has been used for a long time to rectify and improve a number of areas of health.

However, in this case we are wanting to increase testosterone levels.

As such we require up to 600mg. Thankfully PMD Andro provides 600mg, however, fenugreek works particularly well with magnesium but there is no magnesium included in this product. [1]

D-Aspartic Acid (DAA)

DAA is commonly found in test boosters because of its testosterone stimulating actions.

However, for there to be any significant benefit we need to dose 2-3g daily.

Many guys start to notice a depletion of testosterone after they reach 30 years old, DAA is a good way to combat this.

D-Asaprtic Acid works by releasing a number of hormones in the brain. Cumulatively this increases growth and test levels. [2]

Dioscorea Nipponica Makino Root Extract

It is not often that I come across ingredients that I do not recognize or have yet to trawl through research papers online.

However, discorea seems to be one of those.

Initially, the majority of scientific information about this root leans on its anti-obesity effects as well as how it reacts to type 2 diabetes. It is especially effective at preventing fat absorption.

The question is whether it has any testosterone stimulating effects…

From what little research there is available it seems that it may help protect the testicles from inflammation, it is a very loose connection but that seems to be the best we can find on this particular ingredient.

There’s very little in terms of required doses, though. [3] [4]

Androstenolone (DHEA)

DHEA is one of the ingredients that appear on paper to effect testosterone levels.

DHEA is produced naturally by the body and is the beginning of a small chain of effects that lead to producing testosterone.

So, in effect, it sounds great.

However, any chemically produced or laboratory produced DHEA doesn’t have the same effect when ingested, so it doesn’t have the effects that naturally produced DHEA has.

At best, taking a dose of 30-500mg of DHEA may help alleviate depression. So this product may help with that. [5]

Ashwagandha

Initial studies and research of Ashwagandha drew a blank for increasing test levels unless you were a infertile male.

However, studies examining how effective ashwaganda is on muscle size, strength and recovery have noted some excellent results.

It seems that testosterone is also increase when compared to placebo along with increases of strength and recovery.

However, there is a catch. The subjects were given 600mg daily.

In this product, ashwagandha falls within a proprietary blend of 490mg.

Therefore you will not get 600mg daily, and as it is in a proprietary blend it is highly likely that we will only get a trace amount. [6]

Tribulus

If I tell you that tribulus is nothing more that lies, deceit and folk mythology would you believe me?

Well, science is on my side. There are no scientific studies from any reputable sources that confirm tribulus is able to increase testosterone levels.

In fact, the studies confirm the opposite so do not be conned by manufacturers claiming it has steroid like effects.

Tribulus also seems to have inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in cells which can impair physical performance.

[7] [8]

Safed Musli Extract

There is limited evidence for the claims that this raises testosterone levels but in recent testing, a dose of 500mg for 12 weeks increased semen count significantly, there was a slight raise in testosterone but not by a great deal.

There’s less than 500mg of combined ingredients in this little proprietary blend anyway which seems to be having a big negative effect on some of these ingredients. [9]

Avena Sativa (Oat)

Avena sativa is the common oat that Braveheart would eat in the Scottish Highlands.

And, when searching for scientific studies regarding oat’s anabolic activities or just its relationship to hormone levels the first couple of pages have no reputable websites offering any answers.

In fact, it took 3 pages of search results and halfway down there was a study concerning avena sativas cognitive effects.

Avena seems to improve cognition when dosed at 1600mg every 7 days.

It seems maybe avena has been included to mimic the effects that higher levels of testosterone can have on brain function. [10]

Bulbine Natalensis

Bulbine is a herb native to the southern regions of Africa.

And, it does have good testosterone boosting effects. This sounds great until we read on and find out that its effects are are toxic as doing steroids. So you may as well do steroids.

It is also noted that 650mg needs to be taken in order for it to be effective.

As we have already mentioned, there is a proprietary blend that this falls part of, and that total blend is less than 500mg so it will have no positive effects anyway. [11]

Methoxyisoflavone

As with many supplements that state they increase muscle and physical performance, they tend to come with very thin veils of proof.

Methoxyisoflavone is no different. We are told and led to believe this will make us bi and strong, but the reality is that science disputes these claims.

Research tells us that supplementing with this ingredient will have no affect on body composition or physical performance. [12]

Velvet Bean (Macuna Pruriens)

Mucuna Pruriens (try to pronouns it) is a bean and leaf.

It is the bean we are interested in because it can reduce levels of prolactin which has a negative effect on test levels.

It has also demonstrated that it can increase testosterone too. [13]

Yacon Root

There’s very little research or clinical studies surrounding yacon, at best the general consensus is that it may suppress the appetite and have benefits for intestinal health.

There seems to be no reason for it to be included in this product unless any appetite suppressant results may mimic fat loss associated with higher levels of testosterone. [14]

Bladderwrack

Bladderwrack may be another ingredient that is included because it may have weight loss effects which would mimic high levels of testosterone.

The problem is, there’s lots of theoretical benefits or anecdotal effect but the science is lacking and it is not safe to take by mouth as far as we now, so this is proving to be a bit of an issue. [15]

Calcium Lactate Gluconate

This medication is used to prevent or treat low blood calcium levels in people who do not get enough calcium from their diets.

Calcium lactate gluconate is a highly soluble version of calcium that is considered as a triumph of getting more calcium in to peoples diets.

Results show that training results in increased testosterone levels in athletes and that the increase is greater if accompanied by calcium supplementation.

However, a recent study has warned against calcium supplementation due to the increased risk of a heart attack. [16] [17] [18] [19]

Diindolylmethane (DIM)

DIM is present in vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower, the compounds are able to help reduce an imbalance of hormones by suppressing estrogen.

Broccoli is a popular food with many athletes because of these effects and it is a worthy addition of any supplement looking to increase natural test levels. [20]

Indole-3-carbinol

Indole is able to reverse the negative effects of too much estrogen. This is particularly true for when estrogen encourages the growth and continuation of breast cancers.

In fact studies show that indole is effective at killing cancer cells. [21]

Chrysin

Chrysin has a very poor absorption rate, this would hamper any positive effect that it may have on stimulating more testosterone production.

Because the studies conclude that it has no effects on raising testosterone levels, even after 21 days of supplementation. [22]

Reservatrol

Reservatrols contain anti-oxidants. These antioxidants are thought to help prevent illness and disease.

While there are plenty of studies available there’s been no thorough yield of positive results.

In addition, many studies have used doses of 1000mg or more, in this particular product reservatrol falls under the proprietary blend umbrella that consists of just 490mg.

So it is clear this is lacking. [23]

Agaricus Bisporus

This is also known as white button mushrooms. Just like the ones on your pizza.

These do not increase testosterone sadly, but the journey doesn’t end there.

Studies have proven that they are an effective anti-aromatase nutrient.

That means it prevents and stops the production of estrogens.

This is so effective that it is used to prevent breast cancer cell growth which relies on estrogen synthesis. [24]

BioPerine

We have already discussed that a few of these included ingredients have a poor absorption rate and thus their effectiveness can be limited.

There’s not a great deal you can do about those, but for the others that can be absorbed better, bioperine helps increase the bio-availability so you can get the most from them. [25]

Dose

3 pills per day.

This equates to, if I have done my math correctly, 4190mg which is a good and healthy figure.

In terms of pill dosage, if this had any thing in them, I would much prefer 4 pills to be spread out across the day to ensure that the body suffers less spikes and troughs of the ingredients.

Pros

There are 20 ingredients present there are 2 solid ingredients that should be found in all testosterone boosters and 6 that are not considered ‘water tight’ due to lack of research or contradictory evidence.

Either way there are products out there to offer 8 or more good, solid and proven ingredients that do not rely on flaky and unreliable results from hearsay or anecdotal evidence.

The D-Aspartic Acid is great but we need around twice or three times as much to be truly effective there is however, a hefty dose of Fenugreek which is great for stimulating testosterone.

It is promising to see so many estrogen regulating ingredients though, this will help a little.

The other 6 may offer mixed results.

Cons

With less than half of the ingredients likely to have any effect on testosterone levels I cannot help think we are being duped here.

No-one would buy an airplane with only 45% of it being effective would they..?

This combined with a proprietary blend means we just do not know the exact breakdown of each ingredient present.

Although disappointing, it does not surprise me to see Tribulus make an appearance, not to mention the host of other ingredients that have a real lack of any human studies.

However, the most beastly part of this concoction is the hefty price tag of $119.99.

That’s like paying $1000 for a inflatable dinghy full of holes

So, okay, there’s 2 useful ingredients to increase testosterone directly, but at these low levels…nope, just doesn’t add up to anything effective.

Not in practice anyway, then to add to the misery bladderwrack should not be taken by mouth!

Let’s not forget the toxicity of bulbine, either.

I must re-iterate that a major concern of this product is the proprietary blend and the low doses.

Many of the studies that have produced promising results have used much higher doses per ingredient than what this provides combined.

Overall this product lacks a real plethora of active and proven ingredients that are tested on humans like the best testosterone boosters out there.