GNC Men’s Healthy Testosterone Booster Review // Can We Trust It?
Pros
- Lots of ingredients
- No proprietary blend
Cons
- Inadequate doses
- Ineffective
- High price
GNC is a huge name, globally.
They sell lots of brands of supplements, but also have their own label.
With so much experience at hand, this should be a brilliant testosterone booster.
Read on to see what we think.
LAST UPDATED: August 2019 by Ben.
My GNC Men’s Healthy Testosterone Booster First Look
GNC is a brand many look towards for advice, quality and trust.
It’s well known, is an authority and offers advice.
As a result people will buy in to the brand more so than the actual product being offered.
Does this mean GNC can release products that are not particularly effective with the notion that the customer will always have that brand loyalty and not question it?
This is quite a plain look from GNC as well, a few of their products are slightly more enticing, that said, MEGA MAN was just as cold but with a mind boggling number of ingredients which took approximately 18 years to finish the tablets and do the research.
The end result was also mediocre.
Ingredients: The Science
Betaine (trimethylglycine)
Betaine has been recommended as a performance enhancing compound, although with quite unreliable results.
When taken at 1.25g twice daily, betaine has at times been linked to increased power output (only to fail in other instances) and minor increases in workout volume and endurance (a bit more reliable than power output, but still not a consensus).
Sometimes this is included in pre workout supplements.
https://examine.com/supplements/trimethylglycine/
Trans-Reservatrol
In tests resveratrol improved inflammatory and atherogenic status in subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease, as well as in patients with established coronary heart disease.
However, its bioavailability is relatively low because it is rapidly metabolized and eliminated. Clinical trials in healthy people are limited.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/resveratrol
Astaxanthin
Touted to aid in eye health and inflammation.
Limited human evidence, but it appears to be a better carotenoid than the more researched lutein and zeaxanthin.
https://examine.com/supplements/astaxanthin/
Saw Palmetto
this fatty acid was long touted to help boost testosterone levels, but those claims turned out to be false.
It is effective in suppressing prostate growth though. So could help if you are taking steroids or Prohormones.
https://examine.com/supplements/saw-palmetto/#hem-testosterone
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 helps testosterone levels by stimulating androgen (a steroid hormone that acts as a precursor for testosterone) receptors in your body, making your testes produce testosterone.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6727359
Vitamin B12
Studies show that people who are anaemic tend not to have high levels of testosterone because they cannot absorb vitamin B12.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2645631/
Magnesium
Research into magnesium supplementation also increased testosterone production in men.
Often found in the best natural test boosters.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20352370
Zinc
Studies show that this has a link with healthy testosterone production.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16533356
Riboflavin
Important for body growth and red blood cell production.
It also aids in the release of energy from proteins.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002411.htm
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
Helps the body’s cells change carbohydrates into energy. The main role of carbohydrates is to provide energy for the body, especially the brain and nervous system.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002401.htm
Vitamin D
Many people in the western world are deprived of Vitamin D because their jobs keep them indoors.
Vitamin D converts to a hormone in the body and is a great influencer to muscular growth. Ensure it is vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) when you are looking for a T booster, D3 is the most effective when compared to Vitamin D2.
This is found in TestoFuel which is the best rated natural T booster.
Careful exposure to the sun is the most effective way of getting enough vitamin D.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712348/
Tribulus
Once again, the old tribulus raises its ugly head.
The problem is that because this has been touted about for so long as a bit of a miracle plant extract used by the mysterious Eastern Bloc Olympic Athletes during the Cold War people have started to believe the hype and it is an easily recognizable ingredient the ill informed will have heard about down the gym.
The issue is that it has not been scientifically proven to raise testosterone levels in any shape or form.
Avoid like a medieval plague if you are looking for muscular gainz.
https://examine.com/supplements/Tribulus+terrestris/
Indole-3-carbinol
This is a negative regulator of estrogen.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12840226
Niacinamide (Vit B3)
Higher amounts of niacin can improve cholesterol levels and lower cardiovascular risks and maybe symptoms for Alzheimer’s . However, the jury is out on these real benefits.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/924.html
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
A hormone produced by the body’s adrenal glands. The body uses DHEA to make androgens and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones.
DHEA levels peak at about age 25, then go down steadily as you get older. By the time people are 70 to 80 years old, their DHEA levels are only 10 to 20% those in young adults.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/dehydroepiandrosterone
However, there is little evidence to show that DHEA has any effect on enhancing muscle strength.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/dhea-supplements
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/331.html
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a proven ingredient as found in our #3 Testosterone Booster, Testo+ and our benchmark product; Testofuel.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Fenugreek-extract-shows-benefits-for-the-male-menopause-Human-data
3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM)
A compound derived from the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale.
DIM can prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen.
https://examine.com/supplements/Diindolylmethane/
L-Citrulline
This is used as a sports performance and cardiovascular health supplement.
L-Citrulline supplementation results in reduced fatigue and improved endurance for both aerobic and anaerobic prolonged exercise.
An increase in growth hormone has been noted with exercise, but not at rest. Found in 4GAUGE which is the best pre workout supplement.
https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/
Copper
studies have shown that people with high amounts of copper actually have lower testosterone levels; it always puzzles me as to why manufacturers would include this.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21671089
Panex (Korean) Ginseng
This form of Ginseng is the most highly researched. There’s lots of evidence which suggest cognitive function, mood and immunity is increased.
However, although there is evidence for better erections and an increase in testosterone production for infertile men there is also evidence contradictory evidence also.
https://examine.com/supplements/panax-ginseng/
Dose
The instructions state 2 pills daily which amounts to a stammeringly dismal 1386.5mg.
We prefer 4 pills spread across the day to evenly spread the nutrients out and prevent massive peaks and troughs.
4 pills are the doses of our benchmark products.
Pros
There’s a good 9 ingredients here that will assist with stimulating testosterone production, growth hormone or regulating estrogen.
That is not a bad figure considering many products barely even include 1 ingredient that is proven to be effective.
That said, there are 18 ingredients, so only 50% is any good for the results we are after.
Many of the basics are present such as Zinc, Magnesium, B6 plus D3, Fenugreek and even Panax Ginseng.
These are all found in the best testosterone boosters on the market because there are reliable studies and tests which prove their worth rather than result being based on anecdote.
Cons
While 50% is good, 50% of this is ineffective for stimulating testosterone production.
That’s a bad success rate, it would not be acceptable in many industries or sectors, why it is allowed in supplements forever annoys me.
As great as it is to see proven ingredients present it would also help if the doses were adequate.
A shocking 400IU of D3 when Military Muscle contains 5000IU is not good enough.
The common dose for Magnesium is usually around the 450mg mark too unlike the bitter 25mg found here.
I also feel that some of the ingredients are mimicking the effects of heightened testosterone to fool the customer in to believing the product works.
Its a bit like giving someone caffeine and then claiming the energy increase is due to increased testosterone.
I will not mention the charade that is Tribulus…I’ve done that too many times, just watch the video instead. Feel my pain.
$52.99 is a little rich considering it is lacking in mass.
My GNC Men’s Healthy Testosterone Booster Conclusion
A product that sounds and reads quite well initially until you scratch away at the surface.
It is one thing to include effective ingredients, it is another to dose them appropriately to ensure results.
This product is like buying a boat online based on the fact it looks like a boat and it floats.
However, when it arrives you realize it is a scale model and is in no way going to be able to accommodate that fishing trip for you and your buddies unless you were the size of Lego figures.
It would also help if the heavy weight ingredient of D-Aspartic Acid was included too.
Take a look at what works to maximize your workouts.
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I absolutely agree I bought this because the other gnc testerone booster that’s in a box with 30 doses was far more effective but quite a bit more expensive. I still spent $50 + for this crap and I feel ripped off. It sure didn’t help my labido at all and may have made it worse.
Hi Thomas,
That doesn’t sound good at all. Thanks for the feedback.
Hopefully your bad experience can help others in the future.
If you are looking to build more muscle I will be releasing a nutrition and weights programme in the near future formulated by an ex-amateur international body building competitor, so stay tuned.
Thanks.