Trojan Released a Men’s Sexual Enhancement Supplement. Is It Legit?
There’s no doubt that you know (and probably love) Trojan for their inexpensive and accessible line of drugstore condoms, lubes, and sex toys. Now the brand is dabbling into another facet of men’s sexual health: testosterone.
This month, Trojan launched its Man Boost supplement that claims to increase testosterone levels and libido, and support muscle growth. Sounds pretty good, right?
We put these claims to the test by breaking down the research on the T-supporting benefits (or lack thereof) of Trojan Man Boost’s ingredients including horny goat weed, zinc, vitamin D, and L-arginine.
Why You Should Trust Us
Hone Health comprises a team of health-obsessed journalists, editors, fitness junkies, medical reviewers, and product testers. Hone is the modern men’s health platform that offers personalized care with data-driven insights, licensed physician consultations, and medications, all from home. We treat patients virtually for everything from clinically low testosterone levels to sexual wellness to lack of energy and more. Our physicians are specialists in all things testosterone and rely on first-hand testing to determine the most effective treatments for the above conditions.
L-Arginine and L-Citrulline
L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that helps your body produce the protein building blocks that support muscle growth, cell repair, and digestion. While your body produces some, you’ll need to incorporate L-arginine-rich foods like nuts, fish and meat into your diet to get enough.
Man Boost also contains the non-essential amino acid L-citrulline, which your body turns into L-arginine.
While more human trials are needed to test how L-arginine impacts testosterone levels, studies on mice suggest that it may boost T by promoting the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) (1). LH causes the Leydig cells in your testes to produce testosterone (2), so stimulating the release of more LH may boost your T.
Beyond T levels, L-arginine may improve your sex life in other ways. It boosts nitric oxide levels, which may improve erections by increasing blood flow and arousal, Erich Acebedo, M.D., previously told The Edge. A 2019 study even found that L-arginine was effective at treating mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (3).
Horny Goat Weed
With a buzzy name like Horny Goat Weed, it’s no surprise that guys have high expectations for the libido-boosting benefits of this ingredient.
One small study found that rats given horny goat weed had better nitric oxide synthesis—which may improve sexual function (4). Unfortunately, there just isn’t enough scientific evidence that the plant does anything for testosterone levels or libido.
Testofen
Testofen is a patented fenugreek extract that may support muscle mass by boosting testosterone levels in men, according to clinical studies paid for by Testofen (5). This formula differs from regular fenugreek supplements because saponin glycoside (the natural detergent of a plant) is adjusted for consistent potency.
A 2021 review found that several studies have linked non-patented fenugreek supplementation with boosted testosterone levels in men (6).
“In our study, when we systematically reviewed fenugreek usage, we found four out of six studies suggested the herb had a positive effect on increasing male testosterone levels,” says author of the 2021 review Stephen Smith, an herbal specialist and research manager at Clinical Research Australia. “The review showed spikes of between 7% and 22% more T, depending on the pool of test subjects and how long they took the supplement.”
Vitamin D
Vitamin D may be linked to your testosterone levels, according to the American Urological Association. When your body converts vitamin D to calcidiol (a form of the vitamin that increases your organs’ absorption of calcium), it sends a signal to the testes to convert testosterone into free testosterone. Free T is the form of testosterone that your body uses to build muscle, strengthen bones, and grow face and body hair.
That said, research is mixed on whether adding vitamin D to your supplement stack has any impact on testosterone levels.
A 2011 study found that men with both low testosterone and vitamin D deficiency had heightened testosterone after supplementing (7). However, another 2012 study found on men with normal vitamin D levels experienced no change in T levels after taking the vitamin (8).
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports processes like protein synthesis, muscle growth, and immunity. But research suggests that it may also aid sexual function in men.
Men who were given zinc supplements for six weeks had significantly higher testosterone and LH levels compared to the placebo group in one clinical trial (9).
“Some initially promising research has been conducted, and it does suggest zinc supplementation definitively may increase levels of free testosterone in men,” Roxana Ehsani, R.D., a Miami, Florida-based registered dietitian previously told The Edge, “but more research and trials need to be done first before we can say that zinc does, or can, increase levels.”
Other research suggests that zinc may improve sexual function by boosting erections and libido (10).
Magnesium
Magnesium deficiencies are associated with low testosterone (11), but taking the supplement may boost T levels, even in guys without a deficiency.
Magnesium supplements increased free and total testosterone levels in athletes and men with more sedentary lifestyles, according to one 2011 study (12). Exercise also provided a boost in groups that worked out alongside supplementation.
Bioperine
Bioperine is a patented form of piperine, the chemical that gives black pepper its distinctive taste. And it might be able to spice up your sex life, too.
Piperine may boost Leydig cell number and development, which has a positive effect on testosterone levels, according to animal studies (13). Several studies also observed an increase in erection frequency in rats who were given piperine (14).
However, more human trials are needed to tell if this ingredient can boost your erections and testosterone.
Can Trojan Man Boost Treat Low Testosterone?
“Testosterone boosters may sound like a simple and effective solution to low testosterone levels, but limited scientific evidence supports their effectiveness,” Carl Giordano, M.D., Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Rebesana, previously told The Edge. “Many of the studies that have been conducted have had small sample sizes or have been poorly designed, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of these supplements.”
Supplements also aren’t FDA regulated, which means safety, efficacy and quality of these OTC testosterone boosters can’t be guaranteed.
A Better Way to Boost Testosterone
It’s tempting to skip the wait at the doctor’s office in exchange for a cheap, OTC testosterone booster. But medical interventions like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) are most effective for guys struggling with hypogonadism, or low testosterone.
“TRT is typically more effective than other treatments for low testosterone levels because it directly addresses the root cause of the problem by increasing testosterone levels in the body,” Giordano told The Edge.
Side Effects of Trojan Man Boost
There are currently no known side effects of taking Trojan Man Boost, however, if you experience any symptoms out of the ordinary immediately following consumption, we advise you to contact your primary care doctor immediately.
Hone’s at-home testosterone assessment is the simplest way to uncover whether your levels are low. If you qualify for treatment, TRT can be sent right to your door.
References
1. Jia, et al (2020). L-Arginine alleviates the testosterone reduction in heat-treated mice by upregulating LH secretion, the testicular antioxidant system and expression of steroidogenesis-related genes.
2. Nedresky, et al (2022). Physiology, LH.
3. Rhim, et al (2019). The Potential Role of Arginine Supplements on Erectile Dysfunction: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.
4. Shindel, et al (2010). Erectogenic and Neurotrophic Effects of Icariin, a Purified Extract of Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.) In Vitro and In Vivo.
5. Rao, et al (2016). Testofen, a specialised Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a double-blind randomised clinical study.
6. Smith, et al (2021). Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review.
7. Pilz, et al (2011). Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men.
8. Nimptsch, et al (2012). Association between plasma 25-OH vitamin D and testosterone levels in men.
9. Jalali, et al (2010). Impact of oral zinc therapy on the level of sex hormones in male patients on hemodialysis.
10. Suzuki, et al (2014). Chronic kidney disease and erectile dysfunction.
11. Maggio, et al (2014). The Interplay between Magnesium and Testosterone in Modulating Physical Function in Men.
12. Cinar, et al (2011). Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion.
13. Chen, et al (2018). Diverged Effects of Piperine on Testicular Development: Stimulating Leydig Cell Development but Inhibiting Spermatogenesis in Rats.
14. Septiyorini, et al (2020). The Effect of Black Pepper Fruits (Piper nigrum L.) on the Increase of Erection.
