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The Testosterone Supplement Research File

11 Testosterone Formulas Were Checked Against 10 Human Studies. Only One Label Cleared Every Test.

We checked what happened in people, the doses researchers used, and the label details many formulas leave out.

See the 10 study benchmarks

All eleven testosterone support formulas compared in the article

Human studies checked

11 formula labels compared

✓ Human research

✓ Study doses shown

✓ Extract strength checked

✓ Every source linked

Reviewed by Marcus Reid, Men's Health Expert · Men's Health Today · 10 Min Read

An ingredient name proves almost nothing by itself. You need the dose. For plant extracts, you also need the active strength. These ten studies show what to look for.
Marcus Reid, Men's Health Expert

The front of the bottle makes the promise. The back tells you if the formula can support it.

One label may show 1,000 mg of tongkat ali. Another may show 400 mg. The bigger number looks stronger until you learn that the human study used a standardized extract.

Without the extract strength, those milligrams can't be compared fairly. A long ingredient list can hide the same problem. The ingredients may be studied, while the amount in the bottle is far below the amount used in people.

CHECK 01

Was the ingredient studied in people?

CHECK 02

Does the label show a comparable daily dose?

CHECK 03

For plant extracts, is the active strength disclosed?

The 10 study benchmarks

Outcomes validated in human studies

The figures below describe individual ingredients in specific groups of people. They do not predict what any finished formula will do.

Ashwagandha01

15.3%

Increase in total testosterone

Men taking 600 mg of ashwagandha daily while resistance training increased total testosterone by 15.3% over eight weeks.

Label benchmark 600 mg of root extract, standardized to at least 5% withanolides.

Read the Wankhede et al. study

Tongkat ali02

12.2%

Increase in total testosterone

Men with low testosterone taking 200 mg of standardized tongkat ali increased total testosterone by 12.2%.

Label benchmark 200 to 400 mg of standardized extract, with eurycomanone strength disclosed.

Read the Chinnappan et al. study

See which labels match

Fenugreek03

15.3%

Increase in sexual-function scores

Men taking 600 mg of fenugreek daily improved sexual-function scores by 15.3% over 12 weeks. The largest changes were in arousal and drive.

Label benchmark 500 to 600 mg of standardized fenugreek extract.

Read the Rao et al. study

Shilajit04

20.45%

Increase in total testosterone

Men taking 500 mg of purified shilajit daily increased total testosterone by 20.45%. Free testosterone and DHEA-S also increased.

Label benchmark 500 mg of purified shilajit, standardized to about 50% fulvic acids.

Read the Pandit et al. study

See which labels match

Ashwagandha05

32.6%

Reduction in cortisol

Stressed adults taking 600 mg of ashwagandha daily reduced cortisol by 32.6%. Cortisol and testosterone are inversely linked: the lower your cortisol, the higher you can make your testosterone.

Label benchmark 600 mg of standardized root extract.

Read the Salve et al. study

Zinc06

92.8%

Increase for zinc-deficient men

Nine older men with low zinc increased average testosterone from 8.3 to 16.0 nmol/L after taking about 30 mg of zinc daily for six months.

Label benchmark Roughly 25 to 30 mg of zinc.

Read the Prasad et al. study

See which labels match

Vitamin D307

25.2%

Increase in testosterone

Men with low vitamin D increased total testosterone by 25.2% after taking 3,332 IU of vitamin D3 daily for one year.

Label benchmark About 3,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D3. This result applies to men who started low in vitamin D.

Read the Pilz et al. study

Boron08

28.3%

Increase in free testosterone

Eight healthy men increased average free testosterone by 28.3% after taking 10 mg of boron daily for seven days.

Label benchmark 3 to 10 mg daily.

Read the Naghii et al. study

See which labels match

Piperine09

Black pepper extract standardized for piperine

60%

Greater nutrient absorption

Adding 5 mg of piperine increased beta-carotene exposure by 60% over 14 days. Piperine is an absorption aid, not a testosterone booster by itself.

Label benchmark 5 to 10 mg of piperine, with the active strength disclosed.

Read the Badmaev et al. study

Copper + zinc10

5 YEARS

Copper stayed steady during high-dose zinc use

Adults taking 80 mg of zinc paired with 2 mg of copper daily maintained steady serum copper levels for five years.

Label benchmark A formula using high daily zinc should show how copper is balanced with it.

Long-term high zinc intake without added copper may reduce copper levels over time.

Read AREDS Report No. 7

Compare the 11 formulas

The label audit

Which formulas match the nine unique label checks?

Ashwagandha appears twice in the ten studies, so the final scorecard has nine unique checks. Green means the label shows a comparable dose and the needed extract strength. Yellow means the dose is close, low, unstandardized, or hidden inside a blend.

Clear match Partial or unclear Missing or far below Different formula type or not applicable

Study benchmark stays pinned on the leftScroll right to compare all 11 formulas →

Study std.	Stoke ★	Mars Men	Menerals	Zapply T1	Beyond Alpha	ROOT LABS	Primal Storm	Ancestral	Heart & Soil	ForgeMen	Primal Viking
Ashwagandha600 mg, at least 5% withanolides	✓600 mgAt least 5% withanolides	✕Not included	✕Not included	!200 mgStandardized, but one-third of the study dose	?About 700 mg claimedIndividual amount is hidden inside a blend	✕40 mgFar below the study dose	✕Not included	N/ADifferent formula typeFive-organ supplement	N/ADifferent formula typeFive-organ supplement	✕Not includedOrgan blend	✕Not includedOrgan and herb blend
Tongkat ali200-400 mg, std. extract	✓400 mgAt least 1% eurycomanone	!1,000 mgNo extract strength disclosed	✕Not included	✕Not included	?Inside a 1,000 mg blendIndividual dose hidden	✕20 mg actual material200 mg is an extract-equivalent claim	!400 mgNo extract strength disclosed	N/ADifferent formula type	N/ADifferent formula type	✕Not included	✕Not included
Fenugreek500-600 mg, std. extract	✓600 mgStandardized for saponins	!675 mgNo extract strength disclosed	✕Not included	✕Not included	?600 mg claimedIndividual amount is hidden inside a blend	✕Not included	✕Not included	N/ADifferent formula type	N/ADifferent formula type	✕Not included	✕Not included
Shilajit500 mg, ~50% fulvic acids	✓500 mgAt least 50% fulvic acids	!400 mgPurity and fulvic strength not disclosed	✕No purified shilajit doseFulvic minerals aren't the material used in the study	!400 mg, 10:1Fulvic strength not shown	?500 mg claimedIndividual amount is hidden inside a blend	!400 mg actual materialNear the study amount, but below 500 mg	✕Not included	N/ADifferent formula type	N/ADifferent formula type	✕Not included	✕Not included
Zinc25-30 mg	✓24 mgNear the study range	✓30 mg	✕0.1 to 0.5 mgPublished range is far below the study dose	✕10 mgBelow the study range	✕11 mgBelow the study range	✕Not included	✕Not included	N/ANo fixed active dose	N/ANo fixed active dose	✕Not included	✕Not included
Vitamin D33,000-5,000 IU	✓5,000 IU	✓4,000 IU	✕Not included	✕1,000 IUBelow the study range	✕Not included	✕Not included	✕Not included	N/ADifferent formula type	N/ADifferent formula type	✕Not included	✕Not included
Boron3-10 mg	✓10 mg	✓4 mgWithin the active range	✕0.2 to 1 mgPublished range is below the active range	✓7.5 mg	?6 mg claimedIndividual amount is hidden inside a blend	✕Not included	✕Not included	N/ANo fixed active dose	N/ANo fixed active dose	✕Not included	✕Not included
Piperine5-10 mg	✓10 mgAt least 95% piperine	✕Not included	✕Not included	✕Not included	✕Not included	✕2 mgBelow the study dose	✓10 mg	N/ADifferent formula type	N/ADifferent formula type	✕Not included	✕Not included
Copper + zincCopper w/ high-dose zinc	✓1 mg copperPaired with 24 mg zinc	✕No copperPaired with 30 mg zinc	N/ABoth appear only in trace rangesNo fixed serving dose disclosed	✓0.5 mg copperPaired with 10 mg zinc	✕No copperPaired with 11 mg zinc	N/ANo daily zinc dose	N/ANo daily zinc dose	N/ANo fixed zinc dose	N/ANo fixed zinc dose	N/ANo daily zinc dose	N/ANo daily zinc dose
Matches	9 of 9	3 of 9	0 of 9	2 of 9	0 clear, 5 hidden	0 clear, 1 close	1 of 9	Different formula typeOrgan meat not shown to improve T levels	Different formula typeOrgan meat not shown to improve T levels	0 of 9Organ meat not shown to improve T levels	0 of 9Organ meat not shown to improve T levels
Products	Shop Stoke	View Mars Men	View Menerals	View Zapply T1	View Beyond Alpha	View ROOT LABS	View Primal Storm	View Ancestral	View Heart & Soil	View ForgeMen	View Primal Viking

Competitor labels and product pages were captured June 23, 2026. Formulas can change. Menerals did not show a fixed-dose Supplement Facts panel, so its cells use the mineral ranges published by the brand. "Clear match" means the captured label met this checklist. It does not mean the finished product was tested in the cited study or will produce the same outcome.

🏆 Best match to the human-study checklist

Stoke cleared all nine label checks

Stoke won this label audit because its major actives show both the daily dose and the extract strength used to judge them.

✓Comparable doses across all nine unique checks
✓Botanical extract strength disclosed
✓10 mg absorption aid included
✓Copper paired with daily zinc

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The studies above tested individual ingredients, not the finished formulas shown in the comparison. They do not establish that any finished product will produce the same results. Individual results vary.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician before use if you have a medical condition, take prescription medication, or use hormone therapy.

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