Rankings / Hormones & Endocrine
Tribulus terrestris
Hormones & Endocrine · Saponin-containing herb
Tier C+
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Tribulus terrestris as C+ (5.5/10) based on weak evidence, low-med benefit magnitude, and a low-risk safety profile.
Classic supplement that does not do what its marketing suggests.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: 300-1500 mg/day standardized extract — OTC; not individualized guidance.
Citation correction in progress
1 PubMed link was found to be unrelated to this entry and removed from public output. The remaining sources are shown below, but this row's claims and score still need a full source-by-source revalidation.
What the evidence says
Classic supplement that does not do what its marketing suggests. In healthy eugonadal men, Neychev 2005 and others consistently show no testosterone effect. Several trials in women report a sexual-function signal. Bulgarian/Balkan Sopharma products historically most studied.
Mechanism
Protodioscin and related steroidal saponins; proposed LH release stimulation; reality is more modest — most trials in healthy men show no testosterone increase vs placebo
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
300-1500 mg/day standardized extract
This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.
Citations
A link means the source informed this entry; it does not mean every claim on the page comes from that source. If a citation looks wrong or you want a claim re-checked, send a correction.
Common questions
- What does the evidence show about Tribulus terrestris's effects?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Tribulus terrestris as Weak and the benefit magnitude as low-med, producing an overall grade of C+ (5.5/10). Classic supplement that does not do what its marketing suggests.
- What safety findings are reported for Tribulus terrestris?
- Tribulus terrestris has a low risk profile in the database. Low Legal status: OTC.
- What doses or routes are reported for Tribulus terrestris?
- 300-1500 mg/day standardized extract This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- How does Tribulus terrestris work?
- Protodioscin and related steroidal saponins; proposed LH release stimulation; reality is more modest — most trials in healthy men show no testosterone increase vs placebo
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.