What Is Tribulus Supplement?
Dietary supplements, especially herb-based ones, have been gaining popularity in recent years, although they have been used in their natural form for decades, sometimes even centuries or millennia. One example of that is the Tribulus supplement- but what exactly is it, what does Tribulus do, and how much do we know about it at the present time? That’s what we’ll be talking about here.
Key Takeaways
- A Tribulus supplement is a supplement containing Tribulus terrestris, also known as puncture vine, which has been used in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurveda medicine.
- While more research is still needed, Tribulus terrestris shows a lot of potential in several health areas, including sexual performance and improvement of the immune system*
- There is no dosage that could be considered the “best dosage”, which is why following the directions provided on the Tribulus supplement’s package is of utmost importance.
- Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that taking Tribulus supplements can have side effects.
What Is Tribulus Terrestris Supplement?
In order to understand what a Tribulus supplement is, we first need to take a look at what is Tribulus terrestris, as that’s the name of the plant used to make Tribulus supplements. This Mediterranean fruit-producing plant is also known as puncture vine, and the reason behind it is quite simple – it is covered in spines sharp enough to puncture bicycle tires.
It can be found in many parts of the world, including Europe (that it is native to) as well as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
So, what is Tribulus supplement? Exactly what you think it is based on what we’ve said so far – it’s a dietary supplement containing Tribulus terrestris.
Using Tribulus in the plant form is nothing new, as its root and fruit have long been used for several reasons in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurveda medicine – according to the Phytopharmacological overview of Tribulus terrestris:
Tribulus terrestris (family Zygophyllaceae), commonly known as Gokshur or Gokharu or puncture vine, has been used for a long time in both the Indian and Chinese systems of medicine . Its various parts contain a variety of chemical constituents which are medicinally important, such as flavonoids, flavonol glycosides, steroidal saponins, and alkaloids.
The publication also touches upon the possible Tribulus terrestris benefits that made this plant an important resource:
As far as the compounds of the plants are concerned, saponins and flavonoids are two substances that should especially be paid close attention to due to their possible effects. As written in the article titled Saponins from edible legumes: chemistry, processing, and health benefits:
Clinical studies have suggested that these health-promoting components, saponins, affect the immune system in ways that support the human body.
Another article, this time focused on flavonoids and titled Important Flavonoids and Their Role as a Therapeutic Agent shared that:
All in all, there is a lot of promising evidence as far as the Tribulus terrestris plant goes; however, more research is still needed.
Tribulus Benefits – A Review
So, what is Tribulus good for? Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly mentioned Tribulus supplement uses, as well as what the current medical evidence says about them.
Can Tribulus Terrestris Supplements Increase Testosterone?
One of the most common claims about the Tribulus plant is that it can increase testosterone
Specifically, one review of 12 major studies called
Tribulus support natural production of hormone levels, including the hormone testosterone. Tribulus help regulation of the different hormones of the body, particularly the ones connected to sexuality & reproductive system. So, based on the evidence, Tribulus does not artificially increase testosterone level however it controls it.*
Can Tribulus Terrestris Supplements Enhance Libido?
While Tribulus might be ineffective for testosterone increase, there is evidence to suggest that it can potentially increase libido*.
A study called Tribulus terrestris for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo – controlled study included sixty seven women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder who were assigned to either of the two groups – Tribulus terrestris extract or placebo. The study lasted four weeks, and at the start as well as the end of it, desire, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain were measured using FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index).
As results showed:
At the end of the fourth week, patients in the Tribulus terrestris group had experienced significant improvement in their total FSFI (p < 0.001), desire (p < 0.001), arousal (p = 0.037), lubrication (p < 0.001), satisfaction (p < 0.001) and pain (p = 0.041) domains of FSFI.
While more research is needed, the current literature suggests Tribulus’ potential in enhancing libido.
Other Potential Tribulus Terrestris Benefits
According to a comparative study titled Tribulus terrestris: preliminary study of its diuretic and contractile effects and comparison with Zea mays:
Еffects of T. terrestris indicate that it has the potential of merits further pharmacological studies.*
Tribulus might also be effective in the improvement of sexual function in men with, as discovered by the study Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Tribulus terrestris in male sexual dysfunction – A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. According to the results following the 12-week period, significant improvement in sexual function was observed with TT.*
While more research is required, it is possible that Tribulus is effective in helping with sexual performance.*
This comparative study of five plants traditionally used in the Indian system of medicines What it concluded was that all of the plants that were used in it have been shown to support immune system*
While more studies are needed, there is a possibility that Tribulus terrestris might have support overall health functions . *
Tribulus Terrestris – Dosage
Unfortunately, the lack of research is not only present in the Tribulus benefits area but also in dosages, as at the moment, there’s no amount that can be considered the “best” Tribulus dosage. Different studies assigned different dosages to their participants, anywhere from 250 to 1500 mg.
Some of them, however, were also giving those taking part in the study higher doses depending on their body weight. In those cases, the participants were usually given between 4.5 and 9 mg of Tribulus terrestris per pound of body weight, translating to about 10 to 20 mg per kg.
For example, a person weighing 80 kg (about 177 pounds) would be given a dose between 800 and 1600 mg per day, while a person weighing 120 kg would get a dose between 1200 and 2400 mg.
Because of this, if you’re planning on taking a Tribulus supplement, it’s important that you stick to the instructions disclosed on the package, even if you’ve taken other Tribulus supplements before – that’s because different manufacturers might recommend different dosages depending on what their supplement contains.
One of the most important things that determine the adequate dosage is the percentage of saponins in the supplement – the supplements would typically contain about 45 to 60% saponins. However, there are some with higher percentages, in which case a lower supplement dose is recommended – another reason why following instructions is of utmost importance. They take the concentration into account.
Tribulus Terrestris Side Effects
At the moment, there is no evidence that would suggest side effects for those taking Tribulus supplements.
However, more studies involving humans need to be conducted
The Bottom Line
While Tribulus supplements are showing a lot of potential in several areas, including increasing libido and having other properties, more research is still needed,.* This is also why taking any supplements should be consulted with your doctor – they’ll be able to tell you whether it’s worth trying.
And if you decide to go with it, it’s important that you purchase your products only from reliable sources – like Vemoherb. Our Tribulus terrestris extract, completely purified from EU-banned pyrrolizidine alkaloids and patented as VemoHerb Tribuscin® is not only innovative but also contains high concentrations of active substances, which allows you to fully take advantage of the potential benefits.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
