Ageless Male is a supplement “clinically proven to improve testosterone levels by 50% but still keep those levels within a normal healthy range. Impressive, but does Ageless Male work? If you heard the commercial for Ageless Male on XM Radio like I did, you probably did the same thing as me – rush home to look it up on the web. I must admit the Ageless Male supplement did not contain what I thought, given all they eluded to such as improve sex drive, make bones stronger etc.
What is Ageless Male?
Ageless Male is marketed by New Vitality (NewVitality.com) which incidentally also goes by the name NAC Vitamin Company according to the Better Business Bureau. Ageless Male appears to be primarily marketed to men –over the age of fo fo fo forty – who have low testosterone levels – or who think they do. According to the products website, Ageless Male is alleged to:
- Helps support healthy testosterone levels already within normal ranges
- In research, helped increase testosterone levels by 50%, still within a safe, physiological range
- May help support healthy hormonal balance in men
- May help reduce the conversion of testosterone into estrogen
- In research, helped reduce the conversion of testosterone to DHT by 16%
While I see the word “research” mentioned a few times on the NewVitality website, the site doesn’t list any studies to support what they say about the product. I think I know why – keep reading…
Ageless Male Ingredients
When I checked newvitality.com, I discovered that Ageless Male has 2 ingredients which together form a proprietary blend called Re-Settin. These ingredients are:
- Saw Palmetto berry extract
- Astaxanthin (a type of carotenoid)
Re-Settin is a catchy word. I guess these ingredients are supposed to “reset” a man’s hormone levels? Regardless, Re-Settin is a marketing word that is holds no scientific meaning. Two capsules of Ageless Male contain 10 calories and 800 mg of the Re-Settin blend of ingredients. How much of each ingredient is in Ageless Male? They don’t tell us.
*** Ingredient Update. On 4/26/12 I was alerted that Ageless Male now has new ingredients. Scroll to the section Ageless Male New Ingredients to see my review of those.
Does Ageless Male Have any Research?
There does appear to be one study on saw palmetto and astaxanthin and testosterone levels. The study was published in 2008 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
The study did not use Ageless Male. Rather researchers were testing another supplement called Mytosterone (also called Alphastat) made by Triarco (triarco.com) which is located in Wayne NJ. Triarco funded this study but the investigation notes that none of the authors had any financial connection to the outcomes of the research.
In this 2 week long investigation, 42 healthy men between the ages of 37 and 70 were divided 2 groups.
- Group 1 (21 men) were given 800 mg of the Mytosterone supplement
- Group 2 (21 men) were given 200 milligrams of the Mytosterone supplement
At the end of the study, researchers noted that men who got both 800 mg and 2000 mg showed:
- Significant elevations in testosterone and
- Significant reductions in DHT
However, significant reductions in estrogen were only seen in men who received the 2000 mg dose
No significant side effects were noted but again this study lasted only 2 weeks.
If this is the study that Ageless Male is based on, keep in mind that it did not look at sex drive, bone growth, strength or muscle development or most other claims made on the Ageless Male website. These outcomes are probably inferred based on what we know about what testosterone does.
If the results of this study are confirmed, this combination of supplements may prove useful to not only older adults but also bodybuilders and other strength athletes who usually seek ways to naturally boost testosterone levels.
If you try Ageless Male (or Mytosterone aka Alphastat) I recommend getting your testosterone level checked first and then again in a month to see if anything changed. This is wise since Ageless Male can be expensive.
Myosterone may be found in other supplements also but do check the levels in supplements to make sure you are getting at least 800 mg.
This study did raise some red flags with me. For one thing, the researchers say that the men were divided into two groups. They do not say that the men were randomly divided into the groups. I’m mentioning this because if you look at both groups, they have “significantly different” testosterone levels at the start of the study.
- Group 1 (whose average age was 55) testosterone level =21.64 nmol/L
- Group 2 (whose average age was 61) testosterone level =26.26 nmol/L
I’d expect that if the men were randomly assigned to each group, that there would not be a significant difference in testosterone levels between groups.
Also, there was no control group either. Given the differences in testosterone between groups at the start of the study, a control group (who got nothing) would make me feel a little better about how good this study was.
Because of my reservations, I’d like to see a few studies replicate these findings before I Mytosterone it 2 thumbs up. I’d also like to see what happens in a group of men who lift weights while taking Mytosterone.
Another supplement men often ask about is TriVerex so read that review for more info on that product.
Ageless Male New Ingredients
As I mentioned above Ageless Male now has a new list of ingredients so I want to review them here to help you.
1 soft gel of Ageless Male has :
| % daily value | |
| Vitamin B 6 (pyridoxine HCL) 4.4 mg | 247% |
| Magnesium (magnesium oxide) 16.88 mg | 4% |
| Zinc (zinc oxide) 15 mg | 100% |
| Testofen (fenugreek extract) 300 mg |
I don’t think healthy people are deficient in vitamin B6, magnesium or zinc. It’s the last ingredient—Testofen—that I want to focus on. It’s worth pointing out that Testofen is also one of the main ingredients in the bodybuilding supplement, Syntheroid.
Testofen is now said to be the main magic ingredient in Ageless Male. As they say on the label of Ageless Male, Testofen is there name for the herb fenugreek.
The name Testofen conjures up ideas that this product is supposed to raise testosterone levels.
As they say on the New Vitality Website, Testofen is a registered trademark of the company Gencor Pacific Inc. In other words, Gencor Pacific created the name “Testofen” as a way to subtly drive home the message that this extract of fenugreek raises testosterone. But does it? Let’s look at the research on fenugreek and testosterone. In case you do your own research on fenugreek, its scientific names are Trigonella foenugraecum and Trigonella foenum-graecum.
In my review, I found 4 studies of fenugreek and testosterone. Two were mouse studies which I will bypass as I don’t think they are relevant. The other two studies used humans, and these studies are kind of interesting.
In a study published in 2011 in the Journal Phytotherapy Research, fenugreek was randomly given to 60 healthy males between the ages of 25 and 52 for 6 weeks. Men either received fenugreek (Testofen) or a placebo and they rated how they felt on a sexual functioning questionnaire (called the DISF-SR) over the course of the 6 week study.
Men who received the fenugreek extract reported greater feelings of sexual arousal, orgasm, libido, well being, energy and muscular strength. There was no change in mood reported.
It is odd that the men in the study reported no change in mood, yet they reported better “well being.” To me, that does not compute. How does well being improve, but not your mood?
Keep in mind that this study did not directly measure strength or energy levels. Rather, the men just reported that they felt stronger and had more energy. This is a drawback of the study.
While these points are interesting, if you read the summary of the study, take note that testosterone did not change.
In the study they say “Serum prolactin and testosterone levels remained within the reference range.” That’s fancy talk for ” Testofen did not raise testosterone levels.” Even scientists tap dance around the facts sometimes—and this is an example of it.
Take note that in this study the men reporting improvements were taking 600 mg of Testofen per day. How much is in Ageless Male—300 mg per gel cap. I called customer service of Ageless Male and they did tell me that the recommended dosage is 2 gel caps per day. This would equal 600 mg.
I believe the main reason fenugreek is in Ageless Male is because fenugreek is an example of a natural 5 alpha reductase inhibitor. The enzyme 5 alpha reductase is turns testosterone into DHT (di-hydro-testosterone). Thus, anything that could inhibit the 5 alpha reductase enzyme might prevent DHT formation and — cause elevated testosterone levels. If it works, then fenugreek might make some sense.
The next fenugreek study is a little bit more interesting…
This fenugreek-testosterone study was published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism in 2011. It involved 30 collage age males who were randomly given 500 mg of fenugreek extract —or placebo—for 8 weeks.
The extract of fenugreek used in this study was called grecunin. The word grecunin looks a lot like graecum, which is part of the scientific name for fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum).
Food for thought: I don’t know if fenugreek supplements tell how much grecunin they contain.
The men in this study lifted weights for 4 days per week for the duration of the study. They took the fenugreek extract in the morning and just prior to working out. At end of the study, men who received fenugreek extract, experienced:
- 6.57% increase in testosterone —a significant change
- 12.26 increase in the bio-availability of testosterone —a significant change
- 1.77% decrease in body fat —a significant change
- 26.62% increase in estrogen (estradiol) —a non-significant change
- 6.10 % increase in DH —a non significant change
- No significant change in muscle strength in the upper or lower body
- No significant change in protein synthesis or muscle hypertrophy
The researchers also noted that fenugreek did not completely block the action of 5 alpha reductase. It partially blocked the action of the enzyme—which is interesting— but did not block it completely.
This study was funded by Indus Biotech, a pharmaceutical company based in India. Indus Biotech also provided the fenucreek extract. The study lists no conflicts of interest among the researchers.
This study is interesting. If you decide to try fenucreek remember that the people used in this investigation were collage age males. I don’t know if the same results would occur in men who are, say, in their 50s.
Looking at these two human studies, we have one that seems to show fenugreek raises testosterone while another, which shows it does not raise testosterone levels. As I see it, one big difference between the two studies is in the extract of fenugreek used.
- In the study showing an increase in testosterone, the extract used was called grecunin.
- In the study showing no change in testosterone, Testofen was used.
Ageless Male now contains Testofen.
At this point I don’t know if this is a significant issue or not because even if Testofen does not alter testosterone levels, it did seem to show that men felt better —and performed better sexually. I’d think most men would be fine with this if Testofen really did do this.
I did a check of fenugreek supplements and saw that Vitamin Shoppe sells 610 mg of fenugreek for under $10. That’s a lot less than Ageless Male. The cheap skate in me would say, just try fenugreek and see if that helps.
Just as an experiment, I have purchased the Vitamin Shoppe brand of fenugreek and will be using 610 mg per day for the next 6 weeks to see what happens. If I feel any difference, I will report it here.
Who is Jacob Rosenstein MD?
Dr. Rosenstein is featured on the Ageless Male website. He is a neurosurgeon in Texas. He is also affiliated with an anti aging company called Texas Age Management (TexasAgeManagement.com) which is associated with Cenegenics, a medically based anti aging company that uses hormones and supplements to slow the aging process. I found the connection to Cenegenics interesting and speculate that for some people, Ageless Male might be a “gateway supplement” to introduce them to Cenegenics if they wanted to “take things to the next level”.
How much does Ageless Male cost?
A 1 month supply of Ageless Male will cost $39.95. Each bottle has 60 soft-gels and you are supposed to take 2 soft gels per day. There is also a shipping charge of $6.99. They do offer free shipping for orders over $150. That said, if the study above is to be believed you should know in about 1-2 weeks if Ageless Male works because that’s how long it took for Mytosterone to work. You can return Ageless Male within 30 days if you don’t like it.
What do you think?
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Dafixer, Thanks for writing and for sharing your journey. Since you said you were a “larger guy”, have you tried to lose weight? There is some evidence of low T levels in even young men who are overweight. This may have to do with the more fat we have the more estrogen we have also. Just a though that occurred to me. I will definitely keep my eyes open for something that works.
I found Dafixer’s comments interesting. His comments about Androgell causing the body to stop/slow it’s own T production I have heard on your site before. Are there any reliable studies that “prove” this? How about the shots? I receive the shots and asked my doctor about this and he said there are no problems he is aware of. He is a good doc but may be out of the loop with the latest studies. Also, how about libido and E.D.? Any supplements you have reviewed that help with these two issues? thanks for all you are doing!
Joe,
Thanks for the write up and especially the comments!
I am 32 years old and about 3 years ago I had a non cancerous tumor removed from my testicles. While in there I also got fixed ( 3 kids already ). My wife, employer and I started noticing that I had lost my fight. I became extremely laid back and lazy. This was bad for my marriage and career. I went to my doctor and after a lot of tests he came to the conclusion that I had low T ( 130) and ADHD. I was prescribed androgel for the low T and concerta for the ADHD.
The androgel made my skin crawl and the concerta made me crazy!!! For a few weeks I was the most miserable psychopath you would have ever ran into…… I have not been back to the dr since. I had heard the commercials and thought that ageless male might had been my ticket. Luckily I had found your review before purchasing and wasting my time, money and health.
If you run across anything that works, please let me know.
Bear, I will definitely keep you posted if I find anything.
Jim, everything I have ever read and learned about hormones is that the body keeps a tight control on the level of them. when we give the give body extra of a hormone, it decreases its natural production of the hormone. This is why Im usually skeptical of supplements that claim to raise T levels. In biology this is called a negative feedback loop. testosterone does play a role in libido in both men and women so reduced libido may be due to reduced testosterone levels but we man are funny creatures and other things – stress etc – can also contribute to it. So far, I have not come across anything I had faith in, but I always keep and open mind. I suggest you try seeing a urologist and / or endocrinologist who might be able to address your concerns more specifically.
Viagra Less than 50/50
Viagra, Erectile Disfunction, ED, Testosterone, Sildenafil
Viagra doesn’t seem to always be keeping up its end of the bargain! Touted as a drug that allows you to “take action,” it appears that not every man gets full satisfaction. In fact, less than half of the Viagra (sildenafil) currently being prescribed for men is actually working, according to a study that took place at Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham, England.
The most common sexual issue men visit a doctor about is erectile dysfunction (ED), which is experienced by 40 percent of men over the age of 40. In the United States, it is believed to affect between 15 and 30 million men. However, a caution to all those men — before starting a medication like Viagra, men with ED should go see a urologist. The sexual issues may be a symptom of a larger problem somewhere else in the body. Liver, kidney, and thyroid diseases, hormone imbalances, and blood vessel injuries are just a few of the other ailments that can cause ED and should be checked by a physician. It can also occur as the side effect of some medications.
On the other hand, more than 20 percent of the ED problems in men can be traced back to a testosterone deficiency. Testosterone levels in men peak during their 20s, then slowly decrease over the years. Viagra doesn’t address testosterone issues; it treats circulation problems by increasing the blood flow to the penis. It has no effect whatsoever on testosterone levels, so those men experiencing ED because of low amounts of that hormone are wasting their time and money using the drug. A blood test at your doctor’s office can determine whether testosterone levels are low. The test should be performed in the morning, since that’s the time of day testosterone levels tend to peak.
Another earlier study, conducted by the New England Research Institute, found that the appearance of ED combined with an inadequate sex drive was frequently caused by low testosterone levels. The researchers examined close to 1,500 men living in and around Boston between the ages of 30 and 79. They found that 25 percent of these men had low testosterone levels.
But testosterone is not just about erections. It’s also responsible for a number of roles in the bodies of both men and women. It provides us with energy, gives us a sense of drive, pushes us to succeed, helps us bond with our partners, fuels our sexual desires, escalates our sexual satisfaction, builds muscles, burns fat, and facilitates better circulation. Research has shown that it is not that our bodies produce less testosterone as we get older, but rather, it’s the amount of free circulating (or bio-available) testosterone that decreases — as more and more of it gets bound to both albumin and a natural substance called SHBG (sex-hormone-binding-globulin).
SHBG not only binds to testosterone, it binds to every other sex hormone. It functions as a storage system for excess hormones, but it can cause problems as well. SHBG can bind estrogen or dihydrotestosterone to cell membranes in the prostate stimulating cell growth, while at the same time causing an increase in PSA secretion, which can be a factor in prostate problems including cancer. Herbal formulas can play a major role in alleviating these issues. A good hormone balancing formula for men will contain ingredients such as: Ginseng, Tribulus terrestris, Muira puama, Wild oats, Nettles, Eleutherococcus, Saw palmetto, Sarsaparilla, Catuaba, Damiana, Kola nut, and Ginger.
And herbal formulations are safe to take, whereas Viagra has been known to cause numerous side effects. Those most frequently occurring during clinical trials were headaches, flushed face, and upset stomach. Other common side effects are stuffy nose, diarrhea, dizziness, and heartburn. There are also more serious ailments linked to Viagra use that include severe allergic reaction, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, seizures, loss of hearing or vision, and memory loss.
In contrast, natural herbs offer “side benefits” instead of side effects. Wild oats have traditionally been used to aid the nervous system. Nettle is often taken for the treatment of urinary problems and when the prostate becomes enlarged. Saw palmetto exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on prostate tissue. It also inhibits the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which causes testosterone to be converted into dihydrotesterone, which as we mentioned earlier stimulates the growth of prostate tissue. Numerous studies have shown saw palmetto to be effective in improving the symptoms of an enlarged prostate by shrinking the inner lining of the prostate.
Used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine, ginseng works as an anti-inflammatory and to increase the body’s resistance to stress. Catuaba can elevate mood, even lessening the symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as offering antiviral and antibacterial properties. And Tribulus terrestris has been found to fight infections and play a role in curing urinary tract infections.
The list of benefits goes on and on. When taken regularly, natural formulas based on these ingredients work to put the body in balance.
Have you ever looked into Tongkat?
Joe,
This link is in response to your comment during my thread about “studies”….feel free to read the link I am attaching……..http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1182327/?tool=pubmed
Interesting….my comments are blocked. Talk about free speech!
Tricia overall I agree wiht a lot of what you said including that ED may be a sign of a bigger issue like heart disease. Heart disease usually starts in the smallest blood vessels of the body – like those in the penis. As such ED may be an early sign of heart disease. While I cant speak to your statisitc that 40% of mine don’t respond to Viagra, its active ingredient – Sildenafil – is a potent compound. If it was not then unscrupulous makers of male enhancement supplements would not be adding sildenafil to their supplements. Here is my review of those types of products along with the FDA alerts on them http://supplement-geek.com/male-enhancment-supplements/
As for the natural products you mentioned, you left out arginine which is one of the most frequently used ingredients because of its vasiodilation effect on blood vessels. Can you show me studies that the ingredients you mentioned have any effect on “balancing” hormone levels in men?
Tricia, your comments were not blocked but held for me to moderate. This is how I make sure people are not bothered by spam comments (I get lots!) and correct spelling typos (only I get to make the typos around here lol)
Tricia, thanks for that link. I’ve saved the text on my PC for my records. Ok so if this guy is true and “most published research is false” then what other – better – system do we have to advance our knowledge ? Doctors and scientists are human and they are not perfect. No study is perfect. That said, when a study is published in a medical journal, the whole scientific community – the whole world – has the ability to check and double check what went on in the research. There is nowhere to hide from somebody who knows how to do the math or repeat the research.
Flawed or not , it is still a far better system than infomercials and websites that say “clinically proven” but yet provide no basis for that statement. I share your frustration and Ive seen “studies” that I’ve just shook my head at because they were dumb. After you read enough of them you even get a feel for how bad the study might be because of the names of the researchers! That said, the peer review system is still the best system we have, and that is why published peer reviewed studies are my litmus tests to evaluate supplement claims.
AMS, yes in passing Tongkat is another name for Eurycoma Longifolia here is a review that discussed this http://supplement-geek.com/triverex-male-enhancement-research-review-side-effects-ingredients/
Joe,
I apologize, for some reason I cannot see my comments on this thread…only on my email page can I see them.
Although arginine, an essential amino acid, has been proven an effective HGH stimulator when administered intravenously, the results of oral supplementation are more questionable. And at doses sufficient to stimulate HGH production in the body, it tends to produce significant intestinal distress.
GABA, on the other hand, is far more interesting as a supplement. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid/neurotransmitter found in the brain, where it helps induce relaxation and sleep. In addition to its calming effect, GABA also stimulates the anterior pituitary, leading to higher levels of HGH. Many studies have been done on GABA that show it can promote a significant increase in plasma growth hormone levels — up to a fivefold increase within 90 minutes of oral supplementation of 5 grams of GABA. (Note: research shows that at least 2-5 grams of GABA should be taken for it to be effective.)
Note: Build your dosage of GABA slowly. Some people experience mild tingling around the face and neck or notice a mild change in heart rate or breathing patterns when supplementing with GABA. These effects quickly disappear and are not harmful.
As far as your studies go, here is some interesting reading: scientific journals are not the most reliable source for finding out about the true state of research science. Like all publications, scientific journals exist to appeal to an audience (medical doctors, other researchers, etc.). This means that what gets published tends to be the most appealing, or titillating, or exploitable news — news that will sell the journal so that it can make money, or at least survive.
According to the article, contributors to journals typically have an agenda: perhaps the desire to attract venture capital in order to underwrite product development or to gain exposure that might lead to approval of new pharmaceuticals or to bolster the writer’s professional reputation. In other words, the chances that someone will contribute an article that shows negative results for a medical procedure, or a drug, or that doesn’t somehow lead to a professional or marketing advantage are minimal.
In fact, for every study that gets space in a major research publication, hundreds or even thousands of studies go unreported. This fact reflects what Plos Medicine calls “the extreme imbalance between the abundance of supply (the output of basic science laboratories and clinical investigations) and the increasingly limited venues for publication.” Like with the rest of the publishing world, increasing costs have forced medical journals to cut back on what gets printed — only a tiny percentage of relevant news makes it into print. Authors scramble to get someone — anyone — to publish their papers, and still they may stand only a 10 percent or less chance of publication, particularly in the leading journals.
At best, the less “sexy” studies might get reported in small, minor publications — publications that the popular press will never pick up on. Maybe that’s why out of thousands upon thousands of articles published annually by journals affiliated with BioMed Central — an online information service that distributes articles from 187 medical and scientific publications — only 73 articles were accessed more than 10,000 times in 2007. In other words, the audience for what gets published in the smaller journals is quite limited.
When only the most dramatic results make it into the public arena, readers can’t possibly get a grip on the entire scope of data that might pertain to a particular issue. For instance, according to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, publishedinformation about the effectiveness of antidepressants is downright misleading. Researchers reviewed the results of 74 antidepressant studies reported to the FDA. The results of 21 of those studies never got published, and the researchers concluded that another 11 of the original 74 studies presented the results in a false positive light. Of the unpublished studies, nearly all showed that antidepressants didn’t work well. Of the published studies, nearly all showed a positive result — that antidepressants supplied the happy cure that depressed patients needed. As the NEJM reports, “According to the published literature, it appeared that 94% of the trials conducted were positive. By contrast, the FDA analysis showed that only 51% were positive.”
That’s a mighty wide margin of error, involving a lot of smoke and mirrors. What’s truly bothersome is that even medical professionals might not get the full scoop, unless they happen to attend a conference where negative results get presented. Otherwise, they read their journal articles, and based on those articles design treatment plans and make decisions about prescriptions. As patients, we swallow the Zoloft or whatever pill gets assigned to us, not realizing that there’s a 50 percent chance of failure (and that’s assuming that you believe that the 42 positive studies weren’t agenda driven), along with side effects galore.
Unfortunately, the failure to spread the word about negative study results extends far beyond antidepressants. A 2005 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that out of 49 of the most-cited papers about medical interventions, one-third already had been contradicted within a few years of publication, although the contradictory research largely went unreported. Plus, as the article reports, five out of six “nonrandomized studies had been contradicted or had found stronger [initial] effects [than in follow-up studies]” within a few years. This means that initial positive results commonly turn out to be exaggerated or wrong when follow-up studies get completed — but there may be a significant time-lag before the contradictory results come to light. Also, and perhaps even more worrisome, as PLoS reports, once studies appear to be going in a negative direction — not substantiating claims that such and such a treatment works — they tend to be abandoned so that their results never get reported.
So beware, beware, beware! Remember that only 15% of all medical treatments are even backed by studies in the first place — and now we learn that even the 15% that are backed are questionable at best. In other words, take the results of any medical study you see in the media with a grain of salt. Just because such studies are backed by scientists doesn’t make them true. And maybe be a little more suspicious of any “scientific” study that challenges beta carotene, nutrition, Echinacea, vitamin E — take your pick. As we’ve seen, at best, the odds that it’s correct are substantially less than 50/50.
Tricia, thats so odd you cant see your comments. I just checked and I see them fine. Its interesting points you make and there is no doubt of a bias in some journals. Its because of that, that I am very glad for publications like PLoS which you cited above. The PLoS service bucks the system, something I think a lot of publications are afraid of. Just one point about Arginine, I think you meant that it is a non-essential amino acid.
Joe,
You are welcome for the link. I can see the comments now and I agree, I too am pleased to find websites that are willing to publish both sides of the story. As far as Arginine, it can be described as either an essential, a semi-essential or non-essential amino acid based upon the age and health status of that particular individual….for example, it is essential for babies and those with poor health. As I see it, in the circumstance we are speaking of (sexual dysfunction) I would view it as essential.
Tricia, have you seen any research that men with ED have reduced levels of arginine? I dont know if I have seen any formal acceptance of arginine being classified as essential in those with ED which is why I ask.. Arginine has been studied in those with heart disease and ED so in those people its a conditionally essential amino acid (or semi essential as you say).
Hello All,
I have tried ageless Male and actually I am pleased with the product. I am 39 yrs. old and overweight. This product has improved my libido and I have noticed more muscle mass. I have started to work out more and my mood has improved. Just wanted to share my experiences.
Joe, Here is one:
There’s some evidence that L-arginine may benefit men with erectile dysfunction. In a 1999 study published in the journal BJU International, for instance, 50 men with erectile dysfunction took either 5 grams of L-arginine per day or a placebo. After six weeks, more men in the L-arginine group showed improvement compared to those taking the placebo.
Here is another but no results are shown:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT00777075
Another:
Studies examining L-arginine’s effectiveness against impotence have yielded mixed results. A 1999 trial published in the online journal BJU International found that high doses of L-arginine can help improve sexual function, but only in men with abnormal nitric oxide metabolism, such as that associated with cardiovascular disease. In another study, published in 2003 in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, Bulgarian scientists reported that ED sufferers who took L-arginine along with the pine extract pycnogenol saw major improvements in sexual function with no side effects.
And here’s another one:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12851125
Joe, not everything has to be on paper to be true or effective. Yet every person is different to what works best for them. I pick things from nature
Nature cured my cancer….and happiness!
Tricia thanks for the studies and Ive seen past argiinine and ED research. Some also mix arginine with pycnogenol and grape seed extract for self treating ED
VERY glad you beat cancer !!!
Joe, You are welcome! and thank you for the kind words. I have a couple more things to add to our conversation. I would also like to thank you for allowing me to fill your blog so full of information! This does ring true to my heart, as my soul mate is experiencing low energy, mood swings, and a low sex drive also. I tend to research till my eyes water and my rear hurts from sitting for so long. But it’s worth it, if I can help even one person. I just wanted to add this statement from Jon Barron’s website.
Unfortunately, once we reach our thirties, available testosterone levels for both men and women tend to begin diminishing with age. Interestingly enough, in a 1986 clinical study, it was documented that it’s not actual testosterone production that decreases as we age; but rather, it’s the amount of free circulating testosterone that decreases — as more and more of it gets bound to albumin and becomes unavailable for the body’s use. These changes happen in connection with a natural substance called “sex-hormone-binding-globulin” or “SHBG.”
I think that statement is very important to understand. Also, as I have been searching for studies, I have come across a product called Prelox. Here is the website: http://prelox.com/html/prelox_1.html
And where to buy it: http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01373/Prelox-Natural-Sex-for-Men.html?source=search&key=prelox
What do you know about this product Joe?
Thank you.
Tricia, there is research on arginine and Pycnogenol for erectile dysfunction. For example here is one small study noting that it worked http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12851125
If we take the levels of ingredients in this study as “gospel” then the Prelox supplement you mentioned may not have enough of the ingredients. The research in this particular study used 1.7 grams of arginine. They have a proprietary blend of arginine and pycognenol of 720 mg but how much of that blend is “arginine”? how much is Pycnogenol? they dont tell us because they are wrapped up in a “proprietary blend”
Also the Prelox supplement has other things -aspartic acid, horny goat weed. In theory the horny goat weed might have an effect also but I cant yet speak to the effects of aspartic acid.
Now to play devils advocate I did find a study on Prelox here it is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17703218 This study of 50 men did note that it worked. I’d like to read the whole study before passing judgment. IF anybody has tried Prelox let me know what happened. I’m curious.
At $40 for Prelox I wonder how much it costs to just to to Vitamin Shoppe and get Pycnogenol and arginine and take them?
My only issue with arginine is that by nature that it vasodilates blood vessels, it might reduce blood pressure which might be an issue for men who are taking medications for high blood pressure or or heart disease.
I stopped taking Testosterone shots 4 months ago and decided to try Ageless Male. I feel better and have lost weight. The shots put me through hills and valleys but Ageless Male keeps me level, I have more energy, sex is 100% better, and I’ve lost weight.
Steve thats very interesting how long did it take for you to feel a difference? do you take it with food or on an empty stomach? are you taking any other supplements with Ageless Male?
Joe, With Pycogenol (100 mg) at $30 for 30 capsules and Arginine (500 mg) at $9 for 100 capsules, it seems to be about the same difference. The thing that I have found most interesting about ANY vitamins purchased in the US….is the following information:
Unknown to most consumers world wide, there are no brand name vitamin companies that actually manufacture their own vitamin material. They may create the formulas and manufacture the tablets, but they do not create the vitamin material. It is all manufactured by 14 companies worldwide and seven of them are located in the United States. Currently emerging to be accepted commercially into the original 14 are several companies in China.
IN THE UNITED STATES THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE VITAMINS
The seven Companies Are:
1. Pfizer Chemicals Division.
2. Fine Chemicals Division Henkel Corporation.
3. Takeda USA Takeda Chemical Industries, LTD.
4. Roche Chemical Division Hoffman LaRoche.
5. Archer Daniels Midland Corporation.
6. Chemicals Division BASF Wyandotte Corp.
7. Eastman Chemical Company
100% of the vitamins made by these companies are synthetic or identical to synthetic. They are all made to an internationally accepted standard referred to as USP-grade (United States Pharmacopoeia) of FCC (Food Chemical Codex) vitamin material, in other words, free-form vitamin molecules without their natural food attachments.
Among these are vitamins derived from so-called natural sources, and even these are stripped of their natural protein bonds and other food attachments, including enzymes. They frequently contain detectable amounts of petroleum-based extraction solvents such as Hexane a component of gasoline. Almost all vitamins on the market today, whether labeled natural source or natural base, have been so processed as to leave them in a totally unnatural free form, not in the natural form in which nutrients are delivered in living food.
Tricia, yes I was aware that its only a few big distributors which make the vitamins and ship them out to others to be repackaged. I have not heard about Hexane in vitamins. That’s not a good thing (obviously). Id guess if its there, its pretty low. I think we should get most of our nutrients from food anyway since the bulk of the vitamin supporting research actually stems from looking at what happens when people eat food.
After reading all of the comments, I still have not seen an answer for the difference between Androgel and Ageless Male. Which one actually shows a difference? My doctor prescribed Androgel for me a couple of years ago, but after 5 months I noticed only a slight improvement, at the cost of $120.00/month. The price before my insurance kicked in was over $300.00/month. Now Ageless Male seems a lot less expensive and is it more effective?
Ace C, good question. The big difference is the Androgel is the actual testosterone hormone while Ageless Male is a supplement that contains ingredients that the product maker says will help correct (“support”) healthy testosterone levels. Androgel has evidence that it can help some men while I cant find any research published on Ageless Male itself.
It may be that you need a greater concentration of Androgel than you were getting so speak to your doctor about. Androgel is expensive -as you are well aware – so if you do try Ageless Male, please do get your testosterone levels tested a month or so later and let me know what happens if it goes up. Don’t take Ageless Male while also taking Androgel either so you know how Ageless Male is working. While I have my doubts, I honestly dont know if Ageless Male will raise your T levels or not – and Im curiuos.
Now does that ageless pills really help?? Im 30yrs old n only 2 yrs ago is when i noticed i wasn’t up n about everywhere doing everything and always on the move, N one thing is cant understand, But I LOVE sex, but lately its like ehh ok maybe or nah just dont feel like it,
I dont know what to do, A doc i know in town told me to get the testosterone injection and use them cuz he says its alot better then the herbal type things out there that dont work, I heard that stuff is a crazy amount of money, so i have no idea what to do
Erik, why dont you tell your doctor about this so he/she can measure your testosterone levels. Just saying to “get the testosterone shot” may not be the best advice unless we know what your testosterone levels are to begin with. Also, us men are complicated; many things -life and work stress etc – can make us feel the way you are talking about. I think that’s the best course of action. I hope that helps Erik and Merry Christmas!!
Joe I like many others noticed ageless male while sitting on my azz watching tv . So I had to Google it ! That’s how I discovered your site ! Your site is amazing and I’m. Very happy to have found it you are an example of the very few people this planet has left that actually truly does want to help people and educate others with out emptying they’re bank accounts !
Life as one gets older unfortunately is not as easy and painless as when one is younger so time is very precious when trying to gain better quality of life and I feel that by being truthful as you are is a great benefit when trying to obtain the increase in quality and knowledge of what works and what doesn’t and what is also a total waste of money and time is much appreciated.
there’s much more id love to post but here we go with TIME and not enough of it lol again well again thank you for all you do in answering all that you do for everyone
as far as AGELESS MALE I believe it goes IF IT LOOKS GOOD YOU WILL SEE IT ,IF IT SOUNDS GOOD YOU WILL HEAR IT ,IF ITS MARKETED RIGHT YOU’LL BUY IT ,BUT IF ITS REAL YOU’LL FEEL IT ! So work hard eat right exercise and keep on checking in on this site its REAL I CAN FEEL IT. Thanks. Grant
Grant, thanks for your very kind words. that’s the best compliment Ive had all month
I’m glad I was able to help and I do hope you had a nice Christmas.
guys, don’t be fooled by this “ageless male” product, do not waste your money!! There is no scientific evidence that proves you can raise your test levels orally! Just do your research, I’m not a doctor, but all of my business partners are, but I have been studying this my whole life and have taken and studied every test product out there. The only proven way to introduce test to your body is intramuscular(injection) and topical(which has a much lower absorption rate and problems with transfer). I’m no writer so please excuse my grammar!
to Dafixer: there is a peptide out there call melatonen (not sure if the spelling is correct), but it works very well for the issue at hand. But it will also change the pigment in your skin, which is the reason I was taking it, to get darker for a competition…but it works! let me know what you find in your research of it..
Terry I searched for the word you posted but all I could see was “Melatonin” not sure if that’s what you were referring to. Also I took out your email address because I didnt want the spam robots to pick up on it. placing your email on the internet is an easy way to get on many spam email lists.
Good site Joe. I have just bought 3 months of ageless male and (as I’m in the UK) have had to pay $25 for shipping.
I’ll let you know what happens, but I get the gist of what you’re saying as “it seems unlikely but there’s no conclusive proof”.
Am I right, or have I just bought a load of snake oil?
Terry, yes do keep me posted what happens. While it has Ageless Male has no direct proof that it does what they say and I’m skeptical, I always try to keep an open mind
Its so funny how that commercial grabs you. “if you answer yes to any of these questions” Well of course I did. But I think it has to do with many other things. But I would be lying if I told you it didn’t interest me. Thank god your site pops second under ageless male. I think its the idea that taking a pill will make it all go away.
But I know at least with me, that diet and exercise will make you feel 100% better. Its funny that they show the doctor at the end of the commercial all stacked with no shirt on. Like all he did was take the pill to get that way.
Thanks for the right up Joe! Ill be sure to keep checking in to see what results people are getting.
Joe,
I recently stumbled on this blog and I think the information is GREAT! You have a new follower, and I will read often.
I have recently started the process of getting back in shape. I am 5’7” and almost weighed 200 lbs with about 35 percent body fat. I was a fat piece of you know what. I hated myself, my kids laughed at my belly and every time I said I was going to lose it they laughed and said here we go again… Dad is going on a diet.
I had heard enough. My problem was what I read earlier, I was sooo tired all the time, blood pressure was high and I had ZERO energy nor desire to do anything. I made my road back one day at a time. Joined the gym again last Feb 11th but, really started working out Mid June/July time frame when I finally started the road back.
I still weighed 195 lbs so; the first couple months were just mentally getting me started and routine of going to the gym regularly. 1st thing was DIET. The crap you put into your body affects your mood and desire to work for good health. I began the 5-6 smaller meals a day program, cutting my calorie intake in half. Lighter breakfast, reduced sugars, and began with natural sugars from fruit and sweet veggies.
I did supplement however, large canister of Whey protein, and for the workouts I took a pre-workout formula to kick start my efforts, and for about 90 days I took creatine for muscle gain. Today I am a proud 180lbs, @ 9.2% body fat and I have more energy than I had 10 years ago. (BTW, I turn 46 in April 2012)
I have revived a stronger sexual appetite, and don’t have the mood swings, dragging/depression, etc. I don’t know my testosterone levels or those other things but, I do know my blood pressure is almost back to 120/80 (I am 132/86 as of this past Tuesday) and will continue to get it down by natural means. NO MEDICATION!
I know this blog tends to address supplements and medication but, I wanted to introduce that natural changes are best. My diet consists of low carbs, GREEK yogurt, all the fruit I can stand, whole wheat bread, lean cuts of meat, and frequently drinking COLD water which is noted by some research I read to increase metabolism. I have made a lifestyle change and that must be part of any decision to improve health. Sorry for the book but, I wanted to tell the whole story.
Hey Tony those are fantastic changes you have made!! Yes I agree natural is a good way to go and it sounds like you have done just that! I do address health issues as well as exercise on my personal website – Joe-Cannon.com so you might like that also. Again congrats on all you have accomplished!!
I have been on Ageless Male for three weeks. (I had been taking L-Tyrosene, DHEA, Vitamin D (not sure which) and I still felt ancient at the age of 47.) ***Now I feel like I’m 20 years old. *** I will take it in the early AM (1/2 hr before coffee) and in the late afternoon (so I can sleep well.) No more need for naps, my focus is better, I’m optimistic, way more social, and lookin’ for love.
Tricia,
You demonstrate a deep knowledge-base on these topics and your writing is concise and informative. Perhaps you should consider publishing your own blog.
Joe and Tricia, I once was a rep for Roche and realize they produced vitamin supplements. However, I am not sure it is true that 7 manufacturers are the only source of vitamin supplements. I am currently taking intraMAX from Drucker Labs and they claim to have a 100% Carbon-bond organic product with no synthetic chemical nutrients. http://www.druckerlabs.com
Wes, I dont know if its exactly 7 companies but I have heard that most places get their vitamins/minerals from a few warehouses. I’m not sure what Drucker labs means by “100% carbon bond.” Most things on Earth -us too – are basically made of carbon atoms bonded together.
Ron,
Thank you very much! I appreciate you taking the time to say that
I used to be on Facebook and what ending up happening was that all of my time was spent answering my friends questions. I was very glad to do it, problem was that I wasn’t spending enough time with my boys. So, for now, Joe has been kind enough to allow me to add to his blog. Thanks Joe!
Glad to help Tricia
Wes,
The article states that there are 7 companies in the US that manufacture vitamins, the rest are produced overseas, mostly in China. I have found at least three health related websites that make that claim.
As far as Intramax and Zucker Labs, I haven’t found any negative reviews of their products. According to the information I have found, so far, it looks like a good product. I will keep looking as time allows.
I would like to share a website that has a great product. They are out of Sedona, AZ.
http://www.lifestar.com/Pages/homepage.html
There is a wealth of information on their website. Enjoy and Happy New Year Everyone!
Tricia, I looked at the webpage you gave and located the page that lists the vitamin companies http://www.lifestar.com/Pages/vitamincompanies.html
I only glanced at the site. The thing about supplement websites and magazines etc that always gets me is that the authors write in flowery, long winded sentences intermixed with complex science-type words. This website does it too. Over the years, I see this type of flowery, overly complex writing a LOT from supplement websites and magazines.
For example on the page that discusses enzymes they say “The medical dictionary defines an enzyme as “a protein produced in a cell capable of greatly accelerating, by its catalytic action, the chemical reaction of a substance (the substrate) for which it is specific.” The sentence is too wordy and overly technical for most people. For a science guy like myself, who likes to “cut to the chase” when I read sentences like this it makes me wonder what they are hiding.
The website also sells a book – for $35 – that HIV does not cause AIDS. To believe that means that every scientist in the world – including those who work at universities – are in on a global secret. That is not something I can accept. Anybody can write a book about anything. even stuff that is not true.
Since this is about Ageless Male I’m off topic here and wont speak of the website again. I will take their word on the 7 US companies that make vitamins but all the other stuff on the site I saw, I just cant believe.
Joe I’m scheduling a colonoscopy within the next 2 weeks and I read on another website that saw palmetto(another ingredient in ageless male) will give false readings for cancer testing. I also just recieved a bottle of ageless male.I’m gonna hold off on starting the ageless male 30 day trial but I will be cancelling the automatic shipping and charging to my credit card for the next months supply.
Mike, check with a pharmacist or urologist or oncologist about sal palmetto causing a false positive reading on colon cancer treatment. I did a quick search for you to see if I could find anything on it but was not able to find any studies. But double check with your urologist/oncologist or a pharmacist just to make sure. they are likely more in line with that research. Either way, I agree with your decision to hold off on Ageless Male until after you colonoscopy just in case.
Joe,
Do you have an email address, so that I may defend the concept that HIV does not cause AIDS? This is not a new/unknown revelation….
Tricia, Thanks. if you want to email me you can send the info through the contact page on the site.
Joe,
I am 57, a cardiologist, T level 220, about 30% below the lower limit of normal in our lab. I found your discussion well crafted and on target. Specifically, there is no disclosure of long-term data. And adverse clinical effects of exogenous T are noteworthy. Benign prostatic hypertrophy can be exacerbated and some men can be at increased risk of prostate cancer. Liver function can be abnormal and should be monitored while taking T. And finally early morning T serum level should be followed to monitor the effect of the drug.
A hormone “enhancer” at a cost below what insurance coverage might allow for the FDA approved drug does have some appeal. But the clear lack of documentation of effect and risk should be a warning to the buyer. For these reasons I talked myself out of AM.
Steve, thanks for your words. Much appreciated!
I’ve seen the commercial, and it is pretty deceptive in what it says and doesn’t say. For instance, the doctor talks about improving sex drive and performance, but he never says that the product does that. He mentions mostly that improving testosterone levels will do that. I don’t think he ever explicitly says that the product will do anything.
Any more info on the pine tree pollen.
Also what about Horny Goat Weed,….Ha Ha.
No Joke.
All of these discussions have been very interesting to read. As a 40yr old male with all the low T symptoms, and a measured T level of 150, I was hopeful of Androgel. Unfortunately it did nothing for me or my levels. I got put into injections, and they too did nothing for me or my levels.
So I am stuck in a bad place with such a low level. All the symptoms…low energy, weight gain, no concentration or motivation, and of course no sex drive at all…sadly not even an erection in over a year. So I am always intrigued by the ‘easy’ Ageless Male or Prelox way to a solution; but I know better. These too good to be true supplements just don’t seem to offer a solution when the root problem is in the pituitary itself.
What I am curious about, and no one seems to know (including 2 endocrinologists) is what else could a person try? There are so many proteins and amino acids and probably other things that make the chemistry of T work …or not. I’d be interested in learning more about that…and why no one seems to be pursuing the root cause of pituitary malfunction. Just with there was something else I could try.
Al, that’s a good question. So the endocrinologists did not know of anything that could help your low testosterone levels? They offer any reason why Androgel did not work? Did they give you enough of it? You did not mention your weight but if you are overweight, trying losing some weight as this can help. low testosterone levels have been observed in young men who are overweight. Other than that and wright lifting (which helps for other reasons), I am at a loss why Androgel did not help.
Horny goat weed is in several other products Ive reviewed here. Just type it into the search box and the products will appear.
So I have read through all of the comments posted above and cannot help to note that, among them all, only 1 is from an alleged actual user of Ageless Male, and only 1 from an alleged medical professional. Not exactly what I would call a ringing endorsement of the Ageless Male product.
Joe,
I have just stumbled upon this site. I sincerely thank you for taking your own time to offer advice to so many who are seeking answers for improving their health. Supplements can play an important part in our overall health and well-being; the marketplace is so crowded and confusing. Thank you again for your sound, unbiased advice.
Keith, thanks I truly appreciate you saying that!! I love doing this and I’m glad if I can be of some help to others.
Joe, have just stumbled on to your web site and want to say thanks as others have for taking the time to help. You made a comment in one of your responses above that you like to get what you need from foods, which makes sense. So are there foods that naturally help raise hormone levels such as testosterone? Thanks for what you do.
Tom thanks for your words. To answer your question unfortunately, I have never found a food that could raise testosterone levels. Eating a low fat diet has been shown to reduce testosterone but that doesnt mean to eat a high fat diet. Just make sure your eating healthy, getting enough calories and healthy proteins (chicken, whey, fish etc). Lifting weights might help some also.
I am curious about your reply to Tom. You say a higher fat diet has been shown to increase testosterone levels. Did the studies showing this distinguish between the types of fat, i.e., saturated, poly or mono saturated fats? What degree of increase was seen based on fat intake percentages?
Jim, I meant that that just because eating a low fat diet can reduce testosterone levels does not mean that we should eat a high fat diet to raise testosterone levels. I was just trying to make things more clear, but I guess I dropped the ball on that! Sorry for the confusion.
The tv commercial for Ageless Male is all smoke and mirrors. Its sales pitch is based on illusion for the sake of maintaining a legal framework. If you haven’t yet noticed the following things about the commercial, look out for them the next time you watch it:
1. The narrator claims that “for the first time,” there is a natural way to boost testosterone safely and effectively. That claim is false. Good-quality Tongkat Ali boosts testosterone safely and effectively when taken properly; not to mention it has been around WAY longer than AM has.
2. The doctor shown in the commercial discusses positive changes that one can notice after restoring testosterone to healthy levels. He is right about those changes; but he NEVER states this is something that can be accomplished by taking Ageless Male.
3. Before and after pictures of the doctor are shown, and the narrator tells you to “Just look at Dr. Rosenstein’s transformation.” The narrator does not state the transformation was assisted by the intake of Ageless Male.
4. Near the end of the commercial, the doctor tries to offer something that’s supposed to pass for anecdotal evidence by stating that he’s in better shape than his 24- and 26-year-old sons. Never does he claim he achieved this with the help of Ageless Male. For all we know, his sons could be overweight couch potatoes with a poor diet.
For stress; ashwagandha, GABA (may cause flushing, similar to niacin, lasts for a few mins.) vitamin C (I take 100-250 mg in morning and before I go to sleep. B-complex may also be helpful, but usually there are very high levels of different forms of vitamin B, which may (not frequent) cause different problems for different people.
For sex: L-Arginine (add Citruline for excess ammonia), or other Nitric-oxide based product. Actually, an excellent Amino Acid product may benefit better? because of the different types of essential/non-essential amino acids Also, zinc is important (careful of copper reduction, but also too much copper can cause an increase in chemical sensitivies–as does alpha lipoic acid) for testosterone and magnesium plays a very important role in relaxing muscles and other benefits for the body. I take 50 mg. zinc, 500 mg of magnesium (I have heard/read that some take much higher doses of magnesium, but I am unsure about the safety of higher doses).
Lee 50 mg of zinc is much more than the RDA. I hope you are getting your HDL checked periodically as some research finds lots of zinc might reduce HDL levels.
Hello, I appreciate this site and all your info here. I have the same issues a lot of guys on here have: Over-weight, NO sex drive, muscle mass disappearing (I am sure I need to workout to fix this issue) I sure wish there was this easy fix for all this.
I have no will power and I Love good food. I am sure that hard work and will power can change my life around, I need to dig deep and find that strength, not only for me, but for my Wife, kids and grand-kids. Any herbal things I can take that may help this venture be a bit easier for me? Thanks again for this site, I appreciate it.
Carl, I honestly dont see any herbal product that I think would be safe for helpful for you. Sometimes just losing some weight may help your low sex drive and even help your testosterone levels (if they are low). Since you said you have grandkids, I’ll assume you are over age 45 and if yes, the loss of muscle you mentioned may be due to a process called sarcopenia – that’s the technical name for muscle that’s lost as we get older. One of the best ways to stop sarcopenia -or at least slow it down a LOT – is to exercise, specifically strength training. You could do this all yourself for the most part by just doing push ups but if you wanted to join a gym, Id suggest you have a personal trainer (not the gym salesman) show you how to do 3 different exercises – chest press, leg press and seated row. Don’t worry about how much you lift now. just do one set of each exercise and lift the weight for 15-20 times. Doing only 1 set will cut down on any muscle soreness that might occur. Do this for about 2 months before increasing the weight. It will take time but you can regain your muscle strength.
Have you ever tried meeting with a nutritionist who may be able to help you find more healthy alternatives? Its something to think about. Here are some other ideas that might help. I wrote this at my other website http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
I have been getting 200 mg of pure testosterone shot into my muscles every 3 weeks for many years and I did not see my waist get smaller or firmer, nor did I experience any muscle growth. How can they claim any pill will do that for anyone? Ridiculous claim at best. If you need testosterone go to you doctor and get it, don’t spend way more money on this untested supplement. My skin crawls when I hear this doctor say he is in better shape than his 20 something sons. Lies
This blog is refreshing. More often than not, you run into a blog that is own and ran by a representative of the company or product in question. I’ll be trying AgeLess Male tomorrow and will keep you posted. I have tried Enzyte, to no avail and have not been clinically diagnosed with low T but I do lack energy/desire in that area. It is probably stress but I’m willing to give anything a shot, provided it doesn’t do any harm. I have read a lot of comments here but does anyone know of a good product that they have heard, seen or experienced positive results with?
What Terry Strong referred to waaaay above as “melatonen” is actually called melanotan. It is a type of steroid that causes the body to produce melanin to give you a real tan without the exposure to the sun. It is also said to increase libido.
Mark thanks for saying that I have not heard of it before I will take a look at it. It sounds like the name melanotan is a tradmarked name. Ill look at it thanks!
Look, please understand I mean no disrespect. You all, including this so called Doctor, need to do the very simple things that are very common knowledge.
Eat the right foods and that means stop eating the candy bars and slow down on how fast you eat.
The Military are taught to eat fast because they are being trained to fight in a war and they are training all the time and hard and a very small few deal with weight or fitness issues.
The taste buds in your mouth serve a much higher roll than the one most thing, like does it taste good or bad, this is a very small part. Their main purpose is to tell the body how much stomach acids to release in order to digest the food intake correctly.
If you eat to fast this gets messed up and so does the body chemicals and so on and so on. Furthermore, if you eat slower you will eat less, need I say more about this.
Now that you got that correct here is one that will just make you say what. Eat more food but less, here is how it works. 4 to 5 meals a day, BUT, smaller, way smaller and only eat to the point that takes your hunger away, BUT, leaving you feeling that I could eat more BUT DON’T.
Look, it’s a very simple rule. Eat till satisfied and lose weight. Eat till full and NO lose weight. Eat till STUFFED and GAIN weight, HEALTH ISSUES, ETC.
Now that you all got this correct you will already start seeing muscle. Want more muscle, basic works will do the trick. Oh and do them correctly, not that pile on the weight and trash yourself out feeding your EGO.
Correct posture, mechanics, and techniques and so on. WORK ONLY THE MUSCLE YOU ARE WORKING, STOP THROWING AND TWIKING THE MUSCLE GROUPS AROUND TO LET THE WEIGHT.
You want size, well that is built by the negative release of the lift not the positive lift of the exercise.
Like curls, up is positive and down is negative.
Want tone, lighter weight with more and fast reps.
Want size, heavier weight with fewer and slower reps.
Also let your air out while you lift, then breath in while you let the lift down but even slower for size.
Oh one more thing, just get some good supplements. Multi vitamin, 500 mg “E”, 250 mg Tribulus terrestris and maybe some DHTA. Also estrogen blocker once in a while helps rebut your system my friends!
Master Instructor of Long’s Martial Arts.
Oh if you got this far and need proof, go to Facebook and come look see what this 53 year old man looks like and no I do not take steroids of any kind. I just do all that I said. Also I never have had any type of cosmetic make over what so ever. Just steady workouts, training, eat right and supplements.
You do not need all that TV crud.
Ken, good words, just wanted to briefly touch on the supplements for a moment
Research on vitamin E is controversial, but if you are going to use it, I suggest no more than 200 IU. Some research finds that people who take more than 400 IU have an increased risk of dying. Not sure of why this is but I thought I’d mention it to you. Most vitamin E products are alpha tocopherol but there are also a Beta, Gamma and Delta vitamin E molecules. Overdosing with lots of “alpha” might upset a balance between the different variations (my opinions to explain/rationalize the research). Theoretically a “mixed tocopherol” supplement might be better as it would contain all of the different vitamin E types.
I think the research on tribulus is over-rated (see my post on tribulus) and while I have not yet looked at estrogen blockers, I’d like to see proof they actually reduce estrogen in humans first before I’d recommend them.
Joe,
I am 63 yrs. old and was ALWAYS active. Recently I have conveniently found a weak excuse to avoid ANY physical activity. I found myself most comfortable at total rest. I told my doctor of 38 yrs. and he did a T test. He gave me the best medicine ever and it is working. He told me to ” get off the fugn sofa and do some weight training because it is all in your head”.
Now being athletic all my life I put together a nice workout gym. Joe…no BS….I have been working out routinely for 5 months with incrementally progressive weights and machines. My doctor is in total awe of my physical and mental transformation. When he saw the tatoo’s I got on my chest he laughed HAO. Now he is telling me to take it easy and don’t get crazy. Take it easy? He is the one that got me going.
I do admit that there are times when I say to myself I will pass on one of my workout days but quickly drive the thought from my head. I think of where we are all headed eventually and very the thought of the ” bone orchard” gets my arse up and going. I feel better, think better and I believe I am a “catch” once again. The tank tops are coming out this year.
I do NOT take any supplements whatsoever and everything that goes in comes from real food except a ISO-pure protein shake when I feel I can’t get enough protein from the chicken and fish. BTW…..if she is looking good I am looking back these days…ready willing and able. All you seniors out there take heed. Keep sleeping your days away and you are going to wake up one day getting caught sleeping forever.
Dan wow those are amazing words! I am really glad your doctor said that to you and it sounds like you are doing fantastic things! The “bone orchard” LOL I will remember that one
Joe,
After trying testosterone injections, androgel and the testosterone patch my urologist had transitioned me to testosterone pellets which are implanted just under the skin. They last up to 4 months and have a more controlled release of testosterone. They seem to produce better results and I don’t have to worry about daily applications, monthly injections. Might be worth someone checking into as an alternative to their present treatment. As with any treatment a close monitoring of ones testosterone level, PSA levels and a biannual prostate exam are a must.
Paul, thanks for telling me about this. I didn’t know about testosterone pellets!
My T levels was measured 1/10-12 and it was 532, will ageless male work with a count such as mine
Glenn, tough call. Im not even sure Ageless Man will raise testosterone levels in anybody. If you really want to try it Id say try it for a month and test your levels again to see if they changed. If you do this, do please let me know what happened
Howdy… Read all your posts and I appreciate the info. I was prescribed Androgel a few years ago. For several weeks, I rubbed it on my shoulders and chest every morning. It gave me the worst sore throat I have ever experienced. At first, I thought it was just the common cold, but it got so severe, I had to go to the ER. They asked me if I was taking any medication, and I told them about the Androgel. The doctor told me I was probably allergic. I stopped and the sore throat went away.
Byrne way, while I was on Androgel, I noticed no improvement with libido, weight loss or muscle tone.
I am 66 years old and have been on androgel for about 3 years now. For me, it is fantastic! My energy level, my moods, everything has improved. And, yes, the sex is fantastic! I have one (at least) complaint with the medical community. They use a reference range for testosterone levels and call that a normal range. Well, normal has nothing to do with it. The reference range is compiled from T levels of men from ages 20-100 or thereabouts without regard as to whether or not these men are healthy.
Depending on the lab, the range can be somewhere around 250-800 and there are labs with an upper level around 1000. Some docs will tell you that if you have a 260 reading you are within range. Well, that 260 is about what a sick 90yr old will have. If you are a sick 90 year old, then you might not want to worry about it.
The average level for my age is around 550-600. Does anyone really believe that the average American male at 66 is as healthy as he should be? Contrary to what many doctors were taught, (yes, doctors are often taught incorrect information) testosterone replacement does NOT encourage or cause prostate cancer. There have only been two studies to purport that and both of those studies have been proven to be flawed. There are NUMEROUS studies that show higher levels as being protective.
I have not tried ageless male, but have tried, among other treatments, fenugreek. None of them are anywhere as effective (for me) as androgel.
You wanted to hear from vets….here it is. I am a former USAF tacp operator. I feel like hell. I have gotten little to no help from the va. I went through some of the hardest training in the air force. Now I can hardly get up.
I really don’t know what to do. I have many injuries and arthritis all over. I am only 34 but I feel like I am 70.
Any advice?
Joe, your forum here is very helpful and informative. I have a T level of 320 at 51 yrs old. I have just been diagnosed with RA (rheumatoid arthritis). I’m trying to keep up with my workouts as much as I can, but it’s difficult some days. I’m thinking of trying a supplement, but I am really confused by all the info here. Any advice from personal experience of something that might work to keep up T levels while on RA meds? Ie. methotrexate, plaquinele.
Tricia – found your posts very much to the point (except the HIV thing). As a former researcher, I began to look askance at Medline (PubMed’s original name) way back in the late 80′s. It’s an excellent database but restricted to articles published in peer-reviewed trade publications, which limited and limits its scope to orthodox viewpoints. No room for mavericks or contrary viewpoints except in light of overwhelming data. But, then, the world’s always worked like that.
Something much more serious began in the late 70′s – those trade publications began to be bought up by for-profit publishing companies like Springer and Blackwells, eating up not just medical journals but virtually every formerly academically based journal, whatever the discipline. Those “peers” have long since exited their independent university offices and now work for those companies as, essentially, unpaid “consultants”.
Part of the reason for this shift is that in the old days no one was paid for either writing or reviewing scientific literature; the universities gained prestige by hosting the publications, the writers were academics scrambling for survival in the paper chase and the reviewers were rewarded with prestige and a big Gold Star.
In the current environment, those same parameters give the new publishers the advantage of free content as well as copyright ownership. With the shift from paper to digital delivery, that advantage is amplified – small paper runs concentrated in a single plant for subscribers and outrageous pricing (roughly 20.00 to 70.00 dollars per article) for those buying single articles on-line. Hard not to make a huge profit.
The snake-oil salesmen like Rosenstein look like pikers compared to those companies that, essentially, hijacked an entire, sleepy, low-key, academic defense-of-orthodoxy orientated industry and turned into a money printing machine.
Chase, Ill assume that you have been checked out by your doctor and are “healthy” (not taking any medications). Few things that might help. Im guessing that you have osteoarthritis – thats the most common type and can result from injuries. If thats the case some of these supplements might help
Glucosamine sulfate (just that dont combine with chondroitin). This might be better than glucosamine HCL (which is in most glucosamine products)
fish oil – no more than 1000 mg of a combination of EPA and DHA (those are the fish oils that might help arthritis)
Vitamin D. Try 600-1000 Mg. Vitamin D might (like fish oils) reduce the inflammation of the body. this might help your arthritis. Do get your vitamin D levels checked first to see if you are low. There is some evidence that when your vitamin D levels get too high, that vitamin D might increase inflammation.
There are other things that might help but try each of these first and try only 1 at a time for a month to see if helps. That way you’ll have an idea of which ones might help most.
I know movement is difficult but even walking can help arthritis pain. If that’s too hard right now, try to find a warm water pool and exercise there (YMCAs often have a pool and exercise classes that can help). Another option to help is massage. Ive seen great things with massage. The good news is that you are still VERY young so you have this on your side. I really admire you for putting yourself on the line for helping defend America. I do think you can make improvements in your condition. It will just take time. Please do run these ideas past your doctor as he/she knows your condition better than I do.
I some of this helps Chase. Do keep me posted on your progress.
Alan, thanks. Im not sure if RA meds lower testosterone levels. Do they? if not then dont worry about your T levels. Have you ever tried fish oil supplements? Eating fish or taking fish oil supplements (or eating according to the Mediterranean diet) might help. Here is a review article that might help. Talk over this stuff with your doctor for more info on this http://www.inaactamedica.org/archives/2011/21785178.pdf
Thanks. I will give that a try. I know from previous tests that I have very low vitamin d levels. I have been exposed to depleted uranium, intrinsic radiation and possible chemical agents. I really can’t get a straight answer from the va. I know that life has came to a crawl. I have a great wife and that has been my saving grace.
Unknown to many, the va causes 18 vets a day to commit suicide. Rallying against that is my cause.
Chuck, interesting points. Ive think one of the best innovations of recent is PLOS and other free medical journals that also help disseminate information and by pass the cost normally associate with much of the peer review process. The other good thing about the 21st century is that technically anybody can do the research and toss it up on a website and let others review and try to replicate it. While that’s not exactly “peer reviewed” it does offer a cheaper and faster alternative to those who are counter the “party line”. If its good research, nobody can stop an idea from flourishing today and that’s the greatest thing about being alive today!
Chase, yes Ive heard about the rate of suicide among vets. its just awful. Have you ever considered starting your own website to help alert people to what is happening. It would not be hard to do and would let you further champion your cause Ultimately, I think having a reason in life makes life worthwhile.
I have thought about doing something like that. I have some friends at great vet organizations. I have made some pretty powerful friends. The older vet organizations that seem well established just hit you up for money and don’t do anything. The disabled sports network/ wounded warrior is where its at. The trap that kills vets is when you first get discharged there is a lag of about 18 months before the va will pay you. If you try to support yourself the va will hold it against you. This is where vets get lost. I personally think it is a cost reduction method. In a world where defense spending cuts wins elections you can only imagine what happens to the has beens.
Its a bit off the topic but I feel it is information that needs to be out there. Everyone loved to point the finger at the 4 marines that urinated on the taliban corpses but no one seemed outraged about the remains of us soldiers found in a landfill or all the screw ups at arlington. I have known I was going to serve since childhood. I had always looked forward to being buried at arlington but now…….I don’t think so.
I like you love the ability for everyday people to have the ability to tell the truth online. Even though I feel it may end soon.
Yes I remember the Arlington incident! So darn sad!! I say make your own website. register a name that has some key words in it -veterans help etc – and download wordpress and start blogging. I dont think its going away anytime soon. People stood up against SOPA and PIPPA and the politicians caved in. their will be more efforts Im sure but we are the real people in charge I do believe that. I definitely let my congressman and senators know about my thoughts about them regulating the web. Do what you love and it wont be work. trust me
Wow! Fascinating and informative conversation. Thank you Joe… and Tricia
Wish this amount of info had had been available 5 years ago when I was diagnosed with low T by my ND. I started on Androgel which – after the dose was adjusted – worked effectively. But the expense was horrible – $300/month – and it seemed ‘artificial’ in that it created surges after application.
For the last 4 years I’ve been using a topical cream a local compounding pharmacy makes by prescription. It was also available from a major online compounding pharmacy with prescription. After learning to apply it to my inner arms for better absorption (Androgel was applied to my chest) it feels much more even in it’s effect, and runs $80/month. Also make sure your ND/MD is monitoring your pituitary, progesterone, estradiol/estrogen, cholesterol, and BP annually.
I use the Dr Max Powers HGH Spray, since it was recommended by my personal physician. It takes a while to work, but definitely works. I sleep better, I feel better, I have more energy, my skin looks better, I swear it even has reduced fat in those areas you seem to gain in as you get older. Worth every penny of it.
Mark, Did you have your HGH levels tested before and after using the spray? Is your doctor an MD or DO? Just curious.
I am 64 with meds for high blood pressure and cholesterol.
I also use a c-pap machine for at least 15 years. I walk at least 2 miles a day. No ins co will touch me because of these 3 things together. I dont have a problem with my sex life but would love more energy. Is there any danger with taken these supplements?
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