[kettlebell king]

I just wondered if any one had any bad experiences or advice on Bulgarian tribulus? I took it for over a month a few months ago- I didn't notcie any real difference although for the first 2 weeks I fel a bit more buzzed up about things- the trouble came about 3-4 weeks in I lost my sex drive completely! pretty unsual for me! It took about a month to come back after stopping the tribulus. One of my training partners also experienced the same problem too- any ideas?

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Hey Sam,

Well if Bulgarian tribulus does what it is suppose to, raises testosterone levels, it may be that after you stop taking it, your body had to cut back it's testosterone production to return to its normal levels of testosterone.

Less testosterone flowing through your veins = less sex drive.

Steroids work in the same way except adding artificial testosterone via steroids almost shuts down your body's own production of testosterone. So the steroids increase your sex drive a great deal, until you go off of them.

Joe Cannon may have some further insight, Joe?

All the best,


Dave

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Yes I have a few ideas about Tribulus. Ive been investigating and writing about supplements (those that work and don't work) for over a decade I can tell you that I see no good peer reviewed evidence the tribulus boosts testosterone, improves strength or any aspect of exercise performance. In my book, Nutritional Supplements What Works and Why I review the major claims and evidence for Tribulus. Ive copied much of the tribulus/exercise section below for you to read:

Tribulus and Exercise

"Tribulus is another member in the long list of supplements marketed to bodybuilders and others who desire bigger, stronger muscles. The general theory behind tribulus is that it is supposed to elevate luteinizing hormone which in turn sends instructions to the testes causing them to make testosterone. More testosterone might mean more muscle growth if combined with exercise. In theory it all sounds plausible however the problem is that most experts don’t think it works. While the amount of good studies that have been conducted on tribulus are few in number, they tend show that it doesn’t increase strength, decrease body fat or improve sports performance-even when it is combined with a strength training program.782 In other words, even if tribulus could significantly elevate testosterone levels—which is debatable—it’s irreverent because that doesn’t seem translate into the real reason people use it—to make them stronger...."

Its ironic you should say it knocked out your sex drive because tribulus is usually a major component of some "male performance" supplements....

Forget Tribulus. I hope this helps. you can read more about other supplements you may be taking at my website
Joe

[kettlebell king]

thanks- to be honest id never take it again ive tended to stick to creatine now days- funny as i've known a few people now who said it knocked out there sex drive- waste of money and time!

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

sounds good I'm glad I can help. thats interesting about the sex drive issue. I did not see anything on it in the medical literature. Ill have to do some digging on it and see what I can find.
Joe

[kettlebell king]

about 10 years ago when i got into training seriously unfortunately I did a 6 week course of steroids- misguidedly recommended by a local trainer- but the tribulus had the same effect on my sex drive as that did the first two weeks felt extremely hot under the collar so to speak like a teenage boy then this petered completely off in the following weeks even when taking the tribulus to a point where maintaining any sort of ridgity was a complete problem !

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

thats really interesting. just as an aside, I would not have any faith in a personal trainer who recommended anabolic steroids to healthy people. stuff like that could get his certification (if he had one) revoked.
Joe

[kettlebell king]

I know - he was qulaified but was well into pro body buiding and as i was young and impressionable kind of foolishly looked up to him! very different mind set now days!

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

thats normal don't worry about it. making mistakes is part of being human.
Joe

[kettlebell king]

a funny man once said- 'when people say they are only human its usually because they have been making beasts of themselves!'

[abuzar345]

Tribulus Terrestris is a plant that grows in many tropical and moderate areas of the world. Many different cultures have used it for a number of conditions and studies have shown it to be a potent supplement that allows the body to naturally increase tesosterone possibly allowing for greater muscle growth, increased strength and stamina. And it is also useful in personal trainers

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Abuzar
I'd be very interested in seeing those studies you mentioned on tribulus. I reviewed tribulus for the book I wrote on dietary supplements and could not find any that showed it raised testosterone levels in humans or animals (studies have been done on this issue). I likewise could not find that it had any use in humans and currently don't see a reason why personal trainers would use /recommend it.
I am always willing to learn so please post the studies you mentioned here (study titles, names of the authors and journals where they were published) so I can obtain them and review them.
Joe

[SteveyG]

Joe a friend of mine just told me about Tribulus by showing me his Arnold S. Encyclopedia of working out. In fact that passage that was stated by Abuzar is almost exactly the same passage from the Encyclopedia. My friend seemed pretty confident that Tribulus is all natural and not synthetic like most test boosters. He said it would be much easier for the body to break down considering it's a plant.

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

steve
the arnold encylcopedia is not a clincial study. I read the scientitific studies on tribulus when I wrote my supplement book and the research does not show it works. Here is one of those studies

Antonio, J et al. (2000). Effects of tribulus terrestris on body composition and exercise performance in resistance-trained males. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 10,2,208-215.

Bottom line to this study-it doesnt raise testosterone or improve strength or burn body fat. (I may have this study on my computer if you want to read it. just email me)

I dont want to dissagree withe the Governator but the science just doesnt back up its claims. this stuff was all the rage in the 90s and seems to be making a come back. incidentally if you've seen the commercials with smiling bob (male sex pill) it has tribulus if I remember. no studies on people that it increases sex but I found one study in rats... so for lab rats maybe for us... not so sure...
I recommend you read my book on supplements. its at my website. It has no hype but just the facts (and side effects of supplements). If you do, hold off for about a month because Im updating the book now with new information.
Joe

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Speaking of Enzyte:

On August 27, 2008 Enzyte front man, Steven Warshak, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arthur Spiegel to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay $93,000 in fines. His company, Berkeley Premium Neuraceuticals, along with other defendants, was ordered to forfeit $500 million. His 75-year-old mother, Harriet Warshak, was sentenced to two years in prison.[7][8]

Here's the Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte

The Take-a-way? If it sounds too good to be true, it is! Someone is always trying to make a buck, especially in the loosely regulated (almost NON-REGULATED) supplement industry!

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Dave thanks for the heads up on Enzyte! I had not heard about that!
Joe