Why testosterone boosters with geranylgeraniol might work
Geranylgeraniol is a new anti-aging supplement that we knew almost nothing about - other than the ever-innovative Antaeus Labs putting it into its testosterone supplement UltraTest. And now that we've read the Japanese in vitro and animal study that appeared in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 2018, we think UltraTest might actually work.Geranylgeraniol
The body biosynthesizes geranylgeraniol as a raw material for cholesterol, steroid hormones, vitamin K and coenzyme Q10. Geranylgeraniol occurs in nature as a constituent of plants. For example, it is in the seeds of the South American tree Bixa orellana. They are called Annatto Seeds.
Cooks and food companies use those seeds in dried form as a red dye and mild pepper substitute. Some supplement makers extract geranylgeraniol from the oil of the annatto and put it in their products.
In vitro-study
Nutritional scientists at Tohoku University wondered if geranylgeraniol could increase testosterone production, and exposed testes cells in test tubes to geranylgeraniol at various concentrations. And lo and behold - the concentration of testosterone in the test tubes increased.
Animal study
Then the Japanese put geranylgeraniol in food and fed male rats for 10 weeks. Had the rats been adult humans, they would have received about 30 milligrams of geranylgeraniol daily. Well - you do not have to search long for supplements with such amounts in web stores.And yes, the testosterone level of the animals in the experimental group increased by more than a factor of 2.
Conclusion
"These findings highlight the potential benefits of geranylgeraniol as a therapeutic agent for low testosterone levels, such as late-onset hypogonadism in men", the researchers write.
We have not been able to find human research into the effects of supplementation with geranylgeraniol.
Source:
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2018;82(6):956-62.
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The body biosynthesizes geranylgeraniol as a raw material for cholesterol, steroid hormones, vitamin K and coenzyme Q10. Geranylgeraniol occurs in nature as a constituent of plants. For example, it is in the seeds of the South American tree Bixa orellana. They are called Annatto Seeds.
Cooks and food companies use those seeds in dried form as a red dye and mild pepper substitute. Some supplement makers extract geranylgeraniol from the oil of the annatto and put it in their products.
In vitro-study
Nutritional scientists at Tohoku University wondered if geranylgeraniol could increase testosterone production, and exposed testes cells in test tubes to geranylgeraniol at various concentrations. And lo and behold - the concentration of testosterone in the test tubes increased.
Animal study
Conclusion
"These findings highlight the potential benefits of geranylgeraniol as a therapeutic agent for low testosterone levels, such as late-onset hypogonadism in men", the researchers write.
We have not been able to find human research into the effects of supplementation with geranylgeraniol.
Source:
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2018;82(6):956-62.