Effects of a Purported Aromatase and 5 α-Reductase Inhibitor on Hormone Profiles in College-Age Men

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an alleged aromatase and 5-α reductase inhibitor (AI) on strength, body composition, and hormonal profiles in resistance-trained men. Thirty resistance-trained men were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to ingest 500 mg of either a placebo (PL) or AI once per day for 8 wk. Participants participated in a 4-d/wk resistance-training program for 8 wk. At Weeks 0, 4, and 8, body composition, 1-repetition-maximum (1RM) bench press and leg press, muscle endurance, anaerobic power, and hormonal profiles were assessed. Statistical analyses used a 2-way ANOVA with repeated measures for all criterion variables (p ≤ .05). Significant Group × Time interaction effects occurred over the 8-wk period for percent body fat (AI: -1.77% ± 1.52%, PL: -0.55% ± 1.72%; p = .048), total testosterone (AI: 0.97 ± 2.67 ng/ml, PL: -2.10 ± 3.75 ng/ml; p = .018), and bioavailable testosterone (AI: 1.32 ± 3.45 ng/ml, PL: -1.69 ± 3.94 ng/ml; p = .049). Significant main effects for time (p ≤ .05) were noted for bench- and leg-press 1RM, lean body mass, and estradiol. No significant changes were detected among groups for Wingate peak or mean power, total body weight, dihydrotestosterone, hemodynamic variables, or clinical safety data (p > .05). The authors concluded that 500 mg of dailyAI supplementation significantly affected percent body fat, total testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone compared with a placebo in a double-blind fashion.

Nutraceuticals for Fertility and Erectile Health: A Brief Overview of What Works and What Is Worthless

“…DHT levels were reduced in the fenugreek group. Other studies demonstrate that fenugreek either causes no change or slightly increases testosterone in men have been for those with an already normal testosterone at baseline [219,220]. In other words, it is an unpredictable supplement in the area of TRT.…”

“…It is usually characterized as an "alternative medicine" by some individuals and reviews [220], some may assume this is a dietary supplement, and there are many companies that sell "yohimbe" or tout that they sell "yohimbine HCL." The positive data with the drug or compound derived from this tree, yohimbine hydrochloride, came from European and other studies at a total of 5-10 mg per day (divided doses) [230].…”

Fenugreek

“…In addition, the plasma concentration of testosterone (T) and sperm concentrations were nearly 50% lower in the treated group of rabbits. Additionally, a recent, double blind, clinical study involving healthy, collegeaged men given fenugreek in a dose of 500 mg once daily for 8 weeks showed a significant effect in lowering body fat mass and did not lower the bioavailable and total serum T at week 8 compared to the baseline reading (Wilborn et al, 2010). This is also because, more recently, a protective effect has been reported for fenugreek not only in the case of carbofuraninhibited spermatogenesis but also in testes weight and histopath ological abnormalities induced by carbofuran exposure (Sakr and Shalaby, 2014).…”

Efficacy and Safety of a Mixed Extract ofTrigonella foenum-graecumSeed andLespedeza cuneatain the Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…The basis for this androgenic activity may be due to the fact that Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds contain soluble steroidal saponins, specifically furostanol glycosides, which are responsible for complexing cholesterol in the cell membrane [910]. Other studies have found that Trigonella foenum-graecum increases testosterone and free testosterone, suggesting that it may be an incomplete 5-alpha reductase and aromatase inhibitor [11]. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a mixed extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed and Lespedeza cuneata (TFGL) for the treatment of TDS.…”