Because luteinizing hormone boosts testosterone production, scientists suggest that Fadogia agrestis can enhance sexual health. More significant muscle growth and strength may also mean higher testosterone levels. As a result, many sports enthusiasts are now using Fadogia agrestis to improve these aspects and increase their athletic performance. Fadogia agretis is a shrub from Nigeria that is traditionally used as a pro-erectile agent.
This article will explore whether Fadogia agrestis for bodybuilding can be an effective supplement.
Supplements for Bodybuilding
You may have thought about using workout supplements if you want to get the most out of each round and each sprint at the gym. About 44% of the 459 gym-goers polled in a Portuguese study that was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in February 2020 claimed to use dietary supplements [1].
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that supplements are developed to boost performance, lower the chance of injury, and speed up recovery [2].
By raising testosterone levels and boosting energy levels during workout performances, Fadogia Agrestis is thought to naturally promote muscle mass growth and development as an alternative to anabolic steroids. But can they help athletes and fitness enthusiasts to gain more muscle and improve their athletic performance?
How do muscles grow in the body?
When a person regularly trains their muscles to greater amounts of weight or resistance, their muscles grow in size. This is called muscle hypertrophy. Muscle hypertrophy occurs when muscle fibers are damaged or injured. Muscle mass and size are increased via the body’s fusion process, which restores damaged fibers.
Some hormones that contribute to muscle growth and repair include testosterone, human growth hormone, and insulin growth factor. These hormones do their work by:
- enhancing the body’s ability to break down proteins
- activating satellite cells, a kind of stem cells involved in muscle growth
- preventing protein breakdown
- making tissue growth better
- triggering anabolic hormones, which support protein synthesis and muscle growth
Depending on their age, sex, and genetic makeup, people develop muscle at varying rates, but muscle development considerably rises in response to regular, intense, and continuous exercise. Additionally, when exercise is followed by adequate rest, people get the best result.
Strength training is the best form of exercise for muscle growth. However, other forms of exercise, such as cardiovascular exercise, also have their advantages.
Fadogia Agrestis for Bodybuilding
Nutrients that increase testosterone through blood are frequently mentioned when talking about testosterone-boosting supplements. How our brains manage and regulate testosterone production is sometimes overlooked. The body produces hormones in different locations, and messengers can also instruct the body to generate more testosterone.
Today, Fadogia Agrestis extract is used in both dietary supplement formulas for males and those created especially for athletes and bodybuilders. Additionally, it’s thought that the Fadogia agrestis extract components may help build lean muscle mass.
By enhancing testosterone levels, Fadogia agretis is thought to boost and stimulate muscle growth and improve energy levels while working out. Hence, it may be a useful supplement for bodybuilding.
Nonetheless, there are currently a lack of concrete studies and evidence that Fadogia agretis is indeed an effective agent for bodybuilding. More future studies will need to be conducted to study the effects of Fadogia agretis on muscle and fat mass.
Does Fadogia Agrestis Increase Testosterone?
Research shows dose-dependent increases in testosterone are the main factor contributing to the plant Fadogia Agrestis’s strong following.
The blood testosterone concentrations were increased by the aqueous extract of the stem of Fadogia agrestis [3]. This study found significant increases in testosterone levels for five days in male albino rats.
Researchers believe that by raising levels of luteinizing hormones (LH), the saponins found in fadogia may have helped to stimulate more endogenous testosterone production. The pituitary gland produces the luteinizing hormone, which supports the maintenance of testosterone levels. Consequently, testosterone levels increase along with luteinizing hormone levels.
Bottomline: Fadogia Agretis for Bodybuilding
Maintaining your fitness requires eating a balanced, healthy diet. Protein consumption is particularly crucial for those wishing to improve their muscle growth.
When engaging in high-intensity, demanding physical activity, such as powerlifting or marathon training, a herbal supplement such as those containing fadogia agrestis may potentially improve exercise performance.
To fuel the body for modest quantities of exercise, such as an hour of running or cycling, a nutritious meal with sufficient amounts of healthy carbs, protein, and water is necessary. However, when introducing workout supplements into your exercise or workout routine, it is important to speak with your doctor as the FDA does not have a clear guideline yet for supplements available in the market today. You should also consider any potential contraindications if you already have any medical concerns.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Prevalence of dietary supplement use by gym members in Portugal and associated factors – Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. (2020, February 24). BioMed Central. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-020-00342-z
- Office of Dietary Supplements – Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance-Consumer/
- Yakubu MT, Akanji MA, Oladiji AT. Aphrodisiac potentials of the aqueous extract of Fadogia agrestis (Schweinf. Ex Hiern) stem in male albino rats. Asian J Androl. 2005 Dec;7(4):399-404. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2005.00052.x. PMID: 16281088.