With increasing awareness and shifts in public perception, men are increasingly prioritising their health, prompting demand for natural solutions that target male vitality, strength, and hormonal health.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) helps maintain health in the ageing male by naturally supporting testosterone levels, promoting sexual and reproductive health, assisting symptoms associated with androgen deficiency, and maintaining healthy body composition.

Declining Testosterone

Testosterone concentrations in males decline with advancing age at a rate of 1-2% per year from the age of 40.^1-3 Low testosterone, known as androgen deficiency or late-onset hypogonadism (in men over 40 years), is associated with reduced quality of life and increased risk of mortality in men.²

Symptoms of androgen deficiency may include muscle weakness, weight gain, reduced muscle mass and increased abdominal fat, musculoskeletal changes, joint pain, sweating, sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression, and low bone mineral density.¹ It is also associated with reduced sexual activity and desire and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and cognitive decline.¹

Focus on Fenugreek

Early research indicated that Fenugreek seed extract had positive effects on sexual health and quality of life.⁴ This is thought to be at least partly due to the herb’s ability to increase testosterone and offset symptoms of androgen deficiency in ageing men.¹

Research suggests that steroidal saponins (glycosides) in Fenugreek may boost testosterone via inhibition of aromatase (reducing conversion of testosterone to oestradiol) and 5-alpha reductase (reducing conversion of testosterone to DHT).⁵ Steroidal saponins including diosgenin are a type of glycoside found in Fenugreek believed to be responsible for its testosterogenic effects.  

Supporting Men’s Health and Wellbeing

A randomised, controlled trial investigated the effects of Fenugreek seed extract on men’s physical and psychological health.⁶ Healthy, recreationally active men (n=57, mean age 26.1 years) received Fenugreek extract (400 mg/day or 500 mg/day) or placebo for two months. Those taking Fenugreek reported significant improvements in symptoms associated with male ageing, anxiety levels, grip strength, and indicators of health-related quality of life compared to placebo (p<0.05). Fenugreek groups had significant improvement in questionnaire results for libido, sexual function, anxiety, sleep quality, energy and perceived health, as well as overall quality of life.⁶

Fenugreek Targets Testosterone

Fenugreek’s broad range of benefits for men’s health may be largely due to its ability to replenish testosterone. Serum total testosterone levels rose significantly in healthy men taking Fenugreek for 8-12 weeks compared to placebo (p=0.026), based on a meta-analysis of 4 randomised controlled trials (n=206).⁵  

A single dose of Testosurge™ Fenugreek extract (standardised to 80% glycosides) in healthy sedentary men (n=16; 18 - 45 years) resulted in significant increases in free testosterone (p=0.038), total testosterone (p=0.018) and bioavailable testosterone (p=0.025) levels, compared to placebo.⁷

Anabolic Effects

Fenugreek extracts have demonstrated androgenic and anabolic effects⁵ and support male athletic performance.  

A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 7 randomised controlled trials evaluated the effects of Fenugreek on strength performance, body composition, and hormone concentration in male athletes (n=449). Fenugreek supplementation significantly increased serum total and free testosterone levels and improved body composition (increased lean body mass and decreased fat mass) compared to placebo. Leg press performance improved, indicating that Fenugreek supplementation has performance enhancing and anabolic effects in male athletes.⁸

Fenugreek seed extract improved lean body mass and serum testosterone in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.⁹ When combined with a structured resistance training program, Testosurge™ Fenugreek (500 mg/d) significantly improved body composition and increased anabolic hormonal status over an 8-week period. Total testosterone and bioavailable testosterone levels increased significantly (p=0.018 and p=0.049 respectively), compared to placebo. Body fat percentage decreased significantly more in the Fenugreek group than the placebo group.¹⁰ 

Healthy Sexual Function

A double-blind randomised trial examined the effects of a standardised Fenugreek extract (600 mg/d for 12 weeks) in healthy older adult men (n=120; 43 – 70 years). Fenugreek improved sexual function, including the number of morning erections (from 1 per week to 2-3 per week; p=0.001) and frequency of sexual activity (from 1-2 times per month to 1 per week; p=0.004). Significant increases in total and free testosterone levels and significant improvements in total sexual function scores occurred in the Fenugreek group compared to placebo (p=0.006).¹  

Men taking Fenugreek had significant improvements for total Aging Male Symptom scores (a measure of possible androgen deficiency symptoms) compared to placebo (p=0.013), with differences in subscale scores for somatic symptoms, sexual function and psychology significantly in favour of the Fenugreek group.¹

Fenugreek Promotes Male Fertility

Supporting male fertility, Fenugreek treatment in healthy adult males significantly increased free testosterone levels (p=0.0004), sperm count (p=0.0002) and sperm motility (p=0.0003) compared to placebo. Abnormal sperm morphology also decreased significantly in the Fenugreek group (p=0.0002) following 12 weeks’ treatment.¹¹

Conclusion

Fenugreek seed extract is an effective clinical solution for increasing serum testosterone and supporting male vitality, strength, and hormonal health.

References

1. Rao A, Steels E, Inder WJ, Abraham S, Vitetta L. Testofen, a specialised Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a double-blind randomised clinical study. The Aging Male. 2016 Apr 2;19(2):134-42.
2. Smith SJ, Lopresti AL, Teo SYM, Fairchild TJ. Examining the effects of herbs on testosterone concentrations in men: a systematic review. Adv Nutr. 2021 Jun 1;12(3):744-765. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmaa134.
3. Yeap B, Grossmann M, McLachlan R, Handelsman D, Wittert G, et al. Endocrine Society of Australia position statement on male hypogonadism (part 1): Assessment and indications for testosterone therapy. Med J Aust. 2016;205(4):173–178. DOI:10.5694/mja16.00393
4. Steels E, Rao A, Vitetta L. Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum extract and mineral formulation. Phytotherapy Res. 2011;25:1294–300.
5. Mansoori A, Hosseini S, Zilaee M, Hormoznejad R, Fathi M. Effect of Fenugreek extract supplement on testosterone levels in male: A meta‐analysis of clinical trials. Phytotherapy Research. 2020 Jul;34(7):1550-5. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6627
6. Hausenblas HA, Conway KL, Coyle KR, Barton E, Smith LD, Esposito M, et al. Efficacy of Fenugreek seed extract on men's psychological and physical health: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. J Complement Int Med. 2021 Jun 29;18(2):445-8.
7. Mokashi MA, Singh-Mokashi RE, Mohan VI, Thakurdesai PR. Effects of glycosides based Fenugreek seed extract on serum testosterone levels of healthy sedentary male subjects: A exploratory double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2014;7(Suppl 2):177-81.
8. Isenmann E, Alisauskas P, Flenker U, Schalla J, Diel P. The anabolic effect of Fenugreek: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Int J Sports Med. 2023 Sep;44(10):692-703. DOI:10.1055/a-2048-5925
9. Guo R, Wang Q, Nair RP, Barnes SL, Smith DT, Dai B, et al. Furosap, a novel Fenugreek seed extract improves lean body mass and serum testosterone in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind clinical investigation. Funct Food Health Disease. 2018;8(11):519–30.
10. Poole C, Bushey B, Pena E, Constancio E, Jones T, Dufour F, et al. Effects of TESTOSURGE supplementation on strength, body composition and hormonal profiles during an 8-week resistance training program. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2009 Jul 31;6(sup1):12. DOI:10.1186/1550-2783-6-S1-P12
11. Maheshwari A, Verma N, Swaroop A, Bagchi M, Preuss HG, Tiwari K, et al. Efficacy of Furosap^TM, a novel Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract, in enhancing testosterone level and improving sperm profile in male volunteers. Int J Med Sci. 2017;14(1):58-66. DOI:10.7150/ijms.17256