Endpoint
Total testosterone
A potent androgenic steroid and major product secreted by the leydig cells of the testis. Its production is stimulated by luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland. In turn, testosterone exerts feedback control of the pituitary LH and FSH secretion. Depending on the tissues, testosterone can be further converted to dihydrotestosterone or estradiol.
CAT:outcome/total-testosteronereported in nmol/L8 findings from 7 compounds
What moved it
How to read these marks8 findings · 7 compounds · 3 null · by evidence strength
| Compound | Direction | Findings | Strongest evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| resveratrol | down | 1 | Evidence strength: strong. Randomised human trials or their synthesis, with the effect's size and interval recorded and no recorded weakness outstanding. |
| finasteride | up | 1 | Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers. |
| selenium atom | no effect | 1 | Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers. |
| atorvastatin | down 1 · no effect 1 | 2 | Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence. |
| astaxanthin | no effect | 1 | Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence. |
| berberine | down | 1 | Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence. |
| shilajit | up | 1 | Evidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence. |
Reported to move it
5 findings
resveratrol — decreases
StrongEvidence strength: strong. Randomised human trials or their synthesis, with the effect's size and interval recorded and no recorded weakness outstanding.Finding“The pooled effect estimate indicated that resveratrol significantly reduced the level of testosterone, compared with the placebo (SMD = -0.40; 95% CI [-0.71, -0.10], P = 0.009).”
Quoted verbatim from Efficacy of resveratrol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Participants
- 169
- Dose
- 800, 1000 or 1500 mg/day oral resveratrol
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome; 3 of 4 pooled RCTs, resveratrol vs placebo
Effect -0.4 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.1
Efficacy of resveratrol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.2023PMID:37333786Permalink
finasteride — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Finding“Before intervention, PSA and serum steroid hormone levels were not statistically different between groups; after intervention, the finasteride group had significantly lower PSA (3.2 ng/mL versus 5.2 ng/mL; P < 0.001) and DHT levels (10 ng/dL versus 27 ng/dL; P < 0.001) and a significantly higher testosterone level (382 ng/dL versus 327 ng/dL; P = 0.04) than the placebo group.”
Quoted verbatim from Tissue Effects in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Short-term Finasteride in Early Prostate Cancer.. - Study
- RCT
- Dose
- 5 mg daily
- Population
- Men with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer (Gleason score 6 or 7) randomized to finasteride or placebo for 4-6 weeks before prostatectomy
Tissue Effects in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Short-term Finasteride in Early Prostate Cancer.2016PMID:27322462Permalink
atorvastatin — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Finding“In females with PCOS, atorvastatin lowered the total testosterone, FAI, androstenedione, and DHEAS.”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of atorvastatin on testosterone levels.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- Females with polycystic ovary syndrome in four randomised trials (mean age 32 years), atorvastatin daily for at least three weeks versus placebo or no treatment
Effect of atorvastatin on testosterone levels.2021PMID:33482034Permalink
berberine — decreases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Finding“Moreover, berberine as adjuvant therapy also significantly reduced the blood levels of luteinizing hormone (WMD -2.07 U/L; 95 % CI -2.62 to -1.51) and total testosterone (standard mean difference -0.70; 95 % CI -1.02 to -0.39) but not the level of follicle-stimulating hormone level (WMD -0.23 IU/L; 95 % CI -0.52 to 0.06).”
Quoted verbatim from Berberine as adjuvant therapy for treating reduced fertility potential in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome and reduced fertility potential; berberine added to Western medicine versus Western medicine alone (10 RCTs pooled)
Effect -0.7 standardised mean difference, 95% CI -1.02 to -0.39
Berberine as adjuvant therapy for treating reduced fertility potential in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.2024PMID:39236662Permalink
shilajit — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Finding“Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days revealed that it has significantly (P < 0.05) increased total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared with placebo.”
Quoted verbatim from Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 250 mg twice daily
- Population
- Healthy volunteers aged 45-55 years.
Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.2016PMID:26395129Permalink
Measured, no effect detected
3 findings
selenium atom — no detected effect on
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.FindingNull result“Although selenium can improve TAC in PCOS patients, it has no significant effect on BMI, Total Testosterone, et al.”
Quoted verbatim from Effects of selenium supplementation on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome; randomized trials of selenium supplementation
Effects of selenium supplementation on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials.2023PMID:36740666Permalink
astaxanthin — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull result“On the other hand, Olucan et al. (2021) did not observe any significant changes in testosterone levels in a formaldehyde toxicity model.”
Quoted verbatim from A systematic review and meta-analysis of astaxanthin efficacy in male infertility: evidence from clinical and preclinical studies.. - Study
- animal · not in humans
- Duration
- 14 days
- Dose
- 16 and 32 mg/kg, 14 days (Table 4)
- Population
- Wistar Albino rats; formaldehyde-induced testicular injury model (Ulucan et al. 2021)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of astaxanthin efficacy in male infertility: evidence from clinical and preclinical studies.2026PMID:41714744Permalink
atorvastatin — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull result“We found no significant difference between atorvastatin and placebo on the levels of total testosterone in males.”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of atorvastatin on testosterone levels.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- Males in two randomised trials (normal lipid profile or mild dyslipidaemia; mean age 68 years), atorvastatin daily for at least three weeks versus placebo or no treatment
Effect of atorvastatin on testosterone levels.2021PMID:33482034Permalink
How it is measured
Serum or plasma total testosterone concentration by liquid chromatography with tandem mass-spectrometry or by immunoassay, in a sample drawn at a stated time of day.
Measured, not recorded
- Subject
- total testosterone
- Measurements
- 9 measurements
- Recorded as a finding
- No
Show what was measured
total testosterone
increases, p = 0.05
Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days revealed that it has significantly (P < 0.05) increased total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared with placebo
PMID:26395129 · one of two readings recorded this
total testosterone
n = 15
Total Testosterone (ng/dL) | 32.7 ± 9.88 | 42.7 ± 9.91* | 34.98 ± 8.11 | 21–49
PMID:30904021 · one of two readings recorded this
Total testosterone
decreases
atorvastatin may reduce total testosterone by -0.27 nmol/L (95% CI -0.50 to -0.04)
PMID:33482034 · one of two readings recorded this
Total testosterone
no effect
We found no significant difference in testosterone levels in males between atorvastatin and placebo, MD -0.20 nmol/L (95% CI -0.77 to 0.37)
PMID:33482034 · one of two readings recorded this
total testosterone
Furthermore, patients who treated with PDE5Is alone exhibited the better efficacy than those treated with L-arginine alone in respects of sexual function index (p <0.00001) and total testosterone (p =0.0001).
PMID:33587304 · one of two readings recorded this
Total testosterone
no effect
supplementation of selenium does not significantly improve the level of BMI, Weight, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides, Total Testosterone, HOMA-IR, NO, GSH, MDA and FPG
PMID:36740666 · one of two readings recorded this
total testosterone
decreases, SMD -0.40, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.10, p = 0.009, n = 169
The pooled effect estimate indicated that resveratrol significantly reduced the level of testosterone, compared with the placebo (SMD = -0.40; 95% CI [-0.71, -0.10], P = 0.009).
PMID:37333786 · one of two readings recorded this
total testosterone
decreases, p = 0.001, n = 34
The supplementation resulted in decreased total testosterone (p < 0.001), free testosterone (p < 0.001), FAI (p < 0.001), and LH (p < 0.001); increased SHBG (p < 0.001) and estradiol (p < 0.001)
PMID:38295772 · one of two readings recorded this
total testosterone
decreases
total testosterone (standard mean difference -0.70; 95 % CI -1.02 to -0.39)
PMID:39236662 · one of two readings recorded this
Sources cited
7 papers
- Subject
- total testosterone
- Findings
- 8
- Papers
- 7
A systematic review and meta-analysis of astaxanthin efficacy in male infertility: evidence from clinical and preclinical studies.record2026PMID:417147441 finding
Berberine as adjuvant therapy for treating reduced fertility potential in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.record2024PMID:392366621 finding
Effects of selenium supplementation on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized clinical trials.record2023PMID:367406661 finding
Efficacy of resveratrol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.record2023PMID:373337861 finding
Effect of atorvastatin on testosterone levels.record2021PMID:334820342 findings
Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.record2016PMID:263951291 finding
Tissue Effects in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Short-term Finasteride in Early Prostate Cancer.record2016PMID:273224621 finding