Skip to main content

What the reviews found

Supplements for Testosterone & Erectile Function

12 where systematic reviews concluded a benefit, 2 with mixed findings, 1 where they concluded no effect. Every line quotes the review and links it, so you can read the sentence yourself.

Reviews found a benefit

Systematic reviews concluded these improve an outcome tied to testosterone & erectile function, and none concluded no effect.

  1. Benefitsperm motility
    L-carnitine (2 g/day) and acetyl-L-carnitine (LAC; 1 g/day) combined (SMD 0.57 for asthenozoospermia) PMID 31160241 · 2 reviews
    Benefiterectile function
    L-Arginine and the mix PLC + ALC appeared to be of some usefulness in improving erectile function, especially in combination with PDE5i in organic ED. PMID 39279185
  2. Benefittotal testosterone(as Eurycoma longifolia)
    Eurycoma longifolia, a blend of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Tesnor™) and purified Shilajit extract (PrimaVie™) can be considered possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism; Eurycoma longifolia and Withania somnifera possibly effective for healthy men PMID 37697053 · 2 reviews
    Benefittotal testosterone
    A significant improvement in total testosterone levels after E. longifolia treatment was mostly reported in both healthy volunteers and hypogonadal men. PMID 36013514
  3. Benefitsperm motility
    L-carnitine was regarded as the best treatment method for enhancing sperm motility. PMID 40813743 · 2 reviews
    Benefitsperm concentration
    Both LC and NAC can improve sperm motility, sperm concentration, and normal morphology, and increase serum testosterone concentration, but have no significant effect on other serum hormones. PMID 40350672
  4. Benefittestosterone
    Ashwagandha increased testosterone in men (MD = 57.43 ng/dl) but not in women (MD = 5.09 ng/dl), with a significant gender difference. PMID 41740946
  5. Benefitsperm quality(as NAC)
    Both LC and NAC can improve sperm motility, sperm concentration, and normal morphology, and increase serum testosterone concentration, but have no significant effect on other serum hormones. PMID 40350672 · 2 reviews
  6. Benefitsperm quality
    In this meta-analysis, ALA was associated with a favorable change in sperm quality. PMID 40327515
  7. Benefittestosterone
    The exceptions were β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. PMID 37697053
  8. Benefitsperm concentration
    CoQ10 was the most effective intervention measure for improving sperm concentration, and L-carnitine was regarded as the best treatment method for enhancing sperm motility. PMID 40813743
  9. Benefittestosterone levels(as β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate)
    The exceptions were β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate and betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes. PMID 37697053
  10. Benefiterectile function
    L-Arginine and the mix PLC + ALC appeared to be of some usefulness in improving erectile function, especially in combination with PDE5i in organic ED. PMID 39279185
  11. Benefitsperm parameters
    Lycopene supplementation significantly improved sperm concentration (SMD 0.33, 95% CI [0.02-0.65], p = 0.037) and nonprogressive motility (SMD 0.45, 95% CI [0.04-0.87], p = 0.032). PMID 40806357
  12. Benefiterectile function
    A study reported the significant effect of niacin (vitamin B3) 1500 mg daily for 12 weeks on erectile function (p=0.004). PMID 33779240

Mixed: a benefit on one measure, no effect on another

  1. Benefitsperm motility and viability
    significant increases were observed in progressive motility (MD = 6.79, 95% CI: 3.37 to 10.21, p = 0.00) and sperm viability during thawing (MD = 7.56, 95% CI: 4.91 to 10.21, p = 0.00). PMID 41714661
    Benefitsperm morphology
    Astaxanthin also significantly improved the percentage of sperm with normal morphology (MD = -24.53, 95% CI: -45.25 to -3.81, p = 0.02). PMID 41714661
    No effectsperm dna damage
    -7.49 to 18.84, p = 0.40) or DNA damage (MD = -12.07, 95% CI: -25.72 to 1.57, p = 0.08) after thawing. PMID 41714661
  2. No effecttotal testosterone and androgen bioavailability markers
    Current randomized evidence does not demonstrate a statistically clear or reproducible effect of vitamin D supplementation on total testosterone or androgen bioavailability markers in adult men. PMID 42451097
    Benefitsperm count and motility(as Cholecalciferol)
    Nevertheless, it may contribute to improvements in total sperm count and the percentage of motile sperm, potentially enhancing reproductive function. PMID 40776878

Reviews found no effect

Reviews studied these for an outcome tied to testosterone & erectile function and concluded they made no difference.

  1. No effecttestosterone(as Lepidium meyenii)
    Our findings indicate that most fail to increase total testosterone. PMID 37697053

Not enough to say

Reviews of Shilajit, Vitamin E could not conclude either way on testosterone & erectile function.

How this page is built

Each finding is the conclusion a set of systematic reviews reached on one outcome — whether an ingredient helped, made no difference, or could not be judged — with a sentence quoted from one review, checked to appear in its PubMed abstract. It records the direction, not the size, of an effect. Reviews run in populations such as people with cancer, pregnancy, surgery or children are left out, because applying them to a general reader would mislead. Evidence last refreshed September 2026. Abstracts courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed).

Other goals

Educational only. A review finding a benefit on average does not mean a supplement will help you, or that it is safe alongside your medication. If you are treated for testosterone & erectile function, talk to your clinician before adding anything.