T-Hero is a dietary supplement sold by a brand called Essential Elements that’s used to naturally increase testosterone (T) levels. The brand claims that their supplement has “traditional herbs with modern elements” and that the supplement “[promotes] the body’s ability to create proper levels of testosterone.”
But does T-Hero actually contain ingredients proven in research studies to increase testosterone levels or are these just marketing claims? Does the supplement contain any unhealthy additive ingredients? Will it cause side effects? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of T-Hero?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in T-Hero based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money.
We’ll also review potential side effects, explain what site has the supplement for the cheapest price and feature real, unsponsored T-Hero user reviews.
Ingredient Analysis
T-Hero contains six active ingredients, shown above: ashwagandha extract, shilajit extract, diindolylmethane, boron, BioPerine and yohimbine.
Ashwagandha extract is a promising herbal ingredient for testosterone support. A clinical trial published in the American Journal of Men’s Health found that ashwagandha at a lower dose than in T-Hero increased testosterone levels in participants by 15%.
Shilajit has also been clinically shown to increase T levels, but our concern about this ingredient is its sourcing. It’s harvested as a resin and tends to be high in heavy metals, as we documented in our review of shilajit supplement Choq.
We only recommend using shilajit supplements if the manufacturer supplies third-party testing proving the shilajit to be low in contaminants, and we can’t find any evidence that T-Hero publishes this type of testing.
Diindolylmethane is a strange choice for a testosterone supplement in our opinion. We can’t find any medical studies proving it to increase or support testosterone, and we found two clinical trials (source 1, source 2) which found it to have an anti-androgenic effect.
Androgens are male sex hormones, and testosterone is the primary androgen, so an ingredient with an anti-androgenic effect is probably not a great choice for a T supplement.
Boron is a mineral that is clinically shown to increase T, but the 5 milligram (mg) dose in T-Hero may be underdosed. A 2011 clinical trial found that 11.6 mg of boron increased T levels by over 25%, but we can’t find any studies proving this ingredient effective at the dose in this supplement.
BioPerine is typically used to enhance the absorption of other active ingredients in a formulation, and not to directly increase T levels.
Yohimbine is frequently included in erectile dysfunction supplements. We can’t locate any medical studies suggesting that it increases T.
All of the inactive ingredients in T-Hero are safe and non-toxic, which is a good thing.
Overall, we consider T-Hero potentially effective for naturally increasing T levels. It contains an effective dose of two botanical compounds shown in research studies to increase T, and we consider the boron dose potentially effective.
But does the supplement cause side effects? We’ll review in the next section.
Does T-Hero Cause Side Effects?
T-Hero doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials so it's impossible to say for certain whether or not the supplement causes side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.
Ashwagandha extract can cause liver injury when taken at high doses, according to a medical review published in the Liver International journal. We do not consider the dose in T-Hero to be particularly high, and similar doses have been proven safe in clinical trials.
However, consumers planning to take this supplement continuously over long periods of time may wish to speak with their doctor about this risk.
Yohimbine can cause severe side effects when taken at high doses due to its stimulatory nature, as we documented in our Hydroxycut review article, but the dose in T-Hero (2 mg) is very low.
Overall, we do not consider T-Hero likely to cause side effects in the average consumer. It contains well-studied botanical ingredients at doses that should be safe.
There is no reference to side effects on the T-Hero website.
But how do real users rate and describe the effects of T-Hero? Do they complain of side effects? We’ll analyze in the next section.
Real Customers Review T-Hero
T-Hero is sold on Amazon, which is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
The supplement has been reviewed over 2,800 times, with an average review rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Viv” who claims it increased her husband’s energy levels:
“My husband wanted to try, he’s on his second bottle, he has a very physically demanding job and he says it gives him the energy he needs to get through the day, he feels stronger, and can focus better.”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Kevilladakilla” who claims to have experienced no effects at all:
“I can fully admit this product did nothing for me. I took as directed and noticed nothing. No better recovery time, no dofference in bulk no loss of fat.”
Two customers complained about billing on the manufacturer’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page, but the manufacturer responded to resolve both which is a sign of a high-quality brand.
Which Supplements Have Research Backing for T?
A famous Stanford neuroscientist named Dr. Andrew Huberman discussed some of the supplements with research backing for natural T support in an interview on the “Mark Bell’s Power Project” YouTube channel:
Where to Buy T-Hero for the Best Price
T-Hero is sold on the brand’s website, on Amazon and on Walmart. Here’s a cost breakdown at the time of publishing this article:
Walmart: $39.99 (link)
Brand website: $34.99 (link)
Amazon: $32.99 (link to official Amazon listing)
T-Hero is currently 17% cheaper on Amazon than on other retail sites.
Our Testosterone Support Picks
Before taking supplements or medications to improve T levels, it makes sense to get a hormone panel that actually tests T levels. Without knowing your baseline T levels, it's impossible to track progress and make research-based decisions.
PlushCare is an online doctor service that allows patients to work with a doctor to order labs like testosterone tests. PlushCare accepts major health insurers like United and Aetna, and also accepts patients paying out-of-pocket.
How it works for bloodwork is that PlushCare will send the order to a lab local to the patient. Interested consumers can check out PlushCare at this link to the brand's official website.
Ashwagandha extract was shown in a 2019 clinical trial to cause a 15% greater increase in T levels than placebo.
Nature Made Ashwagandha Extract is our top ashwagandha extract supplement because it contains no unhealthy additive ingredients and is highly affordable at only $22.89 for a one-time purchase.
Interested consumers can check out Nature Made Ashwagandha Extract at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.
Panax ginseng extract is an herbal libido enhancer, and was shown in a medical review published in the Spermatogenesis journal to increase sex drive in men when taken daily.
Illuminate Labs sells a Panax Ginseng Extract supplement which is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy, potency and purity, and which contains no questionable additive ingredients.
Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the product page on our website, where the supplement can be purchased for only $15 on a subscription basis.
Pros and Cons of T-Hero
Here are the pros and cons of T-Hero in our opinion:
Pros:
- Effective formulation
- Several research-backed ingredients
- Decent price
- Fairly positive online reviews
Cons:
- Shilajit is often high in contaminants
- No shilajit testing published
- No clinical trials funded
- Contains an anti-androgen
