Virectin, also referred to as Virectin Loaded, is a male enhancement supplement manufactured by a company called Gentopia Laboratories.
The brand claims that their product " optimizes testosterone (T) levels to restore sex drive and libido, while increasing blood flow to the penis to help achieve rock-hard erections"
But does Virectin contain ingredients proven to increase T levels? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? Why do we take issue with the brand's marketing claims? And is Virectin better or worse than popular T-boosting supplements like ExtenZe?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Virectin to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective for improving sexual performance, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also share our concerns about some of the health claims on the brand's website, document some potentially fake customer success stories, and compare Virectin to other popular male enhancement supplements to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Potentially fake customer images until our review
- Questionable health claims on brand's website
- We do not currently recommend Virectin
Does Virectin Fake Customer Testimonials?
Update: the company removed these images from their website since the publication of this information, but we still feel this is relevant to publish due to the ethical concerns here.
Virectin may have used stock images for some of the testimonials on their website.
The above image was found on Virectin’s site before we called out this information.
Here is a link to the exact same person on Adobe Stock images.
You can also copy the image address and perform a reverse image search using a tool like Tineye and see that this is not a unique image; it exists on various websites (as do many stock images).
This suggests that Virectin was using fake customer testimonials, which would be a huge red flag about the legitimacy of the brand.
Their second testimonial image, shown above, furthers this point.
The exact same image can be found on Adobe Stock, but the man is holding a cup of coffee. It appears that Virectin may have used image editing software like Photoshop to edit their bottle in the place of the coffee from a stock image.
The brand now does state, in a footnote, that real customer images are not used to protect customer anonymity. However we consider this to be an highly questionable way to market a product given that these images are under a bold header of "Real Success, Real Incredible Results!"
Questionable Health Claims on Brand Site
There are a number of health claims on the Virectin website which we consider highly questionable from a scientific standpoint.
The brand claims that their proprietary formulation supports "maximum tissue expansion" with an accompanying graphic:
We don't know how the brand can support this specific health claim if Virectin hasn't been shown to be effective in any clinical trials.
The Virectin site also suggests that 95% of users experience increased T levels:
However, the citation states that this claim is based on a "subjective survey," as shown below:
How can T levels be measured "subjectively?" This is a test that needs to be conducted at a doctor's office. This statement makes no sense in the context of the health claim above.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Virectin are shown below:
Niacin, zinc and selenium are a blend of vitamins and minerals, and we can't find any evidence that these compounds improve sexual function at their stated doses.
A clinical trial found that in patients with cholesterol issues, niacin was effective at improving erectile dysfunction (ED), but the dose used in the trial was 1,500 milligrams (mg), or 60x the amount in Virectin.
Tribulus fruit extract was shown in a clinical trial published in the Maturitas journal to significantly improve intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function and sexual desire.
We consider this ingredient to be effectively dosed in Virectin.
L-arginine is an amino acid that may be underdosed in this supplement.
As we discussed in our Semenax review, arginine is clinically shown to improve some parameters of sperm function, but we can only find research proving so at much higher doses than the 300 mg in Virecin.
Eurycoma Longifolia root powder has impressive early research on its ability to treat ED and male infertility. However, Virectin uses a raw root powder while nearly all of the clinical trials in the above-linked review used extracts (which are much more concentrated).
Fenugreek seed powder was shown in a medical review to be an effective aphrodisiac at a 200 mg dose, while the dose in Virectin is only 100 mg.
Maca root powder may also be significantly underdosed.
The dosage in Virectin is only 50 mg. A meta-study on maca for libido, published in the BMC Alternative Medicine and Therapies journal, analyzed a number of clinical trials on the topic. The lowest dose used in any of the trials was 1,500 mg daily.
We cannot find evidence that any of the remaining active ingredients are effective at their stated doses.
The inactive ingredients in this supplement should be safe and non-toxic which is a good thing.
We consider Virectin to be potentially effective for improving erectile function and sexual performance, given that it contains several research-backed ingredients, and two at doses we consider potentially effective based on clinical studies.
Virectin vs. Popular T-Boosting Supps
Here's how Virectin compares to other popular T-boosting supplements in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
ExtenZe
This brand was the subject of an FDA warning letter over an unapproved drug ingredient.
This is a serious consumer safety issue, and we consider Virection to be a safer choice.
Winner: Virectin
Black Bull Honey
Black Bull Honey contains the exact same formulation as a similarly-named (Royal Honey) male enhancement supplement which received an FDA warning about drug adulteration.
The manufacturer of Black Bull Honey is also unclear, and we consider Virectin to be a safer option.
Winner: Virectin
Weider Prime
Contains research-backed active ingredients, and similarly questionable marketing claims to Virectin (which the brand also removed after our call-out).
Winner: Tie
Our Clean Men's Health Picks
Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract is our top erection quality pick.
Panax ginseng was shown in a clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology to increase erectile function scores "significantly" compared to participants taking placebo pills.
MBG Vitamin D3 Potency+ is our top testosterone support pick.
Vitamin D3 supplementation has been clinically shown to increase total testosterone levels by over 25%.
Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider unhealthy.
Virectin Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Some research-backed active ingredients
- Two active ingredients we consider effectively dosed
- May support natural T increases
- May improve sexual function in men
- No harmful additive ingredients
Cons:
- We consider most active ingredients to be underdosed
- Questionable and often uncited health claims
- Potentially fake testimonials
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
