Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to testosterone support.
Roman (now rebranded as "Ro") Testosterone Support is a men's health supplement designed to support optimal testosterone (T) levels. The company claims that their supplement is "Created by doctors, backed by science."
But does Ro Testosterone Support contain ingredients proven to optimize T levels? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? Does it cause side effects? And is Roman Testosterone Support better or worse than popular T-boosting supplements like Test Boost Max?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Roman Testosterone Support to give our take on whether or not this supplement is likely to be effective for optimizing T levels, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also discuss the potential for side effects, and compare Roman Testosterone Support to other popular T-boosting supplements.
Key takeaways:
- Contains one effectively-dosed active ingredient for T support
- Inactive ingredient discrepancies concern us
- We do not currently recommend Roman Testosterone Support
Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredients in Roman Testosterone Support are shown below:
image source: https://ro.co/
The majority of the active ingredients in Roman Testosterone Support are a blend of vitamins and minerals.
Magnesium was found to increase testosterone when supplemented in a clinical trial, but the dosage used in the trial was equivalent to around double the dose in Roman’s supplement.
Zinc may be similarly underdosed.
A medical review published in the Aging Male journal analyzed data on zinc supplementation for testosterone, and concluded that 220 milligrams (mg) of zinc sulfate was a “safe recommendation” for improving testosterone levels.
Roman’s supplement only provides 30 mg of zinc sulfate, or barely over 10% of what appears to be a therapeutic dose.
Vitamin D3 is the most absorbable form of Vitamin D, and is clinically shown to increase T levels in men.
Copper is another mineral, and we can't find any evidence suggesting that its supplementation improves T levels.
Ashwagandha root extract is one of the most promising herbal compounds for testosterone support, and appears to be effectively dosed in Roman’s supplement.
A clinical trial published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that ashwagandha root extract at the same dose as in Roman Testosterone Support increased testosterone levels by 15.3% in young, healthy men.
Maca is clinically shown to promote fertility in men, as we documented in our Noxitril reviews article, although we can't find any evidence that it supports optimal testosterone levels.
We do not recommend supplements with raw maca because it's indigestible and can cause digestive upset. We strongly prefer gelatinized maca.
The inactive ingredients listed on the brand's website, shown below, should be safe and non-toxic:
image source: https://ro.co/
Overall, we consider Roman Testosterone Support somewhat likely to enhance T levels, given the research-backed ashwagandha and vitamin D doses.
We do not currently recommend this supplement due to the inclusion of raw maxa.
Does it Cause Side Effects?
Roman Testosterone Support doesn't seem to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it challenging to determine the potential risk of side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on its active ingredients.
The risk of raw maca causing digestive upset is our biggest concern with this formulation.
Maca is an indigestible plant fiber, like potato, so it can cause digestive discomfort in some individuals. We generally prefer gelatinized maca to raw maca in supplement formulations.
Ashwagandha has a highly favorable side effect profile, as we documented in our review of Weider Prime, another men's health supplement.
Overall, we do not consider Roman Testosterone Support likely to cause side effects in otherwise healthy individuals, but it may be worthwhile to speak with a doctor about taking this dose of minerals and ashwagandha for extended periods of time.
There is no mention of side effects on the product page of the brand's website at the time of updating this article.
Roman vs. Popular T-Boosting Supps
Here's how Roman Testosterone Support compares to other popular T-boosting supplements in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
Test Boost Max
Contains an active ingredient which is clinically shown to degrade sperm quality and cause degeneration of testicular tissue.
Winner: Roman Testosterone Support
Mars Men
Contains active ingredients at doses we consider potentially too high, as we documented in our Mars Men supplement reviews article.
However, the brand doesn't suffer from any ingredient discrepancy issues.
Winner: Mars Men
Ageless Male
Underwhelming formulation, but no ingredient discrepancy issues, so this brand gets the edge over Roman.
Winner: Ageless Male
Our Testosterone Support Picks
MBG Vitamin D3 Potency+ is our top value testosterone support pick.
Vitamin D3 supplementation has been clinically shown to increase total testosterone levels by over 25%.
Performance Lab Magnesium is our top mineral testosterone support pick.
Magnesium is a mineral that is clinically shown to increase free and total testosterone in athletes and in sedentary individuals.
Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider unhealthy.
Roman Testosterone Support Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Potentially effective for optimizing T levels
- Contains research-based ashwagandha dose
- Contains research-backed vitamin D3 dose
-
Safe inactive ingredients
Cons:
- Contains some potentially unnecessary vitamins and minerals
- Questions about some herbal active ingredient doses
- Maca may upset digestive system
- Maca may cause side effects
- Doesn't appear clinically tested
