The quarterback gets all the fame.
But no one ever says good shit about the linemen.
Arguably the base of any football team, the linemen are some of the most important mofos out there on the field–yet, the only time we really hear of them is when they’re doing bad.
Well, the same applies to Testosterone (T), the body’s QB, and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the body’s linemen. What makes men more menly actually has less to do with T and more to do with DHT. It’s DHT that keeps the male body pumpin’ and it’s only when DHT funks up that we call out the hormone.
So when a T-booster such as Testosterone UP comes along diminishing DHT levels, it better have a damn good reason for it. Otherwise our T won’t have any linemen to watch its back.
Table of Contents
About Testosterone UP
Formulated by Irwin Naturals, Testosterone UP is an “advanced pro-male testosterone formula,” featuring key T-boosters such as LJ100 & OptiZinc. The T-boosts are solid, but so are the DHT-downers, which aren’t for everyone. Formula notes:
- Potent T-Boosters: None of the T-boosters are major ball-droppers themselves, but they’re in high-quality, easy-to-absorb forms–which we like very much.
- Potent DHT-Downers: Ditto for the DHT-downers, although there’s more of them here, which may be a surprise to some of Testosterone UP’s users.
- 20-day Supply: Most products supply at least a month’s worth of serving. Testosterone UP only serves a 20-day supply (although, it is fairly priced).
Testosterone UP Supplement Facts |
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Serving Size: 3 Liquid Softgels Servings Per Container: 20 |
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Ingredients | Amount Per Serving |
Zinc (as Zinc Methionine) OptiZinc | 30 mg (200% DV) |
Copper (as Copper Citrate) | 2 mg (100% DV) |
MCT (Medium Chain Triglyceride) oil | 900 mg |
Pumpkin Seed oil | 900 mg |
Nettle (Urtica dioica) extract (4:1) (root) | 300 mg |
Plant Sterols (40% beta sitosterol) | 300 mg |
Tribulus extract (40% saponins) (plant) | 300 mg |
Asian Ginseng extract (80% ginsenosides) (root) | 100 mg |
LJ100 Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) extract (40% glycosaponins and 22% eurypeptides) (root) | 100 mg |
Chrysin | 99 mg |
Gamma Oryzanol | 50 mg |
BioPerine Complex BioPerine Black Pepper extract (95% piperine) (fruit), Ginger extract (5% gingerols) (root) |
6 mg |
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, purified water, glycerin, soy lecithin, mono and diglycerides, caramel, annatto, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, St. John’s bread and turmeric. Contains: Soy, Tree Nuts (Coconut) |
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Directions: (Adult) Take three (3) Liquid Soft-Gels daily with a meal and a full glass of water. |
Looking for the Best T-Booster designed for Mature Men?
You might want to look elsewhere. Testosterone UP seems to us like it might be customized for men over 50; but Irwin Naturals says it is for men of all ages. Its sibling, Testosterone UP Red, seems more oriented for younger men who do intense athletic training.
For products with a sharper focus on mature men’s T-boosters, specifically, consider our Best 5 for Men Over Age 50:
- Prime Male – Synergistic design produces best test boosts in men 50+
- Nugenix Ultimate Testosterone – Concentrated testosterone support
- RSP Prime T – Science-driven test stack with anti-estrogen help
- EVLTEST – T support for mature men who lift weights
- GNC Mega Men Testosterone – Multivitamin+ T and prostate support
Read the full Best T-Boosters for Men Over 50 article here.
Irwin Naturals Testosterone UP ups the testosterone and downs the DHT.
Which, who cares about DHT if it means more T, right? WE CARE. We care…
Because DHT, believe it or not, is a manlier hormone than T.
In actuality, DHT is the primary androgen hormone in the male body, with exception to skeletal muscle tissue, where T reigns supreme.
But, before we get into that, let’s compare Testosterone UP’s T-boosters vs. DHT-downers:
The Testosterone Boosters
Arguably, the DHT-downers are T-boosters for technically increasing “free” T levels, but we’ll focus on the ingredients that boost T without affecting DHT in this section. And those are:
- Zinc. The manliest mineral, one of our Top B5 Favorite T-Boosters, and a good all-around support nutrient for wellness (including immune function).
- LJ100 Tongkat Ali. Quality branded sex-enhancing T-booster herb. Regulates T & stress hormone cortisol levels for all-around feel-goods. Helps physical performance, too.
Other potential additions to this category—Tribulus Terrestris, Asian Ginseng, Chrysin—may help T on some level, but, for the most part, research seems to suggest that they don’t do a whole lot for testosterone.
This may come as a surprise for Tribulus & Ginseng in particular due to their strong association with male health, but that’s just it: They’re great herbs for male health, helping various aspects of libido, energy, & performance. They’re often used as a pre-workout to help younger men get jacked. But they just don’t seem to do a whole lot for T (if anything at all).
Chrysin we could probably do without considering that the it has an oral bioavailability so poor that it’s practically useless—unless injected directly into the nuts, which… if you want to do that, go ahead. We won’t stop you.
The DHT Downers
So what’s the deal with “downing” DHT?
How does that even work?
Let us explain:
- 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme responsible for converting test to DHT in the body. In practically everywhere but muscle, this enzyme produces DHT so it can regulate our bodily functions—but at the expense of less T levels.
In cases where 5-alpha reductase goes haywire and produces too much DHT, not only are you dealing with low testosterone levels, but you have excess DHT—leading to prostate issues & (*breathe*) baldness.
By inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, certain ingredients can preserve T levels. And the 5-alpha reeducate inhibitors in this formula are:
- Pumpkin Seed Oil
- Stinging Nettle Extract
- Beta Sitosterol
- Gamma Oryzanol
On the whole, none of these seem to overdo it on the 5-alpha reductase inhibition, which is good because, unless you’ve been told so by a doctor or at an older age when excess DHT becomes a risk, you generally don’t need this many DHT-downers.
Formula Analysis
Upping the T. Downing the DHT.
Why?
As we’ve discussed, 5-alpha reductase may go haywire, particularly in older age, and needlessly drive down T levels with preference for DHT. This can be bad for sexual health—namely on the prostate—and can lead to funky conditions, such as hair loss.
But here’s the thing: These DHT blockers don’t necessarily prevent those funky conditions.
T-boosters such as Stinging Nettle & Beta Sitosterol are great for prostate health, but don’t seem to decrease DHT in, say, the scalp. Thus, if you think you suffer from high DHT levels, Testosterone UP won’t necessarily help with those symptoms (also, self-diagnosing “high DHT levels” doesn’t really work anyways).
Our take: Testosterone UP supplies notable T-boosts in the form of Zinc & Tongkat Ali, with the potential to regulate sex-hormones across-the-board. The DHT-downers seem to aid sexual health, but shouldn’t be considered by all males. Only older men & men directed by their doctors.
Testosterone UP isn’t necessarily a muscle building booster (although, it may help), instead opting for regulation of sexual health & functioning.
But it its own way, I gotta say Testosterone Up gels as a mature male formula, helping support and maintain test naturally.
Testosterone UP Benefits
Testosterone UP claims to:
- Boost testosterone levels already within a normal range.
- Enhance performance & vitality in men.
The initial claim can be confusing: Testosterone UP isn’t claiming to boost test levels beyond a “normal range,” but only maintain testosterone within healthy levels. With Tongkat Ali, Zinc, & Ginseng as the leading T-boosters advertised by this company, this makes sense. They’re test maintainers more than they are BIG-time T-boosters.
But for many older, more mature men, a return to “normal levels” may feel like a boost… even if it doesn’t necessarily max out testosterone levels.
Especially if you get a side boost in the sex department, thanks to our homie Tribulus Terrestris. Haaay.
Who Takes It?
Mature Men with Mature DHT. If we’re looking at just the T-boosters, then we’d say this is a formula that benefits men of all ages 18+. But the above-average number of ingredients that funk with DHT draws a subtle RED flag, indicating that only aged gentlemen should funk around with Testosterone UP. There are better natural test products for bodybuilding and peak physical performance you can buy, if you’re a younger guy.
Any Side Effects?
Nahhh. On the whole, Testosterone UP seems safe and is backed by almost unanimously positive reviews—none of which hint at any side effects. The ingredients are natural and apparently high quality, with standardized herbs and branded ingredients. Quality always seems to help supplements when it comes to side effects tolerability.
Testosterone UP Summary
Pros
- Au Natural. Testosterone UP sticks with clean mature man T-boosts.
- Quality Ingredients. Potent extracts, advanced forms & adequate dosages make B5 happy.
- DHT Downers. Not for everyone, but provides a great option for those who need it.
- Decent reviews. Seems to have a pretty good profile online overall
- Enhanced absorption. That BioPerine is money in the bank ’cause it boosts the whole formula
Cons
- DHT Downers. Again, not for everyone. Don’t casually eff around with DHT.
- Chrysin. Waste of space ingredient. Doesn’t seem to do much.
- Short Supply. Testosterone UP supplies less than a month’s worth of servings.
Pricing & Buying Info
- 1 Bottle (20 days): $44.99
- Available to buy online (inc. Amazon) and in retail stores
Final Word on Testosterone UP
Testosterone UP mentions the T increase, but not the DHT decrease. Are they lying by omission? Nahhh, we wouldn’t outright call them liars. There’s nothing Irwin Naturals gains from that–especially when they’re clearly laying down fat dollars on the quality of this formula. So hopefully this review filled in the blanks for you. The summary of Testosterone UP’s effects: T UP (& DHT DOWN). But the ratings remain good, cause Irwin delivers quality to consumers, including this premium test matrix… even if it sacrifices high DHT levels in its test-boosting process. Pro tip: Stack it with a separate DHT support nutrient on the side, ya heard??
[yasr_overall_rating]
Updates
- 1/22/2018 – Added link to Testosterone UP Red review and Best 5 testosterone booster supplements for men over age 50 article
Joseph says
are there better T Booster supplements out there than T-Up that you would recommend? Been taking it for a few weeks, havent noticed anything.
Ryan says
There are actually five T-booster supplements that we recommend over T-Up, link here: https://best5supplements.com/t-boosters/best-5-testosterone-supplements-2017-edition/
— Ryan
Jack says
What if I’m younger than 18, and these are the only pills I can get my hands on, and I’m ftm transgender….is this okay to take these pills with a young female body?
Ryan says
If we’re strictly following the directions, the supplement advises usage only by quote-unquote “Adults.” However, for your purposes, I’d suggest checking with a physician. Having said that, I personally can’t imagine this formula having any nasty effects, but I mean… what the hell do I know? Odds are this product won’t do much hormonally for anyone younger than 30, but it may at least have mild athletic benefits.
Again, I’m not a physician, so consider my advice just a bunch of amateurish spitballing.
–Ryan