✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
📰Read the full Tribulus evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
3
Limited
Tribulus
Tribulus terrestris
Limited EvidenceLimitedBotanicals
RDA
Typical 250–750 mg
Target
No change expected
Upper limit
No UL
Products
161
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Fenugreek, Tongkat Ali, Zinc✅ USP Verified, ConsumerLab Approved, Clean Label Project Certified
⚠ Does NOT raise testosterone (multiple RCTs) [1]
⚠ Sexual function benefit may be real but NOT through testosterone [2]
⚠ Animal data (castrated rodents) don't translate to intact humans [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
Testosterone (if monitoring claim)
Reference range / target
No change expected
When to test
[1]
RCTs show no significant increase [1].
Full lab monitoring ↓
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Tribulus does NOT boost testosterone in young healthy men — multiple RCTs are clear. The $500M+ 'testosterone booster' industry built on this claim lacks human evidence. Some sexual function benefit may exist through non-testosterone mechanisms. Save your money or choose better-evidenced alternatives [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
AVOID [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Not appropriate [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: BID or TID [2].
💊 With food: With food [1].
🚫 Avoid: Expecting testosterone boost in young healthy men [1].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Standardized extract (40–45% saponins)', 'common', 'Standard supplement. 250–750 mg TID [2].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
Does tribulus boost testosterone? ▼
NO — in young healthy men, multiple RCTs show no significant testosterone increase [1]. The supplement industry's flagship claim is not supported. Any sexual function benefit appears to work through other mechanisms (possibly NO pathway) [2].
Why is it still so popular? ▼
Animal studies (particularly in castrated rodents) showed testosterone effects that do not translate to intact human males. The 'testosterone booster' marketing persists despite negative human evidence [1].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

Does NOT significantly raise testosterone in young healthy men: confirmed in multiple RCTs including Australian athletes [1]. HIGH

Moderate

Sexual function: some trials show improved erectile function and desire (possibly via NO pathway or androgen receptor sensitization, not testosterone elevation) [2]. Infertile men: may improve sperm parameters (different population from 'testosterone boosters') [2]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Muscle building [1]. Athletic performance [1]. Blood pressure [1]. Diabetes [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Relative

⚠ Hormone-sensitive conditions — uncertain androgenic claims
⚠ Diabetes — may lower blood glucose
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — avoid (possible hormonal/uterine effects)
⚠ Concurrent lithium — may affect clearance (diuretic effect)

🚩 Red flags

● Patient spending money on tribulus for testosterone — evidence is negative [1]
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

Lithium Minor
Mechanism: Possible diuretic effect affecting lithium levels. [1]
Effect: Altered lithium levels. [1]
Action: Monitor lithium [1].
7 Regulatory
Bulgaria/Eastern Europe: Traditional herbal medicine. Some Bulgarian research (quality debated) [1].
United States: Dietary supplement. Heavily marketed in sports nutrition [1].
WADA: Not prohibited but previously contained contaminants [1].
8 US supplement products
161
on-market products containing Tribulus (NIH DSLD)

Brands carrying Tribulus (114)

Click a brand to see its Tribulus products.
Or browse all 161 products in one list →
9 Frequently paired with
Silicon 82 sharedMagnesium 79 sharedZinc 57 sharedMaca 49 sharedCalcium 47 shared
Tribulus vs FenugreekTribulus vs Tongkat Ali
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Tribulus — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 15]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/tribulus/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Tribulus — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/tribulus/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Tribulus — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/tribulus/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG