Pharmacy team member Tan is approached by customer Marcus, who wants to know more about testosterone boosters.

Marcus: Hi, I was hoping you could help. I’ve been feeling really tired lately, my workouts have been terrible and I just feel a bit flat. I watched a video online last week and it suggested my testosterone is low and went on to recommend a testosterone boosting product. Is this stuff any good?

Tan: Thanks for asking, because it’s definitely worth knowing a bit more before you spend money on anything like this. Can I ask, have you had your testosterone levels tested, or is this just based on how you’ve been feeling?

Marcus: Just how I’ve been feeling really, but the symptoms they described in the video matched mine pretty well.

Tan: I completely understand why that would feel convincing. The thing is, the symptoms linked to low testosterone – tiredness, low mood, not performing as well in the gym – can also be the result of a lot of other things too, such as poor sleep, stress, thyroid issues or low iron. There’s quite a bit of overlap, so it’s hard to know without blood tests.

Marcus: Okay, I see. But do these supplements actually do any good?

Tan: To be honest, the evidence is quite limited. Some ingredients – ashwagandha and zinc, for example – do have some research behind them, but the effects tend to be modest, and mainly in men who already have a deficiency in something specific.

For most healthy men with normal testosterone levels, there’s not much evidence they will make a meaningful difference.

Marcus: What about the safety side? I don’t want to do myself any harm.

Tan: For a healthy adult with no regular medication, a short course of something like this is unlikely to cause serious harm.

But, it’s worth knowing that some of these products contain ingredients like DHEA, a steroid hormone, and can have unpredictable effects on your body’s hormone levels. Some products have also been found to contain undeclared substances that are not on the labels.

It’s worth the pharmacist having a look at anything you’re considering taking, especially if you’re on any prescribed medication.

Marcus: I’m not on other medication. Is there something you would suggest instead?

Tan: The lifestyle factors that genuinely support testosterone are pretty well established. Sleep is probably the biggest one – testosterone production is closely tied to sleep quality, and if that’s not right, it affects everything else.

Resistance training helps, which it sounds like you’re doing. And if your diet is low in zinc or vitamin D, a standard supplement is more evidence-based to help than a specialist product.

Marcus: Okay, so if I get some better sleep and take a zinc and vitamin D supplement and if I’m still concerned about my symptoms, what then?

Tan: Then I would say the most useful thing is a GP appointment and some blood tests. If your testosterone level is low, it can be properly assessed and treated via the right clinical pathway. Would you like me to grab the pharmacist so you can have a quick chat about this?

Marcus: Yeah, actually. That would be good. Thanks for being straight with me.

Tan: Of course. That’s what we’re here for.