Tribulus terrestris's therapeutic uses
Tribulus terrestris, commonly known as puncture vine, is a natural plant product traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes, including enhancing sports performance, addressing infertility in both men and women, alleviating menopausal symptoms, and improving sexual dysfunction. Historically, it has been recognized in traditional medicine systems in regions such as China, India, and Greece, where it was employed for conditions like low libido and recovery after illness. Its popularity surged in the West, particularly after claims by Bulgarian Olympic athletes that it contributed to their success in sports.
Research indicates that Tribulus terrestris may influence levels of hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, which could potentially support its proposed benefits. However, scientific evidence regarding its efficacy, especially for sports performance enhancement, remains inconclusive, with some well-designed studies failing to demonstrate significant benefits. While there have been some positive findings related to sexual function, particularly in women, many claims about its benefits for athletic performance and other health conditions are still under scrutiny.
Generally, Tribulus terrestris is considered safe for short and long-term use, with no significant adverse effects reported in clinical trials. Nevertheless, it is advised that pregnant or nursing women avoid its use, as its hormonal effects could pose risks. Overall, while Tribulus terrestris is widely used for various health claims, the need for more rigorous scientific validation persists.
Tribulus terrestris's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Sports performance enhancement
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Infertility in men and women, menopausal symptoms, sexual dysfunction in men and women, hormone balance, cardiovascular health
Overview
Tribulus terrestris (commonly known as puncture vine, the bane of bicycles in areas where it grows) has a long history of traditional medical use in China, India, and Greece. It was recommended as a treatment for female infertility, impotence, and low libido in both men and women and to aid rejuvenation after a long illness. The herb became widely known in the West when medal-winning Bulgarian Olympic athletes claimed that tribulus had contributed to their success. However, there is little evidence to support the enhancement of sports performance.
Therapeutic Dosages
Tribulus terrestris is usually taken at a dose ranging from about 85 to 250 mg, three times daily with meals. Some tribulus products are standardized to provide 40 percent furostanol saponins and are taken at 115 mg of saponins two to three times daily.
Therapeutic Uses
Studies performed in Bulgaria are the primary source of most health claims regarding tribulus. According to this research, tribulus increases levels of various hormones in the steroid family, including testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and estrogen, and for this reason, improves sports performance, fertility in men and women, sexual function in men and women, and symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. However, the design of these studies appears to fall far short of modern scientific standards, and trustworthy scientific confirmation of these supposed benefits has been mixed in the twenty-first century. One well-designed study failed to find that tribulus affects male sex hormone levels in young men. One study published in 2020 found improvement in erectile function in men taking tribulus. A study published the same year indicated supplementation with tribulus did have a positive effect on women with hypoactive sexual disorder. However, studies in the 2020s on tribulus use in athletic performance have not shown positive results.
Other studies that are far too preliminary to prove anything at all are quoted as proving that tribulus is helpful for the treatment of angina, high cholesterol, diabetes, and muscle spasms and for the prevention of kidney stones.
A properly designed, though small, human study compared the effects of tribulus (3.21 milligrams [mg] per kilogram of body weight–for example, 292 mg daily for a two-hundred-pound man) against placebo on body composition and endurance among fifteen men engaged in resistance training. At the end of the eight-week study, the only significant difference between the treatment and placebo groups was that the placebo group showed greater gains in endurance.
Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled twenty-two athletes and followed them for five weeks. The dose used in this trial was fixed at 450 mg daily for all participants. No benefits were seen.
Safety Issues
Clinical trials or human research studies have noted no significant adverse effects. Animal studies performed in Bulgaria are said to have found the herb safe in both the short and long term. However, it is not clear whether these studies were performed in a way that allows their conclusions to be trusted.
Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use any tribulus product. If the herb works as described, it might alter hormones unsafely.
Bibliography
Antonio, J., et al. "The Effects of Tribulus terrestris on Body Composition and Exercise Performance in Resistance-Trained Males." International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, vol. 10, 2000, pp. 208-215.
Fernández-Lázaro, Diego, et al. "Effects of Tribulus terrestris L. on Sport and Health Biomarkers in Physically Active Adult Males: A Systematic Review." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 15, 2022, p. 9533, doi:10.3390/ijerph19159533.
Rogerson, Shane, et al. "The Effect of Five Weeks of Tribulus Terrestris Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Body Composition During Preseason Training in Elite Rugby League Players." Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 21, no. 2, 2007, pp. 348-353, doi.org/10.1519/R-18395.1. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
"Tribulus - LiverTox." NCBI, 8 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK583201. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
"Tribulus Terrestris." Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 12 May 2023, www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/tribulus-terrestris. Accessed 21 Sept. 2024.
Zhu, Wenyi, et al. "A Review of Traditional Pharmacological Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Tribulus Terrestris." Chemistry Central Journal, vol. 11, no. 1, 2017, p. 60, doi:10.1186/s13065-017-0289-x.