Are you planning to buy a D-Aspartic acid supplement? It is quite natural that you might be hoping for an increase in testosterone levels. Before making a final decision, it’s necessary to understand its effectiveness as many of the supplements available in the market are purely into fooling customers. In this article, we take you through what exactly is D-Aspartic acid and whether it really helps in boosting your testosterone levels.
What Is D-Aspartic Acid?
An amino acid, D-aspartic acid is a natural testosterone booster that aids in synthesizing testosterone in males. Due to this reason, D-aspartic acid has gained enormous popularity among bodybuilders and athletes.
D-aspartic acid works in such a way that it can increase the release of a hormone in the human brain and it eventually leads to the production of testosterone. The other benefits of D-aspartic acid include enhancing lean muscle mass growth, improving strength, and a rise in energy levels. Furthermore, as in the case of fenugreek seed, it boosts the production of the luteinizing hormone.
Does D-Aspartic Acid Really Boost Testosterone?
There are contrasting views on whether D-aspartic acid really boost testosterone. First, let’s go through studies that proved that taking a D-aspartic acid (DAA) supplement can cause a boost in testosterone levels.
- A 2009 study observed the effect of DAA in both human beings and rats. In the case of males, 23 of them were given DAA supplements for 12 days and there was another group of 20 men who took a placebo. In the case of rats, 10 of them were given either DAA supplements or a placebo for the same duration. At the end of the study, the researchers came across the finding that among both human beings and rats, the subjects who were given DAA supplements were found to have increased synthesis and release of testosterone.
- In another study, males who suffered from impaired sperm production were given D-aspartic acid for 90 days. When the results were released it was found that there was an increase in sperm count by two times i.e. a significant jump from 8.2 million sperm per ml to 16.5 million sperm per ml.
Now let’s take a look at a study that found that D-aspartic acid does not lead to an increase in testosterone levels.
- A 2017 study did a comparison between a group of 11 male athletes who were given D-aspartic acid (DAA) supplements and another batch of 11 who were not given the supplement. Both these groups went through 3-month long resistance training. When the results of the study were out, it was found that the group that was given DAA supplements did not benefit from any major increase in testosterone levels or strength.
DAA And Fertility
Though there is only limited evidence available, DAA was found to be effective among males who experienced infertility. A study conducted among 60 men revealed that consuming D-aspartic acid supplements for three months resulted in a significant increase in the number of sperms produced.
Foods That Contain D-Aspartic Acid
Do you know that certain foods that we consume in daily life contain D-aspartic acid? Some of them are beef with 2,809 milligrams per 3 ounces, hard-boiled egg containing 632 milligrams, chicken breast with 2,563 milligrams per 3 ounces, and oysters with 775 milligrams per 3 ounces.
Things To Keep In Mind
- Not many studies have been conducted regarding the safety of DAA. Also, note that it is yet to be determined whether it is safe to consume DAA along with other supplements or medication.
- Speak to your doctor before taking a DAA supplement, especially if you are taking other drugs.
- As in the case of any other drug, there are chances that you may have an allergic reaction to DAA. It can even happen that allergic reactions can turn out to be life-threatening.
- Researchers are still not certain about the long-term effects of consuming DAA. Thus, ambiguity still prevails about the prolonged use of the drug.
Conclusion
Hope the article offers valuable insights into whether D-aspartic acid really boost testosterone levels. As discussed in the earlier section, it is always better to consult with your medical practitioner before you start taking a D-aspartic acid supplement.