Exercise boost: Gencor’s fenugreek extract found to aid strength and body composition - RCT
The randomised, placebo controlled, double-blind study trial, which was funded by Gencor, was undertaken by researchers from the universities of Sydney and Queensland,
They sought to examine changes in muscular strength and endurance, body composition, functional threshold power, and sex hormones in response to an eight-week calisthenic programme with daily supplementation with Testofen (Fenugreek extract) or a placebo.
The trial featured 138 male participants, aged 25 to 47 years, who were split into three equal groups. Group one received 600 mg of Testofen each day; group two received 300 mg Testofen each day; and group three received a daily placebo.
Participants completed a whole-body resistance training programme three times a week and muscle strength and endurance, functional threshold power, body composition, and sex hormones were measured at baseline, weeks four and and eight.
The researchers found that Testofen at doses of 300 mg per day and 600 mg per day in conjunction with an effective exercise regime, had superior positive effects in lower body strength.
Furthermore, Testofen at a dose of 600 mg per day also showed decrease in body mass, body fat and an increase in lean mass at eight weeks.
The 600 mg group also demonstrated an increase in testosterone concentration from baseline to eight weeks.
The researchers wrote: “Both active groups (600 mg and 300 mg) significantly improved one-repetition leg press (P < .05) more than placebo.”
The same applied for maximal leg presses to fatigue.
Several benefits
The researchers added: “The 600 mg group was the only group to have a significant decrease in body mass, losing on average 1.2 kg over the 8 weeks (P < .05) compared with 0.0 kg and a 0.8 kg gain in the 300 mg and placebo groups, respectively.
“Along with this decrease in absolute body mass the 600 mg group also had a significant increase in percentage lean mass compared to 300 mg and placebo.
“Complementing an increase in benefits lean mass, the 600 mg group was the only group to have a significant decrease from baseline in percentage fat mass at −1.4%, with the 300 mg and placebo groups −0.46% and −0.49%, respectively,”
Gencor states that Testofen is frequently associated with supporting levels of free testosterone, healthy sexual desire and vitality, and reduction of normal symptoms associated with andropause in men.
“After years of research showing Testofen’s positive effects for men, we wanted to assess its efficacy on muscle strength and endurance,” said R.V. Venkatesh, Managing Director at Gencor Pacific.
“The results verified the powerful effects of Testofen and supported our initial hypothesis that participants would experience improvements in body composition, muscle performance and endurance.”
The paper concluded: “This study indicates that Testofen may be an effective ergogenic aid for individuals wanting to rapidly improve their exercise performance capabilities and body composition above and beyond that of calisthenic exercise alone.”
Chase Shryoc, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Gencor, added: “We are thrilled about the results of this study and look forward to incorporating Testofen into its next sports nutrition product.”
Source: Transitional Sports Medicine.
DOI: 10.1002/tsm2.153
“Testofen® (Fenugreek extract) increases strength and muscle mass compared to placebo in response to calisthenics. A randomized control trial”
Authors: Amanda J. Rao, et al.
