Tribulus Terrestris is a flowering plant with some interesting effects on the male body. It’s been shown to enhance libido and sexual function, and there’s a myth it also potently boosts testosterone (more on that in a minute).
Traditionally, TT has been used for reducing swelling and protecting urinary tract from inflammation.
But one question that has been popping up online is if Tribulus Terrestris can somehow burn fat. We’re sorry to break it to you but there’s no concrete evidence to show this to be the case.
There is some data that suggests TT may lower blood sugar in women. [3] Which in turn reduces food cravings and weight gain. It’s easy to confuse this with actual weight loss.
Notable Studies
Tribulus is generally well-known for its men’s health benefits. But for weight loss specifically? Very few human studies are available.
A 2021 single-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Nutrients looked into effects of TT on body composition in athletes.
So, what did they find? Not much, sadly! Tribulus supplementation didn’t impact performance nor muscle-to-fat ratio in a notable way. [1]
You may say “okay, but what about testosterone-boosting effects of tribulus? Doesn’t more testosterone equal more lean muscle mass, which means less body fat?”
You’d be right about the second part of the question. More testosterone does indeed equal more lean muscle mass, which means less body fat. The problem is, however, that tribulus isn’t actually proven to boost testosterone in the first place.
A sizeable chunk of evidence agrees with the study from above. A 2014 paper from Journal of Human Kinetics concluded that there’s no strong evidence for usefulness or safety of TT supplements for improving athletic performance. [2]
Yes, there’s a lot of hype around Tribulus online, but when you look at the evidence, it’s unconvincing. The roots of Tribulus Terrestris have been shown to improve libido and sexual performance without affecting testosterone. And fruits of the plant are healthy for prostate function.
Alternatives
That’s as good as it gets with TT. As far as weight loss goes, there are better herbs to look for. Such as…
- Ashwagandha: potent libido enhancer that reduces cortisol, a hormone known to induce weight gain. Ashwagandha has also been shown to directly enhance testosterone levels in men.
- Panax Ginseng: immune booster and natural men’s health enhancer that indirectly contributes to weight loss.
References
- Fernández-Lázaro D, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Del Valle Soto M, Adams DP, González-Bernal JJ, Seco-Calvo J. The Effects of 6 Weeks of Tribulus terrestris L. Supplementation on Body Composition, Hormonal Response, Perceived Exertion, and CrossFit® Performance: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 7;13(11):3969. doi: 10.3390/nu13113969. PMID: 34836225; PMCID: PMC8623187.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8623187/ - Pokrywka A, Obmiński Z, Malczewska-Lenczowska J, Fijałek Z, Turek-Lepa E, Grucza R. Insights into Supplements with Tribulus Terrestris used by Athletes. J Hum Kinet. 2014 Jul 8;41:99-105. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2014-0037. PMID: 25114736; PMCID: PMC4120469.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4120469/ - Samani NB, Jokar A, Soveid M, Heydari M, Mosavat SH. Efficacy of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Tribulus terrestris on the Serum Glucose and Lipid Profile of Women With Diabetes Mellitus: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2016 Oct;21(4):NP91-7. doi: 10.1177/2156587216650775. Epub 2016 Jun 2. PMID: 27255456.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27255456/
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