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04.04.2023

This is what happens when CrossFit athletes use Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris has no hormonal effects, but it does have an effect on the blood vessels, making them more flexible and theoretically increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. Does this mean that Tribulus terrestris supplementation is useful for athletes?

Study
Biologists from the University of Valladolid in Spain divided 30 CrossFit athletes into 2 groups. The athletes in one group took placebo capsules daily for 6 weeks, while the athletes in the other group took 770 milligrams of Tribulus terrestris extract daily. The researchers used a product from Quamtrax Pharmaceuticals.

Both groups trained identically and received similar nutritional advice.

Results
Just before the supplementation started and at the end of the supplementation period, the CrossFit athletes had to complete the same training routine. Tribulus terrestris supplementation had no effect on performance improvement. Both groups had progressed almost equally; supplementation therefore had no effect whatsoever.

Analyzes of the subjects' blood showed that supplementation had a statistically significant effect on almost no parameter. However, there were a few exceptions.

In the control group, the concentration of LDH increased during the 6 weeks that the experiment took place [1]. That points to muscle damage. In the group that had taken Tribulus terrestris, this increase had not occurred.

The same had happened with the concentration of the inflammatory factor CRP in the blood [2]. CRP increased during the experiment in the control group, but not in the Tribulus terrestris group.

Click on the table for a larger version.

Conclusion
The measured effects are subtle. Because the subjects performed equally well in both groups, we are inclined to answer the question of whether Tribulus terrestris is useful for athletes with a cautious but sincere 'no'. But of course we're just ignorant. The Spaniards give Tribulus terrestris the benefit of the doubt for now.

"Oral Tribulus terrestris supplementation of 770 mg/day in CrossFit trained men could slightly attenuate [...] muscle damage and inflammation", they write.

"Therefore, further studies are needed in this field to corroborate the effects of Tribulus terrestris on muscle performance/behavior in athletes training at a high intensity."

Source:
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 2;19(23):16158.

More:
Tribulus terrestris has no hormonal effects 11.10.2009
Not Tribulus terrestris, but Tribulus alatus 21.11.2008
Tribulus terrestris components don't convert to testosterone 14.11.2008

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