What do the states mean?+
- Solid: well studied, and it works.
- Half-there: the science is still forming.
- A ghost: almost no real studies.
- Hollow: well studied, and it does not work.
- A cord: the pair itself has been tested together.
- Air: nobody has ever tested this pair.
The full scoring method: How we score
Tribulus benefits: where the science stands
For testosterone and libido: no.
Testosterone and libido are what most people take Tribulus terrestris for, and the best studies disagree: one found it helps, six found no effect. As of August 2026, the verdicts on this page rest on evidence from 33 trials, drawn from the strongest research among the 47 papers on PubMed that mention Tribulus terrestris. Every claim is checked below.
47 papers on PubMed · evidence from 33 trials
Claim by claim
- Testosterone and libidoWell studied, and it does not work. The biggest review covered 10 trials.
- CholesterolThe science is still forming. Results lean positive, but there is not much yet.
- Erectile functionThe science is still forming. The best studies disagree.
- MoodAlmost no real studies. Nothing clear so far.
See 3 more scored claims+
- Muscle sorenessThe science is still forming. No real difference found so far.
- Strength and powerThe science is still forming. No real difference found so far.
- Weight and body fatThe science is still forming. No real difference found so far.
Pairs people ask about
The 13 sources we read
- 2000Randomized trial · 15 people · no clear effect on mood; no clear effect on strength and power; no clear effect on weight and body fatsource
- 2005Randomized trial · 21 people · no clear effect on testosterone and libidosource
- 2007Randomized trial · 22 people · no clear effect on strength and power; no clear effect on testosterone and libido; no clear effect on weight and body fatsource
- 2014Meta-analysis · no clear effect on testosterone and libidosource
- 2018Meta-analysis · pools 2 trials, 202 people · no clear effect on erectile functionsource
- 2021Randomized trial · 30 people · no clear effect on strength and power; benefit for testosterone and libido; no clear effect on weight and body fatsource
- 2021Randomized trial · 18 people · no clear effect on muscle sorenesssource
- 2022Meta-analysis · benefit for cholesterol; no clear effect on testosterone and libidosource
- 2022Randomized trial · 30 people · no clear effect on muscle sorenesssource
- 2023Crossover trial · 13 people · no clear effect on muscle sorenesssource
- 2024Meta-analysis · pools 4 trials · no clear effect on testosterone and libidosource
- 2025Meta-analysis · pools 5 trials · benefit for erectile function; no clear effect on testosterone and libidosource
- 2026Meta-analysis · pools 8 trials · moderate benefit for erectile functionsource
Chosen as the strongest evidence out of 47 papers on PubMed. Every row links to its paper.
Fair questions
Does Tribulus terrestris work?+
For testosterone and libido, the strongest evidence says no. The biggest review covered 10 trials.
Is Tribulus terrestris safe?+
No caution is recorded on this page. That is not a safety guarantee; the studies we read were not safety trials.
Why only 13 sources, when PubMed lists 47?+
The 47 is every paper that mentions Tribulus terrestris in any way: animal studies, blood measurements, papers where it is a side note. The strongest sources are combined reviews, and each one already gathers every trial its authors could find. Our 13 cover 33 trials between them, and every one is linked above. Both counts are measured, not estimated.