Podbit · Huberman Lab
Fadogia agrestis increases luteinizing hormone release from the pituitary, triggering the Leydig cells to produce more testosterone. Based on rat-to-human dose translation, 300 mg/day is the safe threshold; 600 mg three times per week is a practical alternative.
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At 25:03 · chapter starts 24:52
Fadogia agrestis is introduced as a plant genus that stimulates testosterone production by increasing LH release from the pituitary — acting upstream of the Leydig cells rather than mimicking LH directly. Huberman raises the toxicity concern he has heard about, and Gillett addresses it head-on: a rat study showed dose-dependent increases in the pro-inflammatory markers GGT and alkaline phosphatase at higher doses, but at the human-equivalent dose of 300 mg/day, no toxic effect was observed. He notes the important caveat that rodent toxicity doesn't always translate to humans, but recommends 300 mg/day as a conservative safe ceiling. A practical alternative he uses with his own patients is 600 mg taken three times per week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday), spreading out the exposure.
A rat study showed 300 mg/day equivalent is the dose with no toxicity for Fadogia agrestis; alternately 600 mg every other day or 3 times a week.
A physiologic starting dose is 100–120 mg/week of testosterone cypionate or enanthate, divided into every-other-day or three-times-weekly injections. Warning signs requiring close monitoring include acne, hair loss, mental status changes, lipid shifts, cardiovascular risks, fertility issues, and elevated hematocrit.
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