articolo sul tribulus.
questo articolo lo avevo nell'hard disk, manco mi ricordavo di averlo , è in inglese
" Beyond Tribulus:
the Truth Uncovered!
By Derek Cornelius
For those of you that don't know by now, truth is hard to come
by in this industry. Sadly, it is clouded and hidden by hype, lies and
myths. Because companies and the people that run them are enslaved to the
"almighty dollar", integrity is tossed to the wind and replaced by pure and
simple dishonesty. This unfortunate situation pervades nearly every aspect
of sports nutrition and fitness. From advertisements to articles to the
magazines themselves, our industry has fallen and it can't seem to get up!
What is the answer you say? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but their
just isn't any simple solution. That doesn't mean though that there is
nothing we can do. For my part, I have committed to always write and speak
the truth even when the information may not be popular or financially
rewarding. Your part must consist of critically evaluating everything you
hear and read in this industry. Take the advice of an old, wise man I once
knew. He said, "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear." If
you heed this warning in regards to this industry you should fair quite
well. When you come across hype and lies, my recommendation is to ignore the
information and refuse to buy the product. This is greatest power you can
wield as a consumer. You might be wondering how this has anything to do with
Tribulus-and rightly so-but our good friend Tribulus has experienced a
terrible injustice due exactly to what I have described above. In this
article, I will elucidate the truth about Tribulus and, in so doing, will
expose a whole new beautiful realm.the realm of furostanolic saponins.
About a year ago, I received 22 letters in a two-month time span
regarding the efficacy of the herb Tribulus (Terrestris) as an ergogenic
substance. Tribulus, also known as puncture vine, has been sold in the
sports nutrition industry for several years as a means of raising
testosterone levels. Until a year ago, this herb never really interested me,
as I didn't really believe it to be all that effective. Strangely enough,
the 22 letters sparked my interest. Some people experienced no results
whatsoever; while others swore that it helped them to some extent in their
pursuit of physical fitness. To gain a better understanding, I started
vigorously researching this humble herb. The first thing I pursued was the
pharmacologically active component or components of our friend Tribulus.
Without knowing this crucial information, there could be no way of
effectively standardizing this herb. One batch might have high
concentrations of the critical compounds and another might have little or
none.how would you know? After a little research, I found that the important
substances in Tribulus Terrestris are what are known as furostanolic
saponins. With this information, I had a starting point to understand and
uncover the truth about our herbal friend.
The first thing that I accomplished with my newfound knowledge
was to examine the various products on the market to see what quantities of
these saponins they contained. What I discovered literally shocked me! I
didn't find one product that actually standardized the Tribulus to
furostanolic saponins. A few products claimed that they contained 40%
furostanolic saponins but, upon testing, they were shown to have only
negligible amounts of these active ingredients. From all of my research and
talking to various manufacturers of Tribulus extract, I found that none of
them standardized their product for furostanolic saponins. At best, they
standardized the Tribulus simply for saponins. The problem is that Tribulus
contains a fairly large proportion of spirostanolic saponins. An even
further problem is that many products actually contained 40% saponins but
had less than 5% furostanolic saponins. The only two explanations for this
phenomenon are that the Tribulus was of extremely poor quality or that the
manufacturer simply spiked the product with extremely CHEAP saponins like
those found in soy. Why would they do this you say? Well, these
manufacturers aren't idiots and they know that it is extremely difficult to
accurately test for furostanolic saponins. Furthermore, they know that most
U.S. testing labs only test for total saponins via a simple, crude testing
method. It is therefore highly probable that many Tribulus Terrestris
products currently on the market are nothing more than garbage for their
intended purpose. Furostanolic saponins have specific biological properties
while other saponins including the spirostanolic type have not been shown to
exhibit the same potent effects.
Because the manufacturers of Tribulus extract produce such poor
quality products, it is no wonder that nearly all of the Tribulus products
on the market are extremely under dosed and ineffective. When Tribulus does
happen to be effective for someone, it is most likely attributable to an
unusually high amount of furostanolic saponins in that particular bottle
combined with an unusually sensitive person. The reason I say that the
person must be quite sensitive to these furostanolic saponins is that from
my research I have not found one product on the market which has enough
furostanolic saponins in it to work even marginally effective in a majority
of people. Available research demonstrates that a person should consume
between 500mg and 1000mg of these special saponins in order to consistently
elicit the proper response. To demonstrate the sorry state of affairs
regarding this product, let me use the example of one product on the market
called Tribex 500 produced by Biotest. The fellows at Biotest claim that
they have the most potent Tribulus extract on the market and that their
product is the only one that is truly effective. What is interesting is that
according to their published information, their Tribex 500 contains only
20mg of furostanolic saponins. You do the math--you would have to take 25
capsules per day to get the required effect. What is interesting is that in
another report on their site, they allude to the fact that you need high
dosages of these saponins for a true effect. What is going on? Again, the
problem is a dearth of quality extracts. Because these supplement companies
are only interested in the almighty dollar, they throw their research into
the wind and develop a product that they know is under dosed. Because of all
of these problems, I must recommend against buying ANY Tribulus product on
the market right now. I am hoping that printing truthful information like
this, though, will eventually transform this industry for the better!
Are there any solutions to this dilemma? If indeed furostanolic
saponins are efficacious compounds, it is a shame that a quality product
cannot be easily obtained. Well, good news is forthcoming! I have been
working on solving this issue for the last year and have a solution is that
is quite amazing. If we are fortunate, there should be several companies
that actually produce quality furostanolic saponin products in the near
future. I attempted to solve our dilemma with a two-pronged approach.
Firstly, I worked with the best extract manufacturers in the world to
develop a Tribulus Terrestris product that is standardized for a minimum of
40% furostanolic saponins. Secondly, I researched all of the available
literature to see if there were any other plants that contained high amounts
of these saponins. Not only did I find two other plants, which contained
these saponins in high quantities (much higher than in Tribulus), but also I
discovered a wealth of research relating to the biological activity of the
specific furostanolic saponins in these plants.
The first plant that I discovered which is quite interesting is
Fenugreek. This herb is rather common and has been used in many cultures for
its health-promoting benefits. A marvelous fact is that nearly all of the
saponins in this herb are of the furostanolic type. I contacted a few
extract manufacturers and was able to quickly develop a product that
contained over 75% furostanolic saponins. Now, remember that Biotest claims
to have the most potent Tribulus extract and according to their published
results it only contains, at most, 20% furostanolic saponins! With a 75%
standardized extract, it would be considerably easier to obtain the required
500mg to 1000mg per day of furostanolic saponins. While Tribulus has been
studied as a method for increasing testosterone, fenugreek has been
conclusively shown to have potent appetite-increasing effects. Although
different effects have been studied and noted for Tribulus and Fenugreek, I
have to wonder if there would truly be any real-world differences in the
actions of their furostanolic saponins. Research on the saponins of each
plant shows some chemical differences but they appear to be mostly similar
in their chemical makeup.
Another plant that I stumbled upon in my literature review was a
common plant called Dioscorea deltodea. Believe it or not, this plant is
actually cultivated for its high concentration of furostanolic saponins.
These saponins are extracted and then hydrolyzed into what is known as
Diosgenin. You might recognize this compound as the starting material for
many steroids. Once I knew that it contained the required compounds, I then
began searching for research as to it biological properties. What I found is
truly amazing. Russia has not only studied the furostanolic saponins from
this plant but has also developed a drug. The specific indications for this
drug are as an immunomodulator, an ovulation stimulator, and as an ANABOLIC
agent. In one study, the anabolic effects were as strong as a very high
dosage of testosterone propionate! Again, I am not convinced that this
effect is exclusive to just Dioscorea saponins since the predominant
saponins are the same as those contained in Fenugreek and Tribulus. As with
the studies done on Tribulus and Fenugreek, the effective dosage of these
saponins was on the order of 500mg to 1000mg per day. Fortunately, like
Fenugreek, I was able to find a manufacturer that could consistently produce
a standardized minimum of 75% furostanolic Dioscorea saponins.
Hopefully, this article has given you hope that all is not lost
concerning Tribulus. It is truly a crime when dishonest and careless
companies and individuals malign the reputation of a truly beneficial
product like this. Fortunately, a new era is about to unfold which will not
only redeem the reputation of Tribulus but also bring Fenugreek and
Dioscorea into their proper glory. Again, never buy a product that will not
allow you to obtain at least 500mg of furostanolic saponins per day. As long
as you take this minimal amount, you can expect to have some fairly
rewarding results-increased testosterone production, increased appetite and
increased anabolic potential!"
" Beyond Tribulus:
the Truth Uncovered!
By Derek Cornelius
For those of you that don't know by now, truth is hard to come
by in this industry. Sadly, it is clouded and hidden by hype, lies and
myths. Because companies and the people that run them are enslaved to the
"almighty dollar", integrity is tossed to the wind and replaced by pure and
simple dishonesty. This unfortunate situation pervades nearly every aspect
of sports nutrition and fitness. From advertisements to articles to the
magazines themselves, our industry has fallen and it can't seem to get up!
What is the answer you say? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but their
just isn't any simple solution. That doesn't mean though that there is
nothing we can do. For my part, I have committed to always write and speak
the truth even when the information may not be popular or financially
rewarding. Your part must consist of critically evaluating everything you
hear and read in this industry. Take the advice of an old, wise man I once
knew. He said, "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear." If
you heed this warning in regards to this industry you should fair quite
well. When you come across hype and lies, my recommendation is to ignore the
information and refuse to buy the product. This is greatest power you can
wield as a consumer. You might be wondering how this has anything to do with
Tribulus-and rightly so-but our good friend Tribulus has experienced a
terrible injustice due exactly to what I have described above. In this
article, I will elucidate the truth about Tribulus and, in so doing, will
expose a whole new beautiful realm.the realm of furostanolic saponins.
About a year ago, I received 22 letters in a two-month time span
regarding the efficacy of the herb Tribulus (Terrestris) as an ergogenic
substance. Tribulus, also known as puncture vine, has been sold in the
sports nutrition industry for several years as a means of raising
testosterone levels. Until a year ago, this herb never really interested me,
as I didn't really believe it to be all that effective. Strangely enough,
the 22 letters sparked my interest. Some people experienced no results
whatsoever; while others swore that it helped them to some extent in their
pursuit of physical fitness. To gain a better understanding, I started
vigorously researching this humble herb. The first thing I pursued was the
pharmacologically active component or components of our friend Tribulus.
Without knowing this crucial information, there could be no way of
effectively standardizing this herb. One batch might have high
concentrations of the critical compounds and another might have little or
none.how would you know? After a little research, I found that the important
substances in Tribulus Terrestris are what are known as furostanolic
saponins. With this information, I had a starting point to understand and
uncover the truth about our herbal friend.
The first thing that I accomplished with my newfound knowledge
was to examine the various products on the market to see what quantities of
these saponins they contained. What I discovered literally shocked me! I
didn't find one product that actually standardized the Tribulus to
furostanolic saponins. A few products claimed that they contained 40%
furostanolic saponins but, upon testing, they were shown to have only
negligible amounts of these active ingredients. From all of my research and
talking to various manufacturers of Tribulus extract, I found that none of
them standardized their product for furostanolic saponins. At best, they
standardized the Tribulus simply for saponins. The problem is that Tribulus
contains a fairly large proportion of spirostanolic saponins. An even
further problem is that many products actually contained 40% saponins but
had less than 5% furostanolic saponins. The only two explanations for this
phenomenon are that the Tribulus was of extremely poor quality or that the
manufacturer simply spiked the product with extremely CHEAP saponins like
those found in soy. Why would they do this you say? Well, these
manufacturers aren't idiots and they know that it is extremely difficult to
accurately test for furostanolic saponins. Furthermore, they know that most
U.S. testing labs only test for total saponins via a simple, crude testing
method. It is therefore highly probable that many Tribulus Terrestris
products currently on the market are nothing more than garbage for their
intended purpose. Furostanolic saponins have specific biological properties
while other saponins including the spirostanolic type have not been shown to
exhibit the same potent effects.
Because the manufacturers of Tribulus extract produce such poor
quality products, it is no wonder that nearly all of the Tribulus products
on the market are extremely under dosed and ineffective. When Tribulus does
happen to be effective for someone, it is most likely attributable to an
unusually high amount of furostanolic saponins in that particular bottle
combined with an unusually sensitive person. The reason I say that the
person must be quite sensitive to these furostanolic saponins is that from
my research I have not found one product on the market which has enough
furostanolic saponins in it to work even marginally effective in a majority
of people. Available research demonstrates that a person should consume
between 500mg and 1000mg of these special saponins in order to consistently
elicit the proper response. To demonstrate the sorry state of affairs
regarding this product, let me use the example of one product on the market
called Tribex 500 produced by Biotest. The fellows at Biotest claim that
they have the most potent Tribulus extract on the market and that their
product is the only one that is truly effective. What is interesting is that
according to their published information, their Tribex 500 contains only
20mg of furostanolic saponins. You do the math--you would have to take 25
capsules per day to get the required effect. What is interesting is that in
another report on their site, they allude to the fact that you need high
dosages of these saponins for a true effect. What is going on? Again, the
problem is a dearth of quality extracts. Because these supplement companies
are only interested in the almighty dollar, they throw their research into
the wind and develop a product that they know is under dosed. Because of all
of these problems, I must recommend against buying ANY Tribulus product on
the market right now. I am hoping that printing truthful information like
this, though, will eventually transform this industry for the better!
Are there any solutions to this dilemma? If indeed furostanolic
saponins are efficacious compounds, it is a shame that a quality product
cannot be easily obtained. Well, good news is forthcoming! I have been
working on solving this issue for the last year and have a solution is that
is quite amazing. If we are fortunate, there should be several companies
that actually produce quality furostanolic saponin products in the near
future. I attempted to solve our dilemma with a two-pronged approach.
Firstly, I worked with the best extract manufacturers in the world to
develop a Tribulus Terrestris product that is standardized for a minimum of
40% furostanolic saponins. Secondly, I researched all of the available
literature to see if there were any other plants that contained high amounts
of these saponins. Not only did I find two other plants, which contained
these saponins in high quantities (much higher than in Tribulus), but also I
discovered a wealth of research relating to the biological activity of the
specific furostanolic saponins in these plants.
The first plant that I discovered which is quite interesting is
Fenugreek. This herb is rather common and has been used in many cultures for
its health-promoting benefits. A marvelous fact is that nearly all of the
saponins in this herb are of the furostanolic type. I contacted a few
extract manufacturers and was able to quickly develop a product that
contained over 75% furostanolic saponins. Now, remember that Biotest claims
to have the most potent Tribulus extract and according to their published
results it only contains, at most, 20% furostanolic saponins! With a 75%
standardized extract, it would be considerably easier to obtain the required
500mg to 1000mg per day of furostanolic saponins. While Tribulus has been
studied as a method for increasing testosterone, fenugreek has been
conclusively shown to have potent appetite-increasing effects. Although
different effects have been studied and noted for Tribulus and Fenugreek, I
have to wonder if there would truly be any real-world differences in the
actions of their furostanolic saponins. Research on the saponins of each
plant shows some chemical differences but they appear to be mostly similar
in their chemical makeup.
Another plant that I stumbled upon in my literature review was a
common plant called Dioscorea deltodea. Believe it or not, this plant is
actually cultivated for its high concentration of furostanolic saponins.
These saponins are extracted and then hydrolyzed into what is known as
Diosgenin. You might recognize this compound as the starting material for
many steroids. Once I knew that it contained the required compounds, I then
began searching for research as to it biological properties. What I found is
truly amazing. Russia has not only studied the furostanolic saponins from
this plant but has also developed a drug. The specific indications for this
drug are as an immunomodulator, an ovulation stimulator, and as an ANABOLIC
agent. In one study, the anabolic effects were as strong as a very high
dosage of testosterone propionate! Again, I am not convinced that this
effect is exclusive to just Dioscorea saponins since the predominant
saponins are the same as those contained in Fenugreek and Tribulus. As with
the studies done on Tribulus and Fenugreek, the effective dosage of these
saponins was on the order of 500mg to 1000mg per day. Fortunately, like
Fenugreek, I was able to find a manufacturer that could consistently produce
a standardized minimum of 75% furostanolic Dioscorea saponins.
Hopefully, this article has given you hope that all is not lost
concerning Tribulus. It is truly a crime when dishonest and careless
companies and individuals malign the reputation of a truly beneficial
product like this. Fortunately, a new era is about to unfold which will not
only redeem the reputation of Tribulus but also bring Fenugreek and
Dioscorea into their proper glory. Again, never buy a product that will not
allow you to obtain at least 500mg of furostanolic saponins per day. As long
as you take this minimal amount, you can expect to have some fairly
rewarding results-increased testosterone production, increased appetite and
increased anabolic potential!"
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