Men's Health Supplements

DHT Blockers & Hair Loss

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the primary androgen behind male pattern hair loss. While prescription finasteride remains the gold standard, natural DHT-blocking supplements use ingredients like saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, and beta-sitosterol to reduce 5-alpha reductase activity.

Key ingredients with research:

• Saw Palmetto: Multiple studies show modest 5-alpha reductase inhibition. Not as potent as finasteride but with fewer side effects. Look for standardized liposterolic extracts (85-95% fatty acids).
• Pumpkin Seed Oil: A 2014 RCT showed 40% hair count increase over 24 weeks at 400mg/day. One of the better-supported natural options.
• Beta-Sitosterol: Plant sterol that may complement saw palmetto. Limited standalone evidence for hair loss, but well-studied for prostate support.

What to watch for: Many hair supplements include biotin at megadoses (5,000-10,000mcg) despite no evidence that biotin helps hair loss unless you have a deficiency — which is rare. Don't pay a premium for high biotin counts.

Prostate Support

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects roughly half of men over 50. Prostate supplements typically combine saw palmetto with zinc, selenium, and lycopene.

Evidence-backed ingredients:

• Saw Palmetto (320mg/day): May reduce urinary symptoms of BPH. Look for CO2 or ethanol extracts standardized to fatty acids.
• Beta-Sitosterol (60-130mg/day): Consistent evidence for improving urinary flow and reducing residual volume in BPH.
• Pygeum (100-200mg/day): Bark extract with moderate evidence for BPH symptom relief.
• Lycopene (6-15mg/day): Antioxidant with observational evidence for prostate health. Not a treatment, but may be protective.

Testosterone Support

Natural testosterone boosters are among the most aggressively marketed — and most overpromised — supplement categories. Most ingredients have weak or conflicting evidence for raising testosterone in healthy men.

Ingredients with some support:

• Ashwagandha (600mg/day KSM-66): Several RCTs show modest testosterone increases (10-15%) in stressed or sedentary men. Less clear benefit in healthy, active men.
• Zinc (15-30mg/day): Only raises testosterone if you're deficient. Common deficiency in athletes and dieters. Excess zinc can impair copper absorption.
• Vitamin D (2000-5000 IU/day): Low vitamin D is associated with low testosterone, but supplementation only helps if you're deficient.

Overhyped ingredients: Tribulus terrestris, fenugreek, and D-aspartic acid have weak or inconsistent human data despite heavy marketing. Don't pay premium prices for these.