TesTotal Review: A Budget Test Booster, Dose by Dose

TesTotal pros and cons

TesTotal at a glance

What is TesTotal?

TesTotal is sold by Health Nutrition. Each two-capsule serving contains D-aspartic acid (1,176 mg), vitamin D3 (26 mcg, or 1,040 IU), magnesium (100 mg, as oxide and citrate), zinc (5 mg), vitamin B6 (10 mg), vitamin K1 (10 mcg), fenugreek seed extract (20 mg), red ginseng root extract (20 mg), nettle root extract (20 mg), boron citrate (4 mg, providing about 0.2 mg of boron) and BioPerine black pepper extract (2.5 mg).

Take two capsules a day, about 20 minutes before breakfast.

TesTotal ingredients and doses

We grade TesTotal on the same scale as every other product. The table compares each dose with the research.

D-aspartic acid (1,176 mg)

The case for D-aspartic acid rests largely on a 2009 Italian study in which 23 men taking about 3.1 g a day for 12 days saw testosterone rise by 42% from baseline. Trials in men who already lift weights were less encouraging: 3 g a day for four weeks changed nothing, and 6 g a day for two weeks lowered testosterone. The fair reading is that DAA may help men starting from a low baseline and does little for young, trained men.

At 1,176 mg, TesTotal falls well below the about 2.6 to 3.1 g a day used in the research.

Vitamin D3 (26 mcg)

Trials show a testosterone benefit only in men who start out deficient. Since most people in northern climates are low for part of the year, a daily 2,000 to 4,000 IU covers the gap without exceeding the 4,000 IU upper limit.

TesTotal provides 26 mcg, about 173% of the daily requirement.

Magnesium (100 mg)

Low magnesium intake is common, particularly in people who sweat a lot. In a four-week trial, men taking about 10 mg per kilogram of body weight saw free and total testosterone rise, more so in those who trained. Most supplements contain far less than that, so magnesium is best thought of as filling a dietary gap rather than a testosterone driver.

TesTotal provides 100 mg, about 24% of the daily requirement.

Zinc (5 mg)

Zinc is essential for making testosterone, and men who are deficient see it fall. Restoring zinc in deficient men raises testosterone again, but extra zinc does nothing measurable for men who already get enough. Men need 11 mg a day, and the safe upper limit is 40 mg.

TesTotal provides 5 mg, about 45% of the daily requirement.

Vitamin B6 (10 mg)

Most adults get enough vitamin B6 from food (1.3 to 1.7 mg a day). More is not better: in 2023 the European Food Safety Authority set a daily upper limit of 12 mg because long-term high intake can damage nerves, although the US limit remains 100 mg.

TesTotal provides 10 mg, about 588% of the daily requirement.

Fenugreek extract (20 mg)

Fenugreek is one of the better supported botanicals for male libido. The clinical extracts were taken at around 600 mg a day for eight to twelve weeks, and a 2020 meta-analysis of trials reported a meaningful effect on total testosterone.

At 20 mg, TesTotal falls well below the 500 to 600 mg a day of a standardized seed extract used in the research.

Where TesTotal does its job

TesTotal's most useful ingredients are its nutrients. Vitamin D, zinc and magnesium only seem to matter for testosterone when you are short of them, but shortfalls are common, especially of vitamin D in winter, so covering them is a sensible foundation. Its 1,040 IU of vitamin D3 is above the daily requirement, its 10 mg of vitamin B6 is a generous amount within the European upper limit of 12 mg, and its magnesium and zinc top up what you get from food.

Where the doses are lighter

D-aspartic acid has been studied at 2.6 to 3.1 g a day, and even then the results were mixed: a small 2009 study reported a rise in testosterone after 12 days, while studies in men who lift weights found no change. TesTotal's 1,176 mg is less than half of the research amount.

Its fenugreek, red ginseng and nettle root are 20 mg each, against 200 to 600 mg in the studies, and its boron citrate provides about 0.2 mg of boron, far below the 6 to 10 mg studied. Treat these as minor supporting ingredients.

What results to expect

TesTotal is most likely to help men who are low in vitamin D, zinc or magnesium, and correcting a shortfall takes several weeks to show. It will not raise normal testosterone far above the normal range. Sleep, training, body weight and alcohol have a bigger effect on testosterone than any supplement, and if you have symptoms of low testosterone, it is worth asking your doctor for a blood test.

TesTotal side effects

TesTotal is stimulant-free and well tolerated by most men. Magnesium oxide can loosen stools in some people. If you take other supplements, check your total vitamin D, zinc and vitamin B6. Speak to your doctor first if you have a medical condition, take regular medication or are being treated for low testosterone.

TesTotal price and guarantee

One month (60 capsules) costs $44.99. The three-month supply costs $89.98, or $29.99 a bottle, and the five-month supply costs $134.97, or $26.99 a bottle, about 90 cents a day. The 100-day money-back guarantee applies to purchases of more than one month's supply.

TesTotal vs Testogen Ultimate

Both are made by Health Nutrition. Testogen Ultimate is the stronger formula: 2,025 mg of D-aspartic acid, 200 mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha, 4,000 IU of vitamin D3, 25 mg of zinc and 5 mg of boron, with a 100-day money-back guarantee, at $69.99 a bottle or $41.99 on the five-month pack. TesTotal costs about two thirds as much and covers the basics.

Choose Testogen for research-level doses, and TesTotal if price matters most. See our Testogen review and our best testosterone boosters ranking.

TesTotal vs Testogen, MDrive and Roman

Our scores

How we score: formula and dosing 35%, ingredient evidence 25%, label transparency 20%, value and terms 20%. Read our rating method.

Why we recommend TesTotal

Highest rated test booster for value

Why we recommend TesTotal

• Vitamin D3, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B6 with 1,176 mg of D-aspartic acid in two capsules
• Every dose on the label, and stimulant-free
• About 90 cents a day on the five-month pack
• 100-day money-back guarantee on multi-month orders

Learn more at testotal.com →