Fizogen ON CYCLE Testosterone & Muscle Booster Review
“ON CYCLE is a cutting edge advancement in anabolic/androgenic enhancement consisting of a highly specialized fusion of compounds. This unique blend of designer agents is used to promote a heightened anabolic and androgenic activity in the body, which may dramatically increase muscle hypertrophy.”
As you can tell from the quote, Fizogen’s ON CYCLE is (allegedly) designed to increase both testosterone production and muscle mass. But does it really “promote a heightened anabolic and androgenic activity in the body” or “dramatically increase muscle hypertrophy”?
Looking at the label, the adjective “unique” certainly seems to fit:
90 Capsules
Serving Size 6 Capsules
Servings Per Container152-TEST-A-PV (Hybrid Pro-Testosterone Fusion) 1500mg
Premium Puncture Vine Extract, Premium Tongkat Ali Extract.PAFRI-MOO (Designer Anabolic/Adaptogenic Complex) 860mg
Pfaffia Paniculata Extract, Black Russian Moomiyo Extract, Ajuga Turkestanica Extract, Eastern Bloc Leuzea Carthamoides Extract.ORC-DION (Pro-Androgenic Infusion Agent) 300mg
Bovine Orchic Extract, Dioscorea Villosa Extract.BLAC-YIN (High Grade Pro-Androgenic Analog) 300mg
Yin Yang Huo Extract, Black Diamond Truffle Extract.GIDIA (G.I. Digestion Infusion Agent) 35mg
(Piperine Extract) Bioperine®, Lysophosphatidyl Choline.ML-DTX (Pro-Detox Fusion) 25mg
Milk Thistle Extract, Licorice Root Extract.DBA-BSP (DHT Blocking Agent) 24mg
B-Sitosterol, Saw Palmetto Extract, Pygeum Extract.
Sure, many of the usual suspects common to herbal test-boosters are here, but there are also a few…interesting additions as well. And, of course, they’re incorporated into some colorfully named proprietary blends. So let’s take ’em apart and see what ON CYCLE has to offer.
2-TEST-A-PV: “Puncture Vine” is the common name for Tribulus terrestris. Tribulus is a source of steroidal saponins such as protodioscin. Tribulus allegedly increases testosterone via stimulation of the pituitary gland to produce luteinizing hormone (LH), which, in turn, acts on the testes.
Tribulus‘ rep as a test-booster is based on older Bulgarian research that has not been replicated in the West. Although it may raise testosterone in animals, recent studies on humans have shown that Tribulus has no significant effects on testosterone or LH levels, body composition, or exercise performance.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) is used as an aphrodisiac in Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia. There are a number of published studies on it (most performed by the same research group) that demonstrate very high doses (up to 800 mg/kg) increase libido and sexual performance in rodents. As of this writing, I am not aware of any peer-reviewed human studies.
PAFRI-MOO: Pfaffia paniculata is known as “Suma” or “Brazilian Ginseng,” and is used by the indigenous peoples in the Amazon region as an energy tonic and aphrodisiac. Pfaffia contains various plant sterols, as well as 20-hydroxyecdysone—a reputed (but unproven) phytoecdysteroid anabolic. There are a couple of studies that show Pfaffia extracts increase sex hormones in mice and copulation in sexually sluggish rats, but there’s little on hormonal/sexual effects in humans.
Ajuga turkestanica is a source of turkesterone, a phytoecdysteroid that’s an analog of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Leuzea carthamoides is also a source of ecdysteroid compounds. Both Ajuca and Leuzea have reportedly been used as anabolics and adaptogens by Russian athletes, but there is little research to validate their use.
Moomiyo, or “Mumie” as it’s also known, is…difficult to describe. In essence, it’s a dark, resinous substance formed from the humification of plants, and scraped from cave walls and rock crevices. Mumie is used as an immune system enhancer and restorative in Russian folk medicine. Its origins practically ensure that there are going to be other non-plant materials incorporated too, such as dirt, spores and…well, I’ll let the following quote from a chemical analysis speak for itself:
“Hippuric acid coprostanol are urine/fecal indicators and suggest animal excrements play a role in Mumie formation…”
While there is some evidence that supplementing with humic compounds can improve the growth performance of pigs and cattle, I think I’ll pass on moomiyo…
ORC-DION: Dioscorea villosa is the botanical name for wild yam. Wild yam has been hanging on the fringes of the bodybuilding world for years, thanks to its diosgenin content. Diosgenin is used in the manufacture of synthetic human steroids, and Dioscorea is a particularly rich source of it. The necessary steps to convert diosgenin, however, occur only in the laboratory—not in the body. Diosgenin does have some medicinal uses, such as reducing serum cholesterol, but it’s not a muscle builder.
Bovine orchic extract is made from bull testicles, a.k.a. “rocky mountain oysters.” What’s the point in consuming an extract of “swinging sirloin?”
“Bovine Orchic Extract is known as a protomorphagenic compound. When protomorphogens are administered orally, radiographic studies have shown a localized accumulation and absorption of radio-isotopes at the same site of similar tissue ingested. So in theory, when ORC-DION is added to ON CYCLE, the testicles will synergistically achieve a forced absorption of the essential building blocks of testosterone.”
If this were true, it would be cool—but it ain’t. “Protomorphogen” isn’t a legit technical or scientific term. It’s one of those bogus, sciency-sounding words invented by an alternative health practitioner, Royal Lee. There may be some merit to consuming bull testicles (particularly when washed down with copious amounts of beer), but they won’t boost your testosterone levels, synergistically, or otherwise.
BLAC-YIN: Yin Yang Huo is the Chinese name for “Horny Goat Weed.” The primary active compound, icariin, is described as a “testosterone mimetic” in one, small Chinese (rodent) study. Horny goat weed’s reputed ability to enhance libido may be due to a different, non-hormonal mechanism, however. Several animal-based studies have found icariin is a PDE-5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) inhibitor, similar in function to Viagra. Thus, horny goat weed may actually “work” as an aphrodisiac, but whether it has any influence on testosterone levels in humans is unknown.
Black Diamond Truffle Extract contains androstenone, a volatile breakdown product of testosterone that’s marketed as a pheromone. I did not find any info to indicate it boosts testosterone levels in humans—or animals, for that matter.
GIDIA: Bioperine® is a standardized black pepper (piperine) extract produced by the Sabinsa Corporation. Bioperine/piperine has been shown to increase the absorption of certain nutrients taken with it. Lysophosphatidyl choline is a lipolysis product of phosphatidyl choline (lecithin). It’s been shown to increase carotenoid uptake by cultured cells.
ML-DTX: Milk thistle contains silymarin, which can protect the liver from damage by drugs, alcohol and other toxins/toxicants. Licorice root has been used to treat a number of ailments, such as inflammations, respiratory infections and stomach ulcers. Although they have little to do with testosterone per se, they’re useful therapeutic compounds. The problem here is dose: a useful dose of milk thistle extract is 120 mg 2–3 times a day; a useful dose of licorice root can go up to 5 g. The 25 mg you get in ON CYCLE is purely label decoration.
DBA-BSP: Beta-sitosterol, Pygeum africanum and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) have been successfully used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) via inhibition of 5-alpha reductase—the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. This blend, however, provides a dose well below a therapeutic amount. More label decoration.
So where does this leave us?
With a lot of unknowns, unfortunately. One problem is that there’s little hard data showing that any herbal testosterone boosters work as claimed in humans at typical supplemental doses. While there are a number of biologically active compounds present in medicinal plants and aphrodisiacs, none have ever been shown to be effective for increasing testosterone via independent, well-conducted, peer-reviewed clinical trials. Even user testimonials are based on subjective impressions and physical signs (such as increase in libido or oily skin), rather than direct measurements of testosterone/free testosterone.
A second problem lies with the specific extracts in ON CYCLE…they aren’t standardized for the compounds believed to be the active principles (i.e., protodioscin, icariin, etc.). “Premium” is simply a marketing buzzword.
Lastly, there are compounds in ON CYCLE that are clearly under-dosed, or based on wishful thinking vs. actual science. The product formula could definitely be improved.
These issues make it difficult for me to give ON CYCLE a “thumbs up.”
As noted above, extracts from traditional medicinal plants contain compounds capable of exerting physiological effects. I don’t doubt that—in sufficient amounts—they can be beneficial to people engaged in strenuous exercise. Many, for example, have antioxidant activity. Others may be adaptogens, or enhance nitric oxide-mediated reactions.
Thus, products such as ON CYCLE could be worth experimenting with, from a general health and/or performance perspective. When it comes to specific ad claims, however, potential users should always be aware that the burden of proof lies with the manufacturer/seller. In my humble opinion, if a company claims their product increases testosterone, lean body mass and performance, they should prove it before asking for your trust…and money.
Caveat emptor.
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