Can you really tell everything from a blood test for TRT?

What did @toughertogether actually say?

The creator described getting a blood test that returned a testosterone level of "50 nanograms of decibear" — almost certainly meaning 50 ng/dL — which prompted them to "fully reset and rebuild from zero." They then credited a supplement containing Tongkat Ali, DHEA, and maca root for helping them feel normal again, and finished by promoting a specific UK-sold brand for £13. This is part personal story, part product pitch.

To be fair, the opening advice is genuinely solid. Telling men to actually get their testosterone checked is reasonable, and low awareness of hormone levels is a real problem. The rest of the video, though, is where things get complicated — a mix of garbled terminology, plausible supplement science, and what looks a lot like a paid promotion dressed up as a discovery.

Does the science back this up?

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) has real evidence behind it, but the effect sizes are modest and the context matters enormously. It is not a substitute for clinical treatment of hypogonadism.

A 2021 randomised controlled trial by Leisegang et al. in Andrologia found that Tongkat Ali supplementation produced statistically significant increases in free testosterone in men with late-onset hypogonadism, but the absolute gains were small. A 2014 pilot study by Tambi et al. in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found improvements in testosterone and physical function in stressed but otherwise healthy men. Neither study involved men with testosterone as critically low as 50 ng/dL.

DHEA supplementation has mixed evidence. The 2006 NEJM DHEA trial by Nair et al. found no significant benefit in body composition or physical performance in older adults. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has some evidence for libido and energy perception, but a 2010 Cochrane-style review by Shin et al. in BMC Complementary Medicine found the evidence base too limited to draw firm conclusions on testosterone specifically.

The honest summary: these ingredients are not useless, but at 50 ng/dL, a supplement stack is not the appropriate clinical response.

What did they get wrong (or right)?

The creator got the core message right: most men have no idea what their testosterone levels are, and routine testing is underutilised. That part deserves credit.

What they got wrong is more significant. A testosterone level of 50 ng/dL is clinically severe hypogonadism. The normal adult male range sits between roughly 300 and 1000 ng/dL, according to the American Urological Association. At 50 ng/dL, the standard of care is physician-supervised hormone replacement therapy, not a £13 supplement from TikTok Shop. Recommending over-the-counter supplements for that level of deficiency is not just inaccurate — it could lead someone to delay treatment they actually need.

The product framing also raises flags. Describing it as a "mysterious thing" they learned about from Joe Rogan, then linking to buy it, is a recognisable influencer marketing pattern. Whether or not the product works to some degree, the narrative around it is constructed, not spontaneous.

The terminology errors — "nanograms of decibear," "Tonga Ali," "Dogea," "Tuckestera," "Macaroon" — suggest limited familiarity with the subject, which matters when people are making health decisions based on what they hear.

What should you actually know?

If you think your testosterone might be low, getting a blood test is the right first step. The creator is correct there. But what you do with the result matters.

• A total testosterone below 300 ng/dL is generally considered low by most clinical guidelines, including those from the Endocrine Society (Bhasin et al., 2018, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism). A result of 50 ng/dL is not a supplements situation.
• Tongkat Ali and maca may have modest effects in men with low-normal or mildly reduced testosterone, but the evidence does not support using them as primary treatment for clinically diagnosed hypogonadism.
• DHEA is a prescription medication in some countries. It is available over the counter in the US but regulated elsewhere. Its effects on testosterone in healthy adults are not reliably meaningful.
• If a creator is linking to a product at the end of a personal health story, assume it is a paid promotion until proven otherwise. The UK ASA requires disclosure of paid promotions, and the FTC has similar rules in the US.

Talk to a doctor before self-treating any hormonal condition. A telehealth provider can order labs and review results with you without requiring an in-person visit.