Testosterone replacement therapy comes with a dizzying array of supplement recommendations, but most of them are completely unnecessary.
Nicholas Jeremy, a former IFBB pro bodybuilder and performance coach to thousands of men, recently broke down 30 common TRT supplements in a comprehensive tier ranking.
After two decades on testosterone and coaching experience with countless clients, he personally uses just one of these supplements year-round.
His final recommendation? Only six supplements are truly worth the investment for most men on TRT.
Jump to:
- The Aromatase Inhibitor Problem Most Men Get Wrong
- Liver Support That Actually Works
- Estrogen Management Supplements Fall Short
- The Hematocrit Solution Everyone Gets Wrong
- HCG Deserves Top-Tier Status For Fertility
- The Foundation: Vitamin D3 and Magnesium
- Why T3 Deserves The Lowest Ranking
- Melatonin Mistakes That Kill Results
- The Single Best Lipid-Improving Supplement
- The Gut Health Supplement Shotgun Approach
- The Unsexy Supplements That Move APOB
- NAD+ Reality Check
- CoQ10 Becomes Critical On TRT
- B Vitamins For Specific Genetic Issues
- The Underrated Sleep and Methylation Support
- The Six Non-Negotiable TRT Supplements
The Aromatase Inhibitor Problem Most Men Get Wrong
Aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex or anastrozole land squarely in C-tier for most users, though Jeremy acknowledges they’re S-tier for men who genuinely need them.
The problem? Most men don’t actually need an AI—they’re taking it because someone on a forum told them to.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Crushed estrogen is worse than high estrogen. Your joints are going to hurt, your libido that shit’s gone. Your mood, your wife’s going to hate you, your mans going to hate you, your friends are going to hate you, your workers are going to hate you and your lipids are going to be wrecked.
Before reaching for an AI, Jeremy recommends addressing root causes first. Your testosterone dose might be too high, you might be injecting too infrequently, or you might simply be carrying too much body fat.
More fat means more aromatase enzyme activity, which converts testosterone to estrogen. If an AI is genuinely necessary, start with a quarter to half milligram once or twice weekly and dose based on blood work—never symptoms alone.
Liver Support That Actually Works
TUDCA earns a solid A-tier rating for anyone running oral compounds or experiencing elevated liver enzymes.
Unlike milk thistle—which Jeremy dismisses as a “legacy supplement” that deserves F-tier—TUDCA works through bile flow mechanisms that actually protect liver function.
The recommended dosage is 500 to 1,000 mg daily during cycles, not after damage has already occurred. For men running clean TRT protocols with normal bloodwork, liver support becomes unnecessary.
Estrogen Management Supplements Fall Short
DIM and calcium D-glucarate both land in C-tier, overhyped and underpowered for actual estrogen management.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
DIM might move estrogen levels slightly, but it’s nowhere near as effective as addressing the actual problem. Calcium D-glucarate supports the clearance pathway, which matters if bloodwork shows a specific clearance issue—otherwise, it’s just another unnecessary expense.
The Hematocrit Solution Everyone Gets Wrong
Nattokinase earns B-tier status specifically for men on TRT dealing with elevated hematocrit.
The fibrin-breakdown angle is interesting, but the supporting data remains thin. This supplement shouldn’t replace the real fixes: blood donation, proper hydration, electrolyte balance, lower testosterone doses, split injection protocols, gut health optimization, and sleep apnea treatment.
HCG Deserves Top-Tier Status For Fertility
Human chorionic gonadotropin lands firmly in S-tier if fertility matters. It drops to A-tier if testicular atrophy isn’t a concern and children aren’t on the table.
HCG keeps the testes functioning, maintains size, and preserves intratesticular hormone production. Men planning to have children should have the HCG conversation before starting TRT—not two years later when panic sets in.
The Foundation: Vitamin D3 and Magnesium
Both vitamin D3 and magnesium glycinate earn S-tier rankings as fundamental supplements most people need.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Vitamin D3 costs pennies and most people run deficient. It supports testosterone production, immune function, mood, and insulin sensitivity. Pair it with K2 for proper delivery, test levels regularly, and target 50 to 70 ng/mL rather than guessing doses.
Magnesium has saved me so much. I have to put in S tier. Not selfishly, but this is probably the one supplement I take all year round, no matter what. If I was dying, bodybuilder, healthy, retired, I take it no matter what.
Magnesium glycinate supports sleep quality, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and muscle function. Jeremy takes 400 to 500 mg nightly and warns against magnesium oxide, which acts primarily as a laxative with minimal absorption.
Why T3 Deserves The Lowest Ranking
T3 thyroid hormone lands in F-tier for anyone with normal thyroid function.
Using T3 to drop body fat when thyroid function is normal suppresses natural production, creates dependency, and burns muscle tissue in the process. The only legitimate use case is diagnosed hypothyroidism managed by a physician with proper bloodwork.
Melatonin Mistakes That Kill Results
Melatonin earns B-tier status, potentially A-tier for some users—but most people dose it completely wrong.
The effective dose is 0.5 to 1 mg, not the 10 mg gummies that cause grogginess, vivid dreams, and eventually stop working altogether. Melatonin works with circadian rhythm, not as a sledgehammer sedative.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Better sleep solutions include morning sunlight exposure, dark sleeping environments, and eliminating phone use before bed.
The Single Best Lipid-Improving Supplement
Omega-3 fatty acids dominate S-tier as the most effective triglyceride supplement available.
The best triglyceride supplement that’s ever been on the market, period. Conversation done. You can’t argue with this.
Beyond lipid management, omega-3s reduce inflammation, support blood pressure, benefit joint health, and improve brain function. Take 2 to 4 grams daily of combined EPA and DHA—not just “fish oil.”
Most products hide behind vague “1,000 mg fish oil” claims while remaining massively underdosed in actual EPA and DHA content. This becomes especially critical for men on TRT dealing with elevated blood pressure and compromised lipid profiles.
The Gut Health Supplement Shotgun Approach
Probiotics, digestive enzymes, and L-glutamine all land in C-tier as band-aid solutions that rarely address underlying problems.
Random probiotic strains won’t fix gut issues when hundreds of different strains exist and most don’t survive digestion anyway. Fermented foods and fiber provide better results than supplemental probiotics without targeted testing.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Digestive enzymes create dependency rather than solving the real issue—eating too much food, eating too quickly, or consuming problematic foods. L-glutamine remains massively overhyped for muscle support when adequate protein intake already covers needs.
The Unsexy Supplements That Move APOB
Psyllium husk and berberine both earn A-tier rankings despite being relatively unknown and boring.
Psyllium husk binds bile acids, helps lower APOB (a critical cardiovascular marker), slows glucose absorption, and supports gut health. The dose is 5 to 10 grams daily, worked up gradually with plenty of water.
Berberine improves insulin sensitivity and APOB levels simultaneously. Take 500 mg two to three times daily with meals for 12-week cycles to avoid microbiome dependency.
NAD+ Reality Check
NAD+ supplementation lands in B-tier, though Jeremy admits wanting to rank it F-tier.
Oral NMN or NR forms deserve C-tier due to absorption problems and questionable benefits. Injectable NAD+ from legitimate clinics provides better results at 300 to 600 micrograms twice weekly, but it’s a long-term cellular investment rather than an immediate performance enhancer.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Don’t expect to feel anything—this supplement works behind the scenes over months and years.
CoQ10 Becomes Critical On TRT
CoQ10 earns A-tier status specifically for men on testosterone replacement therapy.
It supports heart health, blood pressure, mitochondrial function, and overall cardiovascular stress management. For men on statins, CoQ10 becomes mandatory—statins severely deplete CoQ10 levels, which explains the muscle aches many users experience.
Men over 40 should consider ubiquinol, the better-absorbed form. Take 100 to 200 mg daily with fat-containing meals for optimal absorption.
B Vitamins For Specific Genetic Issues
Vitamin B12 lands in B-tier generally, but jumps to S or A-tier for men with MTHFR gene variants or elevated homocysteine levels.
Only methylated forms work—avoid products containing folic acid. This becomes a dirt-cheap fix for a critical marker that rarely appears on standard blood panels from budget TRT clinics.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Underrated Sleep and Methylation Support
Glycine earns A-tier ranking as one of the most underrated supplements available.
It improves sleep quality, supports collagen production, and provides methylation pathway support as a glutathione precursor. Three grams before bed costs almost nothing and pairs excellently with creatine for methylation benefits.
The Six Non-Negotiable TRT Supplements
After eliminating everything unnecessary, Jeremy’s final recommendation includes just six core supplements for men on TRT:
- Vitamin D3 with K2 – Tested and dosed to individual levels
- Magnesium glycinate – Sleep, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity
- Omega-3 fatty acids – 2 to 4 grams of real EPA and DHA
- Psyllium husk fiber – APOB reduction, glucose control, gut health
- CoQ10 – Cardiovascular support under TRT stress
- Glycine – Sleep optimization and methylation support
If bloodwork reveals elevated homocysteine or MTHFR gene variants, methylated B vitamins jump to the front of the line as a seventh essential addition.
Everything else falls into C-tier or lower for good reason—they’re either unnecessary for most users, create dependency, or simply don’t deliver results worth the cost. This streamlined approach saves thousands of dollars annually while covering the actual nutritional gaps testosterone replacement therapy creates.
