Fadogia Agrestis: The Testosterone Supplement Huberman Made Famous (And Why Momentous Dropped It)

Few supplements have gone from obscurity to mainstream attention as quickly as fadogia agrestis, a West African shrub used in traditional medicine. After it was discussed on the Huberman Lab podcast as part of a testosterone-support stack with tongkat ali, it drew wide attention, and Momentous, a supplement brand that partnered with Andrew Huberman, began selling its own version in 2022.^[1] The problem is that the evidence behind it is thin, and the few animal studies that exist include findings that deserve caution.

How Fadogia Agrestis Became Famous

Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist and podcast host, has discussed tongkat ali and fadogia agrestis as options for testosterone support, including in an episode with Dr. Kyle Gillett (we break down his full Huberman testosterone protocol in a separate guide). Momentous, a supplement brand that partnered with Huberman, started selling a fadogia product in 2022 after reviewing early research, and it became a major part of its product portfolio.^[1]

What many consumers did not realize is that the research behind the testosterone claim consisted of small animal studies, mostly in rats.

What the Animal Studies Actually Show

The study most often cited for the testosterone claim was published in 2005. Researchers gave male rats an aqueous extract of the plant's stem at 18, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for several days. Serum testosterone increased in all dose groups, in a pattern suggestive of dose-dependence, and the rats showed more sexual behavior.^[2] That is a result in rats, not men, over a few days.

The same research group then dosed rats for 28 days at the same three levels. At every dose they reported significant changes in several testicular function indices, including testes-to-body-weight ratio, testicular cholesterol and several enzyme activities. The authors described these changes as indications of adverse effects on testicular function. Animals recovered on some indices, mainly at the 18 mg/kg dose, and the authors concluded that this dose did not appear to cause permanent toxicity.^[3]

A third rat study using the same dosing for 28 days looked at the liver and kidney. It reported no deaths, no clinical toxicity symptoms and no visible organ swelling or shrinkage, but it did report altered enzyme activities and increased serum malondialdehyde, and the authors suggested disruption of cell membranes in the liver and kidney.^[4]

Why Momentous Discontinued Fadogia

Momentous announced it was discontinuing fadogia in 2024. According to a reported account in Inc., the company's head of science raised doubts about the supplement's efficacy during a quarterly product review in early 2024, and the CEO decided to stop selling it.^[1] In its own help-center statement, Momentous said the research on fadogia's efficacy "has not progressed far enough or fast enough" to meet its standards, and that it would continue selling tongkat ali, which it described as having stronger research.^[5]

It is worth being precise here: the reason the company gave was about the strength of the evidence for benefit, not a specific safety finding. Still, a brand closely associated with the original recommendation deciding that the evidence was not good enough is informative for consumers.

What We Know vs. What Is Claimed

Fadogia is an example of how supplements can reach millions of consumers on preliminary animal data. This does not prove fadogia is harmful. It means there is not enough information to say that it is safe or that it works.

Options With Human Data

If you are interested in supplements that have been tested in people, a few have more research behind them. None is a substitute for medical care, and effects are modest and not guaranteed. For a broader review see our guide to testosterone supplements: what actually works, and our article on cistanche tubulosa.

Sources for the tongkat ali and ashwagandha findings are in the reference list.^[6,7,8] Always check with a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medication.

A Note on Cycling and Protocols

Some fadogia proponents recommend cycling the supplement, for example five days on and two off. We found no research testing whether cycling changes risk or effectiveness, so these protocols are guesses rather than evidence-based guidance.

Quality Concerns

Quality control is a separate issue. Researchers at the University of Mississippi developed a method to measure phenolic compounds characteristic of fadogia agrestis and tested 17 dietary supplements claiming to contain it. Twelve contained measurable amounts, and the compounds were not detected in five.^[9] That does not show those five were fake, but it illustrates why a product label on a poorly studied botanical is hard to trust.

Bottom Line

• Fadogia agrestis has no published human trials that we could find, so its effect on testosterone and its safety in people are unknown.
• Rat studies report both higher testosterone and adverse testicular findings after 28 days of dosing. Both deserve attention.
• Momentous discontinued fadogia in 2024 citing insufficient efficacy research.
• Tongkat ali and ashwagandha have human trial data, with caveats. Speak to a doctor before taking any supplement.
• If you are concerned about low testosterone, see a doctor for testing rather than self-treating with supplements.

How Thrive Helps

Thrive is a wellness app that helps you build the daily habits that support general health: training, sleep, nutrition, and stress management. It is not a medical device and does not diagnose or treat any condition. Learn more about Thrive.