Final Verdict
We were really disappointed with this testosterone booster. We expected quite a lot from PhD Test Matrix since it is made by such a well-respected, UK-based supplement brand. We thought it would at least get the basics right, if not the bells and whistles. But the formula is deeply flawed. The main ingredients – Ornithine and Arginine – don’t affect testosterone levels in any way. Many other ingredients are total duds. PhD Test Matrix is a low quality test booster – you can do much better!
Our PhD Test Matrix Review
PhD Nutrition are easily one of the most popular and well-respected supplement brands in the UK. They are a UK-based company, and as far as we’re aware they make all of their products in the UK. After their launch a few years back they quickly gained a reputation for making simple, high quality, no-nonsense bodybuilding supplements. Test Matrix is their specialist testosterone booster.
So what does PhD Test Matrix do exactly?
Who is it supposed to help?
PhD Test Matrix is described as a “potent testosterone support” stack.
The box states that this is a supplement “for men only” – it must be powerful if it causes anabolic effects in women!
Most importantly, PhD Test Matrix claims to support optimal testosterone levels to help you train harder, for longer, and with better results.
But does it really?
Can PhD Test Matrix increase free serum testosterone levels?
Will it cause side effects?
Is there a better option on the market right now?
Find out by reading our complete PhD Test Matrix review below. We cover everything – the ingredients, serving sizes, side effects, and the price tag. Have you used Test Matrix yourself? What did you think? Share your experiences in the comments section at the end!
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PhD Test Matrix Formula
Let’s take a closer look at the PhD Test Matrix ingredients to see if this supplement can really do all of the things it says it can:
We expected a top quality formula from such a popular, trustworthy, reputable brand.
But sadly, PhD have let us down here. Test Matrix doesn’t look like good value for money at all; some of the ingredients don’t actually work as advertised, and there aren’t many top quality testosterone boosters in here.
We don’t think supplementing with Ornithine does anything at all.
Arginine improves blood flow. In the body it is broken down into nitric oxide, which dilates your blood vessels and keeps blood flowing smoothly. It does not affect testosterone in any way.
Fenugreek supports a healthy libido, but it doesn’t boost testosterone.
Basically, a sizable chunk of the PhD Test Matrix formula doesn’t promote higher testosterone levels! That’s unacceptable for a premium-priced supplement which claims to be a testosterone booster.
There are some good ingredients in PhD Test Matrix. Boron is a great natural testosterone booster. As is D-Aspartic Acid; this is among our favourite testosterone boosters in existence.
But these ingredients alone don’t make for a quality testosterone boosting stack. They certainly don’t justify PhD Test Matrix’s hefty price tag – £29.99 a bottle!
Let’s get into this in more detail.
Main Problem – Ineffective Ingredients
The main problem with PhD Test Matrix is the fact that it is largely made up of rubbish ingredients!
It isn’t that it contains a couple of unproven substances. It is that the majority of the ingredients in PhD Test Matrix don’t contribute to higher testosterone levels. There are only a couple of substances in PhD Test Matrix which have actually been proven in clinical trials to boost T levels.
Just look at the main ingredients – Ornithine and Arginine (the exact analogues don’t matter unless we’re talking bioavailability).
Arginine breaks down into nitric oxide (NO) in the blood. This significantly increases blood flow – NO dilates your blood vessels, allowing more blood to pass through. This is great for getting a pump in the gym. It does nothing for testosterone though. Nothing at all.
Ornithine is an amino acid, and a non-proteinogenic one at that. It is involved in the urea cycle, so it can be said to be involved in regulating the body’s nitrogen balance. There is absolutely no reason to think that ornithine supplementation will increase serum testosterone levels in any way whatsoever.
These are the two main ingredients in PhD Test Matrix. Together, they account for over 1g or almost 50% of the formula.
That is a significant chunk of a formula to dedicate to completely useless ingredients. When we’re buying a testosterone booster, we want substances that will actually boost testosterone.
But there’s more. Aside from the two main ingredients, PhD Test Matrix contains several substances which lack conclusive scientific proof for their use as testosterone boosters.
Phosphatidylcholine is a compound found in the human brain. It is used to make various brain structures. We have no idea why it is in a testosterone booster – it does not influence testosterone synthesis. It does not even enhance athletic performance.
Fenugreek is a potent libido booster. But it does not increase sex drive by increasing testosterone synthesis. When used in conjunction with lots of effective T-boosters, fenugreek is great. Extra libido support is always welcome. But PhD Test Matrix is lacking in real T-boosters.
We could go on. SO much of the PhD Test Matrix formula is useless for increasing testosterone. This is a real shame.
Supplement manufacturers might think it’s great to add in stuff like arginine because it gives you a better pump, or phosphatidylcholine because it might prevent cognitive decline. But if we wanted that, we’d buy a pre-workout or a nootropic!
For us, PhD Test Matrix contains far too much useless rubbish to recommend to our readers.
Major Issue – Low Doses
The prevalence of unproven substances is without doubt the main problem with PhD Test Matrix.
But there is another problem – low doses.
Some of the most basic ingredients in Test Matrix have been low dosed; we don’t get anywhere near as much as we get from other testosterone boosters.
For example, each serving of Test Matrix only gives us 50% of our RDI of Zinc.
Zinc is a reliable effective testosterone booster. It is cheap and readily available. It usually forms the backbone of good quality testosterone supplements. We expect 100% of your RDI at least. Low dosing this mineral doesn’t make sense.
We also only get 30mcg of Vitamin D3.
This does equate to 600% of your RDI, but with Vitamin D3, the more the better. It is a powerful natural pro-hormone, and it is dose-dependent. The best testosterone boosters on the market today provide about 100mcg as standard. Products like Centrapeak deliver about 4000IU – or 125mcg – per daily serving.
We have no idea why PhD Test Matrix gets these basic ingredients so badly wrong. These are the first substances you put in a test booster, and you need to dose them well if your users are going to see real results.
PhD Test Matrix Side Effects – Will It Cause Side Effects?
All things considered this looks like a pretty safe testosterone booster to us.
However, there are some ingredients in PhD Test Matrix which might cause some problems. You should look into these ingredients more before deciding whether or not you should be using this testosterone booster.
First, there’s the 20 Hydroxy Ecdysterone content.
Ecdysteroids are compounds found in plants, insects, and a few other living creatures. The thinking is that, because these compounds have anabolic effects in insects and some plants, then they must have anabolic effects in humans too.
There is no scientific basis for this reasoning – just because a compound behaves in a certain way in one lifeform does not mean it behaves in a similar way in all lifeforms.
Ecdysteroids have not been tested in humans. There have certainly not been any large-scale, long-term studies looking at the dangers associated with using ecdysteroids. The side effect risks are relatively unknown.
So while 20 Hydroxy Ecdysterone is thought to eb safe enough for use in supplements, we aren’t convinced that it is safe for people to use long-term. Not at all.
Then there’s the DHAA.
Just like 20 Hydroxy Ecdysterone, DHAA has not been thoroughly tested in humans. It is a naturally-occurring substance in the human body. But that does not mean that supplementation is necessarily safe.
You need to talk to a qualified medical doctor before using substances for which we lack robust scientific data.
If you experience any side effects whatsoever while using PhD Test Matrix, stop using it, contact the manufacturer, and try to talk to your GP as soon as possible.
CAUTION
Please remember the following facts while reading our supplement reviews:
- We are not doctors
- This is not meant to be medical advice
We are just highlighting the main risks as we see them; all of this is based on our own research and experience. What is safe for 99% of people is not necessarily safe for you. Do your own research, consider your unique circumstances, and talk to a doctor before using any testosterone boosters.
Pricing – How Much Does PhD Test Matrix Cost?
Prices for PhD Test Matrix actually vary a great deal online.
Some online retailers have it listed for about £17.
Others sell it for almost £25 per 120 cap bottle.
While this is a little cheaper than some of the other testosterone boosters on sale today, we don’t think PhD Test Matrix is a good option if your goal is value for money.
The formula is laden with ineffective ingredients – for every pound you spend, you’re only getting about 30p worth of effective testosterone boosters.
PhD Test Matrix Review Summary – Should You Use It?
Honestly, we’re far from impressed with PhD Test Matrix.
PhD Nutrition are a respected supplement manufacturer. They’re one of the most popular brands in the UK. British-made supplements tend to be of a far higher quality than their US counterparts.
That’s why we were so surprised to see that Test Matrix had such a poor formula.
There are few proven testosterone boosters in here.
The bulk of the formula is taken up by two amino acids which do not promote higher testosterone levels in any way, shape or form.
There are other unproven, ineffective substances in PhD Test Matrix besides these amino acids!
Phosphatidylcholine does not influence testosterone.
Ecdysterone has never been proven to work in humans.
DHAA is completely unstudied as far as we can tell.
Fenugreek enhances libido but it does not affect testosterone.
Despite having a lower price tag than other testosterone boosters, we think PhD Test Matrix is too expensive; the value for money you get here is pretty low.
If you’re looking for a supplement to deliver a significant increase in free serum testosterone levels, then we recommend using a more professional, powerful, less wasteful supplement.
Prime Male is currently our highest ranked testosterone booster in the UK. It has been one of the leading testosterone boosters since its launch; it is as good today as it was then.
It combines testosterone support with stress reduction and aromatase inhibitors to produce a complete testosterone booster.
Higher testosterone production, aromatase inhibition, and less SHBG - Prime Male is the total package. Perfect for older guys in need of renewed vitality and younger guys wanting extra juice in the gym.
Check out our full review to find out why we like it so much!
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