At $39, P6 Chrome is the cheapest of Cellucor’s range of T-boosters. In fact, it’s advertised as “testosterone support” rather than a booster.
P6 Chrome claims to:
- Regulate estrogen
- “Support” testosterone and sexual function
- Promote lean muscle
Is the lower price and lack of hype a sign of a weak product? Or does P6 Chrome have what it takes to become one of the unsung heroes of the weight room? Let’s see…
About The Company
Cellucor is a brand name owned by “nutritional life sciences company” Nutrabolt. Cellucor products include pre-workouts, post-workouts and T-boosters, in addition to “health essentials” and diet products.
The company has a habit of constantly adding products to its already huge range.
Members of “Team Cellucor” include athletes Craig Capurso and Calum von Moger, among others.
The Ingredients and How They Work
As Cellucor is a respected fitness brand, it’s disappointing to see P6 Chrome is one big proprietary blend.
Reminder: Proprietary blends are formulas that list ingredients without displaying each amount.
We’re not fans of proprietary blends. This is because the lack of dose info gives you no way to assess how useful each ingredient is to your T-boosting efforts.
See for yourself:
Ashwagandha
Also known as Withania Somnifera, Ashwagandha enjoys a good rep in the world of sports nutrition.
The herb is an adaptogen known to reduce cortisol (a stress hormone). And as stress can lower T and lead to muscle wastage, Ashwagandha may be useful to counteract these unwanted effects.
Research also suggests Ashwagandha can boost levels of the Luteinizing Hormone (LH), a precursor to testosterone. It’s also shown to boost T in men undergoing strength training.
Yet as P6 Chrome includes Ashwagandha within a proprietary blend, there’s no way to tell how much of the herb it uses, or how effective it is.
Tribulus Alatus Fruit Extract
We let out a groan when we first saw ‘Tribulus’ listed in the P6 Chrome formula.
This is because the herb’s cousin, Tribulus Terrestis, does not boost testosterone in humans. And despite this, we see this useless herb in hundreds of T-boosters.
By contrast, early research suggests Tribulus Alatus may increase free T due to its apparent “androgen-increasing property.” However, we need to see further research confirming this before we can support its use in a test booster.
Even the guys at Nutrabolt (Cellucor) don’t seem sure Tribulus Alatus works…
The ad blurb says the product includes the lesser-known Tribulus for its “potential” (i.e. unproven) ability to “support sexual function and promote muscle growth.”
The “potential” to boost testosterone just ain’t a good enough reason to expect you to hand over your money.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is one of our favorite ingredients to find in a T-booster. Why?
Well, not only does it ramp up your T-levels – it can be very hard to get enough of it in your diet.
This is because the herb is found almost entirely in Indian cuisine. And while very tasty, curries can also be high in fat. For this reason, it’s best to get your fill of Fenugreek in a supp.
The nutrient works by lower insulin in your blood, which also causes levels of the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) to fall. This is good news because the SHBG robs free testosterone of its muscle-splitting power.
How much Fenugreek do you need?
Our tests show the optimal amount of Fenugreek is 100mg. We advise caution because P6 Chrome’s ingredients list doesn’t tell you how much Fenugreek it contains – does it use too little (likely), or too much Fenugreek? You don’t know – and that’s the problem.
Agaricus Bisporus Fruit Extract
Agaricus Bisporus is better known by its common name, White Button Mushroom. Early research suggests this simple food may be a potent aromatase inhibitor, which in turn implies it could (indirectly) boost testosterone.
But as it stands, most studies focus on post-menopausal women and rodents as subjects.
With this in mind, further human trials need to take place before we can advise buying a T-booster using the fruit.
Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Foods rich in Diindolylmethane (DIM) include broccoli, kale, cauliflower and other members of the Brassica plant family.
Its active ingredient is I3C. This compound stops the sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) from locking up testosterone to prevent a loss of muscle tissue.
But while DIM shows promise for this purpose, it’s yet another understudied part of P6 Chrome. In truth, almost all of the related research focuses on the effects of I3C in isolation – and not DIM as a whole.
Since I3C is just one of many active components in DIM, there’s no way to say for sure whether it can boost T-levels. Not good.
See SupplementTester’s Highest Rated
– Testosterone Booster Supplements Here –
Side Effects
All the ingredients in P6 Chrome appear safe.
But as this supp hides every dose in a proprietary blend, there’s no way to tell how safe it is for sure.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Cheaper than some T-boosters
- Ashwagandha and Fenugreek are proven T-boosters
- Tribulus Alatus shows promise as a libido enhancer
Cons:
- One big proprietary blend – you can’t tell how effective it is before you buy
- Further research needed to justify use of White Button Mushrooms, Tribulus Alatus or DIM
- Uses too many unproven ingredients
- Possible low doses could render Ashwagandha and Fenugreek useless
SupplementTester’s Highest Rated
– Testosterone Booster Supplements Here –
Cellucor P6 Chrome Review Conclusion
We never advise opening your wallet for anything other than high-quality, proven ingredients.
It’s true Ashwagandha and Fenugreek are great ingredients proven to boost testosterone. But as Cellucor hides these ingredients in a proprietary blend, there’s no way to tell whether there’s enough of them in P6 Chrome to give you the lean muscle gains it promises.
It’s also good to see none of the ingredients are discredited by science.
In addition, there are signs that DIM, Tribulus Alatus and Agaricus Bisporus might be potent T-boosters.
“Potential” is not proof
There are too many ingredients with “potential” in this supp. Many of these ingredients need further research to justify their use in T-booster.
After all, before you hand over your cash, you want to KNOW a supp works. When it comes to looking after your health and fitness, guesswork is never enough. You have the right to expect much more.
So P6 Chrome could be a good T-booster. But the lack of dose info and the presence of unproven ingredients means we have to recommend you look elsewhere.