Workout Supplements for Men Over 40

Last Updated on August 20, 2023 by Mark McIntyre

Workout Supplements For Men Over 40
3-Time Mr. Universe, Dave Goodin

Nothing can stand in the way of aging. Sooner or later you’ll start to see the signs: fatigue, crow’s feet, diminished muscle tone – and of course, workouts that aren’t quite as effective as they used to be.

The sensation of hitting the gym and getting nowhere can be extremely frustrating for guys over 40, especially for those looking for gains that just aren’t happening. But is it time to give up and give in to old age?

Hell no!

If your body isn’t giving you the results you want, you just need to take a different approach. Proper supplementation can help you improve any workout, shaving years off the performance of your body.

Best Supplements for Men Over 40

With so many so-called workout supplements on the market, most men new to the supplement game have more questions than answers in the vitamin aisle. Should I take everything I can find? Nothing? Play supplement roulette until something works?

On top of that, if you’re a guy over 40 you’ll find it difficult pinpointing which workout supplements are best suited for you, and most of the products offered aren’t targeted to your specific needs. Luckily, a little self-schooling can go a long way.

Supplements are designed as a way to enhance or replace what the body can’t do naturally. As a man over 40, it’s important to focus on the reasons behind muscle loss and the improvements you want to see.

In general, loss of muscle mass is driven by three changes in the body:

  • Sarcopenia – A form of age-related muscle loss that’s related to anabolic resistance. This muscle loss starts occurring at around age 40, resulting in up to an 8% decrease in muscle mass per decade after age 40. This causes a noticeable decrease in both muscle size and strength, as well as metabolic rate (see below). (1)
  • Fat gain –  Associated with a lower metabolism. The decrease in muscle size caused by sarcopenia leads to diminished strength plus a lower metabolic rate. As a consequence, increased body fat is inevitable.
  • A natural loss of testosterone – Commonly referred to as andropause, it’s a major contributor to age-related muscular atrophy. This drop in testosterone starts at around age 30, and continues at a rate of about 10-20% per decade thereafter. (2)

An ideal supplement regimen will target these factors, helping to boost testosterone, speed up metabolic rate, improve anabolic resistance, and enhance recovery for safe, effective muscle gain. Accordingly, men over 40 who work out are encouraged to take supplements like creatine, BCAA’s, proteinpre-workout supplements, testosterone boosters, and HGH supplements.

Main Takeaways:
  • It’s important for men over the age of 40 to be aware of the causes related to muscle loss.
  • There are 3 basic factors that contribute to loss of muscle mass in men over 40: sarcopenia, weight gain, and low testosterone.
  • Proper supplementation can target these factors to increase testosterone, metabolism, anabolic resistance, and recovery rate.
  • These include: creatine, BCAA’s, protein, pre-workout supplements, testosterone boosters, and HGH supplements.

Creatine

If you’ve been working out for even a short period of time, you’re no doubt familiar with creatine. A nitrogenous amino acid that occurs naturally within the body, creatine is popular among professional athletes for its ability to promote muscle growth, increase strength, and boost athletic performance in high-intensity, anaerobic activities.

When consumed, creatine supplements transform into creatine phosphate in the body. This is a key part of creatine’s effectiveness; creatine phosphate supports the production of adenosine triphosphate, also known as ATP, a source of energy important in muscle contractions.

The good news for men over 40 is that creatine supplementation might actually offer greater benefits for older guys than younger guys. Research indicates that with age, the body’s ability to utilize creatine only increases, resulting in even better results from your workouts. (3)

Creatine is widely available as powders and capsules and is intended to be consumed right before, after, or during a workout.

Main Takeaways:
  • Creatine is an amino acid that promotes boosts muscle growth, strength, and athletic performance.
  • Research indicates that the body’s ability to utilize creatine increases with age, which translates into greater benefits for older men.
  • Creatine is widely available as a supplement and should be consumed right before, after, or during exercise. 

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See Also: The Top 5 Best Creatine Supplements of 2023


BCAA’s

BCAA’s, or Branched-Chain Amino Acids are a group of essential amino acids that make up about one third of our skeletal muscle tissue and are critical for proper body function – but they aren’t manufactured by the body. The only way to obtain these amino acids is through diet or supplementation.

BCAA’s consist of three amino acids: leucineisoleucine, and valine. These three aminos are called the “building blocks” of protein and play a critical role in muscle repair and growth.

Branched chain amino acids are found naturally in many high-protein foods, like meats, legumes, nuts, and certain grains.

Other than obtaining BCAA’s from food, many people take BCAA supplements in order to obtain greater, more complete dosages. Especially for those who regularly engage in strenuous exercise, supplementation is necessary since higher amounts of aminos are needed for building and maintaining muscle mass.

Amino acid supplementation can decrease fat synthesis, aid in healing skin and bone, help protect muscle tissue, improve cognitive function, and may even help repair brain injury. Needless to say, these benefits are especially helpful for older guys, and are crucial are for anyone regularly lifting weight in order to build lean muscle mass.

Main Takeaways:
  • Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are a group of three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine.
  • These amino acids are necessary for building, repairing, and maintaining muscle mass.
  • BCAA’s are only obtained through protein-rich foods such as meats, legumes, nuts, and certain grains, or through supplements.
  • Taking BCAA supplements can reduce fat, aid in healing skin and bone injury, protect muscle, improve mental function, repair brain injury.

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Protein

Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, no matter your age. However, increased quantities of protein can also be useful for your gym routine as well.

For men in middle age, whey protein, a derivative of the cheese production process, is often suggested. Rich in amino acids (including those known for promoting the growth of new muscle tissue, like leucine), whey protein can play a key role in muscle-building and may also have connections to faster muscle recovery.

Protein, including whey protein, is often available in a powder form that is normally consumed immediately before a workout.

Main Takeaways:
  • Protein supplementation, particularly whey protein, is often recommended for older men, and is rich in amino acids.
  • Whey protein promotes muscle growth and helps improve recovery after working out.
  • Protein is most commonly consumed as a powder mix, and is typically taken before working out.

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Pre-Workout Supplements

A pre-workout is a supplement (typically a powdered drink mix) taken prior to exercise that is used to boost workout performance. For many older guys it can be difficult to get going and stay going due to a lack of youthful energy that we once took for granted.

To get that extra boost of energy for your workouts, a good pre-workout supplement is just the thing to get you up and running, allowing you to work out harder for longer, and stay motivated and focused.

While the ingredients used in pre-workouts will vary widely, most share a few specific benefits. These include:

  • Enhance blood flow
  • Boost energy
  • Increase power and stamina
  • Improve focus
  • Aid in the recovery process

Blood flow is usually increased by boosting nitric oxide – a naturally-occurring substance in the body that is formed from the breakdown of the amino acid l-arginine. Used as a form of communication between cells, nitric oxide facilitates circulation of the blood and serves as a regulator for elements of the cardiovascular system.

When taken as a supplement, however, nitric oxide can stimulate vasodilation, or dilation of the blood vessels, which allows for an increase in oxygenated blood. This process can also lead to an increase in anaerobic threshold over time, leading to improved performance in the gym.

For increased energy, power, and stamina, these supplements will often contain stimulants like caffeine, amino acids, vitamins, or herbal ingredients aimed at enhancing these benefits. For improved focus and motivation, nootropics are often added to help with concentration and a positive mental attitude to get the most out of your workouts.

Pre-workout supplements should normally be ingested 20 to 30 minutes before exercise.

Main Takeaways:
  • A pre-workout is a supplement taken before exercise to boost workout performance.
  • Pre-workout supplements usually contain ingredients to enhance blood flow, energy, power and stamina, focus, and/or aid with recovery.
  • These supplements are usually taken 20 to 30 minutes before workouts.

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Testosterone Boosters

For men suffering from clinically-diagnosed low testosterone, hormone replacement therapy as prescribed by a doctor is the most effective path forward. For those who simply notice symptoms associated with a natural decrease in testosterone, however, a supplement that can boost the release of free testosterone will help you regulate T levels for better results in the gym.

Contrary to what many may believe, natural testosterone boosters do not introduce additional amounts of testosterone into the body. Rather, they free up testosterone that is already in the body that has become neutralized by SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin).

These products come in all shapes and sizes, but most effective products will include ingredients like:

When evaluating these products, look for those that contain all-natural components and are free from untested chemical compounds.

Main Takeaways:
  • For men with an age-related decrease in testosterone, testosterone supplements can help boost the release of free testosterone for better results in the gym.
  • These supplements release testosterone already present in the body, rather than introducing actual testosterone into the body.
  • Testosterone boosters will typically include ingredients such as Fenugreek Extract, Caesalpinia Benthamiana, D-Aspartic Acid, Tribulus, Zinc, or Tongkat Ali.

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See Also: The Ultimate Guide to Testosterone Boosters.


HGH Supplements

Besides testosterone, HGH, or human growth hormone, is another major contributor to the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, among other conditions. This hormone is an anabolic agent that is manufactured in the pituitary gland.

It’s a stress hormone overseeing cell reproduction and regeneration responsible for growth in children and adolescents. After the body ceases growing taller, growth hormone starts to quickly decrease and normally drops off significantly in adulthood.

Similar to testosterone, HGH levels begin to diminish after age 30, but at a far greater rate. Restoring HGH levels has been shown to offer several benefits to health, including an increase in lean muscle mass, reduction of body fat, and faster recovery from exercise and injuries.

Because this hormone is only available legally in the US with a prescription, HGH is typically very difficult to obtain, and its use is associated with various health risks. The hormone must be injected on a regular basis, and is very expensive.

Luckily, you can stimulate your body’s own production of  growth hormone naturally by taking HGH support supplements. These products contain a wide assortment of ingredients, but typically you’ll find components included like specific amino acids, vitamins, herbal extracts, bovine colostrum, and pituitary extract, among others.

Many of these supplements tend to be ineffective, since they’re taken orally where the ingredients become destroyed during digestion. The more effective products are offered as either time-released capsules, as an oral spray, or both.

Although growth hormone supplements can never produce the same results as injections, they still offer benefits, and are generally safe to use and free of side-effects.

Main Takeaways:
  • Human growth hormone is an anabolic agent manufactured in the pituitary gland.
  • HGH levels begin to quickly decrease after age 30.
  • Restoring HGH levels can lead to several benefits, including an increase in lean muscle mass and a reduction in body fat.
  • Though not as effective as injections, HGH supplements are a safe and legal way to naturally stimulate your body’s production of  growth hormone.
  • The more effective HGH products are offered as either time-released capsules, as an oral spray, or both.

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See Also: The Ultimate Guide to HGH Supplements.


See Gains With Supplements

Unfortunately, there’s no true way to regain your youth, but proper supplementation can help you get part of the way there. Of course, maintaining a proper diet also plays an equally important role, but by adding a supplement regimen to your training schedule, it’s possible to see the gains that have long been eluding you since middle age set in.


References:

1. https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/sarcopenia-with-aging

2. https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/testosterone-levels-by-age

3. https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/2002/03000/Creatine_supplementation_improves_muscular.23.aspx

4 thoughts on “Workout Supplements for Men Over 40”

  1. Avatar for Dan

    Hi Mark,
    43 yr old male here and starting to notice all the symptoms mentioned in this article. Is it safe to stack all of your recommendations together – creative, protein, nitric oxide, and the stack 17 t booster?

    Also, how long should you need to take the t booster? Will you lose muscle if you get off of it?

    Thx!

    Dan

    1. Avatar for Mark McIntyre

      Hi, yes, they are all OK to stack together, and can make a big and noticeable difference to how you feel. You can take a test booster indefinitely, especially if you cycle it (for example, two months on, two weeks off).

      If you stop taking it you won’t necessarily lose gains (certainly not overnight), especially if you already have healthy T-levels. But your testosterone production will eventually drop to where it was before, and if that’s at a low level, then sooner or later this will effect not only your muscle mass, but many other areas.

      I hope this helps, and good luck!

      1. Avatar for Dan

        Mark,

        Thanks you for the great insight!

        How does one learn how to cycle or whether they need to cycle all these supplements? For instance, I would have never through about cycling the T-booster two months on/ two months off…

        What about the nitric oxide and the creative?

        Thanks!

        1. Avatar for Mark McIntyre

          It would actually be two months on/two weeks off, but that’s just one common example. Many experts agree that cycling the use of supplements is a more efficient way to ensure full benefits. This way the body is prevented from building a tolerance to the ingredients, which can reduce the intended effects over time. So the idea is to temporarily stop using the supplement after a certain period of use, and this acts kind of like a reset function for the body.

          Some products have specific instructions for cycling, but in general there’s no one master formula to follow. Some people go 2 months on and 2-4 weeks off, some do 1 month on/1-2 weeks off, some people even do 5 days on/2 days off. Feel free to experiment, it’s really about what works best for you.

          I personally do this with pretty much all the supplements I take. I get the most out of them this way, and it saves money too.

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