Ingredient profile
Sarsaparilla in Vapofil: 20 mg, No Testosterone and Two Drug Cautions
Vapofil prints 20 mg of sarsaparilla root extract per two capsules. RxList calls the claim that its plant sterols turn into testosterone or anabolic steroids "a false claim", and notes testosterone has never been found in any plant (RxList: Sarsaparilla). The evidence is insufficient for every use. It may raise lithium levels and increase digoxin absorption, so ask first if you take either.
Written by the Vapofil editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is sarsaparilla, and how much is in Vapofil?
Sarsaparilla is a thorny, climbing vine in the Smilax family. Its roots have long flavored old-fashioned soft drinks and folk tonics. Vapofil lists "Sarsaparilla Root Extract" at 20 mg per two-capsule serving.
It is the third line on the Supplement Facts panel. It shares the 20 mg figure with saw palmetto, wild yam and nettle leaf. The label names no species and gives no extract strength.
No research dose exists to compare against. RxList finds insufficient evidence for every use of sarsaparilla (RxList: Sarsaparilla), so there is no studied amount that 20 mg could match or miss.
What it does have is a reputation. For decades, sarsaparilla has been sold to men as a plant source of testosterone. That claim is the one to test.
The myth
Does sarsaparilla contain testosterone?
No. RxList states that testosterone has never been found in any plant, and calls the idea that sarsaparilla's sterols become testosterone or anabolic steroids "a false claim" (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
| What people hear | What RxList reports |
|---|---|
| Sarsaparilla contains testosterone | Testosterone has never been found in any plant |
| Its sterols turn into anabolic steroids | "A false claim" |
| It builds muscle or strength | Insufficient evidence |
| It helps sexual desire | Insufficient evidence |
| A known effective dose | None established |
Note what the Vapofil label itself says. It makes no testosterone claim at all. The front reads only "Premium Formula".
At a glance
Sarsaparilla in Vapofil, in five numbers
The chemistry
Why don't plant sterols become steroids in the body?
Because a similar shape is not the same molecule. Plant sterols and human steroid hormones share a ring-shaped skeleton, which is why the myth sounds plausible. Your body has no pathway to rebuild a plant sterol into testosterone (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
Wild yam follows the same pattern. Its diosgenin becomes a hormone only in a chemistry lab, never in a person (RxList: Wild yam).
Even taking a real hormone precursor is no shortcut. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements found that DHEA at 100 to 150 mg a day did not significantly raise testosterone in men (ODS: Exercise & performance supplements). It also reports that tribulus, another "booster" herb, had no effect on sex hormones in small trials (ODS: Exercise & performance supplements).
Medicines
Is sarsaparilla safe with lithium or digoxin?
Ask your doctor first. RxList rates both as moderate interactions: sarsaparilla may raise lithium levels and increase how much digoxin the body absorbs (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
| Medicine | What sarsaparilla may do | Why it matters | Same caution in Vapofil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium (for bipolar disorder) | Acts like a water pill, so lithium may build up | Lithium has a narrow safe range; too much can be toxic | Nettle (RxList: Stinging nettle) |
| Digoxin (for heart failure and heart rhythm) | May increase digoxin absorption | Digoxin also has a narrow safe range | Not published |
Do not start Vapofil without asking the doctor who manages that medicine. Both drugs are dosed by blood levels, and small shifts can matter. Bring the label so they can see all seven ingredients.
The amount is only 20 mg, and no study has measured the effect at that dose. That is a reason to ask, not a reason to assume it is fine.
Side effects
What are the side effects of sarsaparilla?
Stomach irritation is the main one, mostly with larger amounts, according to RxList (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
- Avoid it if you have kidney problems, since its water-pill effect could add strain (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
- Dust from the root can trigger asthma-like symptoms, mostly for people handling it at work (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
- No serious reactions are tied to small oral amounts in our sources.
At 20 mg, a reaction from sarsaparilla alone seems unlikely. Vapofil has six other ingredients, though, and their effects are on the Vapofil side effects page.
If you want answers
How do you find out if your testosterone is really low?
With blood tests, not a supplement. The Urology Care Foundation defines low testosterone as below 300 ng/dL on two blood tests taken before noon, plus symptoms such as low desire or fatigue (Urology Care: Low testosterone).
Book a visit
Tell your doctor about desire, energy or erection changes. Erection problems can be an early sign of heart disease or diabetes (NIDDK: ED symptoms & causes).
Get two morning tests
One result is not enough. The foundation asks for two tests, both drawn before noon (Urology Care: Low testosterone).
Look at the basics
The foundation links low testosterone with obesity and diabetes, and says weight loss and activity may help (Urology Care: Low testosterone).
The men's health guide covers what else to check.
Our view
Does the sarsaparilla in Vapofil do anything?
Not that we can find. It holds no testosterone, its sterols do not become hormones, and no study supports a men's health use.
Pros
- Amount printed: 20 mg
- Long use as a food flavoring
- Small amount, so stomach upset is unlikely
Cons
- No testosterone in it or any plant
- Insufficient evidence for every use
- Lithium and digoxin interactions
- Species and extract strength not stated
| Label name | Sarsaparilla Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Smilax root (species not stated) · Root extract |
| Position on the label | Printed with its own amount |
| Amount per serving (2 capsules) | 20 mg, printed |
| Amount used in research | No established dose; contains no testosterone |
| Strength of evidence | Insufficient |
| Why it is used | Root used as a flavoring and folk tonic |
| Main caution | May raise lithium levels and digoxin absorption. |
FAQ
Sarsaparilla in Vapofil: common questions
Is sarsaparilla a natural steroid?
No. RxList calls the claim that sarsaparilla's plant sterols turn into testosterone or other anabolic steroids "a false claim" (RxList: Sarsaparilla). Plant sterols and steroid hormones look alike on paper, but the body cannot convert one into the other.
Is there any plant that contains testosterone?
No plant has ever been found to contain it, according to RxList (RxList: Sarsaparilla). Testosterone is made by animals, including people. Herbs sold as "testosterone sources" rely on look-alike compounds that the body does not convert.
Can sarsaparilla affect lithium levels?
Yes, it may. RxList lists a moderate interaction: sarsaparilla acts like a water pill and may let lithium build up in the blood (RxList: Sarsaparilla). Nettle, also in Vapofil, carries the same caution (RxList: Stinging nettle), so ask the doctor who manages your lithium first.
Does sarsaparilla interact with heart medicine?
It may with digoxin. RxList says sarsaparilla can increase how much digoxin the body absorbs, a moderate interaction (RxList: Sarsaparilla). Digoxin has a narrow safe range, so check with your cardiologist before taking a product that contains it.
Is sarsaparilla the same as root beer?
Not exactly. Sarsaparilla root has long been used to flavor old-style soft drinks, which is how many people know the name. A capsule extract and a soda flavor are different things, and neither holds testosterone (RxList: Sarsaparilla).
What does sarsaparilla do in a men’s supplement?
Nothing proven. RxList finds insufficient evidence for every use of sarsaparilla (RxList: Sarsaparilla). Its place in men's products comes from the plant-steroid myth, which the same source calls false. Vapofil's label makes no claim for it.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a licensed U.S. retail desk for Vapofil, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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Read moreLicensed U.S. retail desk for Vapofil
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