Does Tongkat Ali Increase or Supports Healthy Testosterone Levels?
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What Tongkat Ali
Actually Does to
Testosterone
A plain-language analysis of every published clinical and animal study — covering what works, for whom, at what dose, and how likely it is to work for you.
The honest picture
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) has been studied in human clinical trials since at least 2005. The body of evidence is now large enough — 9 randomised controlled trials, 2 open-label studies, multiple animal studies, and a 2022 PRISMA meta-analysis — to draw meaningful conclusions, though the findings come with important nuance that most marketing ignores.
"The random effects model revealed a significant increase (SMD = 1.352, 95% CI 0.565–2.138, p = 0.001) in total testosterone levels in men receiving E. longifolia supplementation."
Leisegang et al., 2022 — Systematic review & meta-analysis, Medicina (MDPI)The core finding: Tongkat Ali consistently raises testosterone in men who start with low or borderline-low levels. The effect is weaker or absent in already-healthy, exercise-trained younger men. Understanding which group you fall into is the single most important factor in predicting whether it will work for you.
Best established use: Hypogonadal, low-T, or andropause-affected men (baseline testosterone below 300–350 ng/dL). Evidence from RCTs is consistent and statistically significant across multiple independent research groups.
Testosterone response
across the lifespan
The studies collectively span men aged 18 to 72. Here is what the data shows for each life stage — including realistic effect sizes, response probability, and a composite confidence score based on study quality and consistency.
The only published RCT in truly healthy young men (Chan 2021, n=32, avg age 24) showed total testosterone rising from 871 to 969 ng/dL (+11.3%) and free testosterone increasing +34% after just two weeks at 600 mg/day — both statistically significant. However, this is a single small study with a 2-week window, and the baseline T was already high (871 ng/dL). The 2024 exercise-trained adult study at 400 mg/day found no significant effect in already-active young people, suggesting diminishing returns when the HPG axis is already functioning well.
Mechanistically, the effect in young men appears to work via the HPA axis (adrenal stimulation) rather than the HPG axis — a different pathway than in older/deficient men, which may explain the modest and less reliable response.
This group is well-served by the evidence. The Talbott 2013 study (n=63, 32 men, moderately stressed, age 21–65) showed a +37% testosterone increase vs placebo at 200 mg/day in just 4 weeks, with simultaneous cortisol reduction of 16%. Tambi's open-label 2009 data showed +44% free T at 200 mg/day in men aged 31–52. Leitão 2021 (avg age 47, ADAM cohort) found that TA alone increased T in approximately 50% of participants over 6 months — rising to the highest gains when combined with concurrent exercise.
Key insight for this group: if chronic stress is suppressing your testosterone (elevated cortisol is a primary T-suppressor), Tongkat Ali's cortisol-lowering effect may provide an outsized benefit — this is the one mechanism where men don't need to be hypogonadal to respond.
This is the best-evidenced age window. Tambi 2012 (n=76, LOH men, avg age ~51) is the most cited study: after one month of 200 mg/day, the proportion of patients with normal testosterone rose from 35.5% to 90.8% — a dramatic normalisation effect. The 2022 meta-analysis by Leisegang et al. confirmed this population as the primary responder group (SMD = 1.352, p = 0.001). Leitão 2021 (avg age 47, ADAM) provides a 6-month longitudinal view showing the sustained effect.
The mechanism is clearest here: declining Leydig cell function in andropause reduces the HPG axis's testosterone output. Tongkat Ali's eurypeptides activate CYP17 enzymes and eurycomanone inhibits aromatase (T → oestrogen conversion) — both effects are most meaningful when the system is under-performing.
Two independent RCTs cover this group. Chinnappan 2021 (n=105, age 50–70) found significant total T increases at both 100 mg and 200 mg/day over 12 weeks — with the 200 mg group showing effects as early as week 4 (p<0.05) and week 12 (p<0.001). Henkel 2014 (n=13, age 57–72) showed +15.1% total testosterone and an extraordinary +61.1% free testosterone at 400 mg/day over 5 weeks, along with improved muscle force. The large free-T gain in seniors is partly driven by SHBG reduction — as SHBG (which binds T, making it unavailable) is elevated in older men, anything that lowers it produces outsized free-T gains.
How the confidence scores
were calculated
Each age group received a composite score out of 100 based on four equally-weighted criteria drawn from the published studies:
Scoring criteria (25 pts each): (1) Number of independent RCTs covering the age group; (2) Statistical significance and effect size reported; (3) Consistency of findings across independent research groups; (4) Study duration adequacy and sample size. Scores are indicative, not clinical assessments.
| Age group | RCT count | Effect size | Consistency | Study quality | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–30 | 1 RCT | Moderate | 1 study only | 2 wks, n=32 | 58/100 |
| 30–45 | 2–3 studies | Strong | Generally consistent | 4 wks–6 mo | 72/100 |
| 45–55 | 3+ RCTs | Large | Highly consistent | 1–6 months, n>70 | 81/100 |
| 55–72 | 2 RCTs | Strong | Consistent | 5–12 wks, n=13–105 | 78/100 |
How likely is it
to work for you?
Response probability is not uniform across populations. Based on study responder data, participant profiles, and meta-analysis effect sizes, here are evidence-based probability estimates for different user profiles — using standardised hot-water extract (Physta®-type) at 200 mg/day for 12 weeks.
These are population-level probability estimates derived from published response rates, not guaranteed individual outcomes. Individual response depends on genetics, baseline health, sleep, diet, stress load, and extract quality. Only standardised, clinically-tested extracts were used in the studies below.
Factors that shape
your response
Multiple variables beyond age and baseline T interact with how Tongkat Ali works. These are directly supported by study comparisons.
| Factor | Effect on response | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline testosterone | Lower baseline = stronger response. The HPG/HPA systems have more room to recover when suppressed. | Strong |
| Concurrent exercise | Leitão 2021: TA + concurrent training produced the greatest testosterone and erectile function gains of any arm — outperforming TA alone, training alone, and placebo. | Strong |
| Extract standardisation | All positive studies used hot-water standardised extract (Physta®-type): ≥0.8% eurycomanone, ≥22% protein, ≥30% polysaccharide, ≥40% glycosaponin. Non-standardised extracts showed no effect in comparisons. | Strong |
| Combined with multivitamins | George 2018: 50 mg TA + multivitamins over 24 weeks produced substantial free T gains. Zinc, magnesium, B6 and D3 act as cofactors in steroidogenesis pathways. | Moderate |
| Chronic stress / high cortisol | Elevated cortisol directly suppresses testosterone via the hypothalamus. TA's cortisol-reducing effect means stressed men may see an outsized T response even at normal baseline. | Moderate |
| Duration of supplementation | 100 mg/day required 12 weeks to reach significance; 200 mg showed significance at week 4. Longer duration consistently shows stronger outcomes. 24-week studies show sustained plateau, not drop-off. | Strong |
| High body fat / obesity | Animal models (Mokhtar 2017) and Ismail 2012 (fat mass data) show TA can improve fat mass alongside T in overweight subjects, suggesting metabolic interaction. HFD-suppressed T is reversed by EL. | Moderate |
| Already exercising heavily | 2024 study: trained adults showed no significant free T response at 400mg/day. Exercise already activates the same HPA/HPG pathways; TA adds little on top of that stimulus. | Moderate |
| Dose level | 100 mg: slower onset, modest effect. 200 mg: best evidence-to-dose ratio, onset 2–4 weeks. 400 mg: stronger free-T effect (particularly in older men); higher cost. 600 mg: only studied in young men, short-term. | Strong |
What's your likely
response profile?
Answer six questions based on your current health profile. The scoring is derived directly from the study population characteristics — the closer you match the participants who responded, the higher your indicative score.
Response Estimator
For educational purposes only — not a medical assessment. Based on Chinnappan 2021, Tambi 2012, Talbott 2013, Chan 2021 & Leitão 2021 responder profiles.
Starting Tongkat Ali:
what to expect week by week
Based on the published study timelines, here is a realistic expectation framework for a first-time user taking 200 mg/day of standardised extract with a low-normal testosterone baseline.
Weeks 1–2: Little to no measurable hormonal change. The eurypeptide and eurycomanone compounds are establishing baseline tissue levels. Some users report modest energy or mood improvements from the cortisol-reducing effect, but this is subjective and not consistently documented at this stage.
Weeks 2–4: Chinnappan 2021 showed the 200 mg group reached within-group significance for free testosterone as early as week 2. Talbott 2013 saw significant stress hormone improvements by week 4. This is when early responders — particularly stressed men and men with <300 ng/dL baseline — begin to see measurable changes.
Weeks 4–8: The strongest window. Chinnappan 2021's 200 mg group showed significant total T vs placebo at week 4 (p<0.05) and week 8 (p<0.01). Tambi 2012 saw 90.8% patient normalisation by week 4 in the LOH cohort. Most users who will respond will begin to notice effects here — improved energy, libido, and mood.
Weeks 8–12 and beyond: The 12-week RCT endpoint shows the most robust results. Both 100 mg and 200 mg groups reached significance at week 12 (Chinnappan 2021). George 2018's 24-week study showed free testosterone continuing to rise through to 6 months without plateau — suggesting long-term use may yield continued, sustained gains rather than a ceiling effect.
If you have seen no change by week 8 on 200 mg of a standardised extract, this is a meaningful signal. Either your testosterone is already optimised (above 450 ng/dL), you are highly exercise-trained, or the extract you are using is not adequately standardised. In those cases, increasing to 400 mg or verifying extract quality is worth considering before concluding it doesn't work for you.
Medical disclaimer: This analysis is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Tongkat Ali is a dietary supplement, not a pharmaceutical drug. If you suspect clinically low testosterone, consult an endocrinologist or urologist for a full assessment. Do not use supplements as a substitute for prescribed hormone therapy where clinically indicated.
Primary sources cited
- Leisegang K et al. (2022). Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men. Medicina 58(8):1047.
- Chinnappan SM et al. (2021). Effect of Physta® on testosterone and QoL in ageing males. Food & Nutr Res 65:5647.
- Chan KQ et al. (2021). The effect of Eurycoma longifolia on reproductive hormones in young males. Andrologia 53(4).
- Henkel RR et al. (2014). Tongkat Ali as potential herbal supplement for physically active seniors. Phytother Res 28(4):544.
- Tambi MI et al. (2012). Standardised water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia as testosterone booster. Andrologia 44(s1):226.
- Talbott SM et al. (2013). Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 10:28.
- Leitão AE et al. (2021). Effect of EL and concurrent training on erectile function and testosterone in ADAM. Maturitas 145:78.
- George A et al. (2018). Efficacy of Physta® + multivitamins on QoL, mood and stress. Food & Nutr Res 62:1374.
- Al-Faqeh HH & Imad AM (2019). Eurycoma longifolia root aqueous extract augments testosterone and spermatogenesis in adult male rats. IMJM 18(3).
- Mokhtar RH et al. (2017). Effects of EL on testosterone and blood pressure in high-fat-fed animal model. J Appl Pharm Sci 7(4):119.
- Tajul Ariff AS et al. (2012). Effects of Physta® in orchidectomised rats. Evid Based Complement Altern Med.
Author
Alex Kua leads AKARALI’s Global Partnership Community to help athletes, sports communities, and thousand of others optimize their well-being through evidence-based research that enables them to make better informed decisions. His legal and business consulting background underpins the rigorous data-driven approach in his writing – from hours of interviews, real-world performance data, and firsthand experiences of real people – offering actionable insights that connects clinical research, emerging health trends, and real-world applications. He is also an experienced researcher in herbal nutrition, with years of deep technical knowledge on Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia), including quality standards, industry benchmarks, lab tests, clinical trials, and the use of natural herbs by collaborating with top scientists, herbal experts, and nutritionists. As part of the core team behind AKARALI’s knowledge portal, he empowers people worldwide to access the benefits of high-quality herbal nutrition in a way that is effective, sustainable, and safe. He is also an avid runner, with regular participation in local sports communities and running events.