Does Longjack Or Tongkat Ali Increase Testosterone? Know Science!

Longjack, also commonly known as Tongkat Ali is a herb that is known for its aphrodisiac capabilities. It has been a part of traditional medicine in Asian countries for millennia and is used to treat sexual dysfunctions in men. If you know about the various testosterone boosters in the market, then you would have probably noticed it in the ingredient list of a couple of them as well. So the question is, does Tongkat Ali actually increase testosterone levels as well?

Well, with several ingredients being avowed as effective for boosting testosterone, it can be too confusing to rely on them unless there is solid scientific evidence to back it up. To clarify this, we have delved deeper into Longjack or Tongkat Ali to analyze its testosterone-boosting ability based on science and explore its benefits, legal challenges, side effects, and more. Let’s take a look at the findings.

Tongkat Ali (Longjack) And Testosterone: Scientific Correlation

Used as an alternative medicine in Southeastern Asia for several decades, Tongkat Ali has emerged as a beneficial herb in recent years for its touted ability to improve testosterone production. These benefits are attributed to the various compounds such as flavonoids and alkaloids that are packed with antioxidants. These compounds reduce oxidative stress damage at the cellular level thus benefiting the body in various ways.

In one of the significant studies that I found on Longjack’s association with testosterone, around 76 men with hypogonadism were given 200 mg of this herb as a supplement for one month. At the end of the trial period, researchers found that there was a significant increase in serum testosterone levels after Tongat Ali or Longjack treatment. The study thus concluded that this herb can be used as a potential treatment for late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).

The above study was conducted on men who were diagnosed with clinically low testosterone levels and had shown symptoms of hypogonadism.

In case you are wondering if Tongat Ali would have a similar effect on otherwise healthy people who experience a dip in testosterone levels as a result of exercise, well, here’s what my research says-

First of all, it is important to understand that while regular exercise can boost testosterone production significantly, it also depends on the kind of training you do. Extensive endurance training like running and cycling can affect your testosterone quite a bit.

Now for the study- on evaluating the effect of Tongkat Ali (Longjack extract) for balancing testosterone during endurance training, it was found that supplementation of this herb was able to reduce cortisol levels by nearly 32% while raising the testosterone levels by a little over 16%.

A review from 2014 also suggested that Tongat Ali can be used as a safe alternative to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because of its ability to restore testosterone levels.

Other Studies

Low testosterone can bring about several other health issues like fatigue, low libido, mood swings, lack of strength, and weak muscles. Several independent studies have demonstrated Longjack’s ability to tackle these issues effectively.

For instance, two studies- one from 2013 and the other from 2016 show that Tongkat Ali (Longjack) can alleviate age-associated physical weakness by improving muscle strength and endurance given its ergogenic properties. In both cases, the stress hormone levels were reduced while free testosterone was found to be increased on the consumption of this herb. An increase in physical endurance may in turn help in improving body composition.

The finding is validated by an independent intervention of Tongkat Ali’s ability to improve mental well-being by increasing testosterone levels and effectively reducing anger, stress, anxiety, etc.

Aside from that, the herb has demonstrated the potential to overcome erectile issues in men. Another clinical trial on 109 men within the age group 30 and 55 years was conducted in 2012 on Tongkat Ali’s effect on sexual functioning in men. The study found that consumption of 300 mg of this herb for 12 weeks consistently was able to enhance sexual well-being including semen quality, boosted libido, and improved erectile functioning.

Why Aren’t All Testosterone Boosters Using Tongkat Ali?

With so much persuasive evidence on Tongkat Ali’s positive influence on restoring testosterone and men’s health as a whole, it might seem strange to see that not many supplements added it to their formula. The truth is, that this herb has been a part of various supplements in the international market for over a decade now.

However, when the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) team conducted some tests on the safety of Tongkat Ali as a contemporary food or ingredient, the team found that the herbal extract can impair the DNA of people. Post the findings, the EFSA deemed Tongkat Ali or Logjack to be unsafe for consumption in 2021. Because of this, the majority of the testosterone boosters on the market have excluded it from their ingredient list.

Well, this doesn’t imply that all the other clinical trials or their findings are invalid. It only means that, while the above studies have focused on the benefits of Longjack on male reproductive health and testosterone-boosting ability, EFSA carried out the test specifically to check the safety of the herb and its potential side effects at the cellular level on long-term use.

Conclusion

So to answer the question of whether Longjack or Tongkat Ali can boost testosterone levels, the short answer is- yes it does. Several studies have demonstrated the herb’s efficacy when taken by men suffering from low testosterone issues or sexual dysfunction. Aside from that, it has also proven beneficial to fitness professionals for its ability to boost muscle strength and functionality.

However, the recent legal concerns and warnings from the European Food Safety Authority might leave you in a dilemma as to whether Tongkat Ali can be taken without damaging the body. Well, so far it is the only report we have that shows that this plant root extract, when used for a prolonged period can be a potential threat to DNA. Until any other research body proves otherwise, We would not recommend making it a part of your testosterone-enhancing routine.

That said, while Tongkat Ali may not be a part of the top testosterone boosters despite its proven efficacy, these supplements have a wide range of other ingredients in their formula that are both deemed safe and scientifically proven to have testosterone-boosting capabilities.