Quick answer: Tongkat Ali may increase total testosterone in some men, with the most consistent evidence appearing in men who begin with lower levels. Results in healthy men are promising but less certain, and Tongkat Ali is not testosterone replacement therapy.
If you are choosing a product, compare the evidence, extract and testing in our Best Tongkat Ali UK buyer's guide.
Does Tongkat Ali increase testosterone? It is the question behind much of the herb's popularity, but online answers often collapse several different outcomes into one claim. A change in salivary testosterone is not identical to a change in serum total testosterone. A laboratory change is not automatically a noticeable improvement in libido, energy or strength. And a study in men with clinically low levels may not predict the same response in a healthy 25-year-old.
The useful answer therefore depends on who was studied, which extract they took, how testosterone was measured and whether the change was compared with placebo. This guide separates those pieces and explains what the current human evidence can reasonably support.
In this guide
Does it work? | Human study table | How much can it raise? | Who may benefit? | How long? | Blood testing | FAQs
Does Tongkat Ali increase testosterone?
A 2022 systematic review located nine clinical studies and pooled five randomised trials. Its meta-analysis found a statistically significant increase in total testosterone among men taking Eurycoma longifolia, with the finding also present in the subgroup of men with hypogonadism. The authors described Tongkat Ali as promising, particularly for men with low testosterone, while stressing that more research is needed before clinical use.
A broader 2024 review of ingredients sold as testosterone boosters reached a similarly cautious conclusion. Most popular ingredients did not reliably raise total testosterone; Tongkat Ali was classified as possibly effective for men with late-onset hypogonadism and possibly effective in healthy men.
Evidence verdict
Tongkat Ali has credible human evidence, but it is not a guaranteed testosterone booster. The signal is strongest when baseline testosterone is low, and the research applies to specific extracts and doses rather than every product carrying the same plant name.
Tongkat Ali and testosterone: what the human studies found
| Study | People and dose | What happened | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leisegang et al., 2022 Systematic review and meta-analysis |
9 clinical studies reviewed; 5 randomised trials pooled | Total testosterone increased significantly overall, including in the low-testosterone subgroup. | This is the strongest combined evidence, but study methods and extracts varied. |
|
Chinnappan et al., 2021 Randomised double-blind trial |
105 men aged 50-70 with total testosterone below 300ng/dL; 100mg, 200mg or placebo for 12 weeks | Total testosterone rose versus placebo at week 12 with 100mg and from week 4 with 200mg. There was no significant between-group difference in free testosterone. | The higher tested dose acted earlier in men starting with low levels. The study was industry funded. |
|
Chan et al., 2021 Double-blind matched-pair study |
32 healthy young men; 600mg extract or placebo for 2 weeks | Total and free testosterone changed in favour of Tongkat Ali, as did estradiol; LH, FSH and SHBG did not. | Healthy-young-men data exist, but this was a small, short study using a relatively high extract dose. |
|
Talbott et al., 2013 Randomised placebo-controlled trial |
63 moderately stressed adults; 200mg standardised extract for 4 weeks | Salivary testosterone status was 37% higher and cortisol exposure 16% lower relative to placebo, alongside mood changes. | This suggests a stress-hormone effect, but salivary measures should not be treated as equivalent to a serum testosterone diagnosis. |
|
Leitao et al., 2021 Six-month randomised trial |
45 middle-aged men with androgen-deficiency symptoms; 200mg extract and/or concurrent training | The combination of training and Tongkat Ali improved erectile function and total testosterone. | The combined approach performed best, but the design makes the supplement's independent contribution harder to isolate. |
Important context: several positive studies used proprietary standardised water extracts, and some were funded by or involved employees of the extract manufacturer. That does not invalidate the findings, but it reduces how confidently they can be generalised to unrelated products.
How much can Tongkat Ali raise testosterone?
There is no honest universal percentage. The meta-analysis reported a standardised effect across studies rather than a single increase in ng/dL that every man should expect. Individual trials measured different forms of testosterone, used different extracts and enrolled people with very different starting levels.
The widely repeated “37% increase” comes from salivary testosterone status in one four-week stress study. It should not be advertised as a guaranteed 37% rise in serum total testosterone for all men. Men beginning with low testosterone may have more room to change; men already within a healthy range may see less movement or none.
Total testosterone, free testosterone and symptoms are not the same thing
| Measure | What it describes | Why the distinction matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total testosterone | All circulating testosterone, including protein-bound hormone | This is the primary outcome in several Tongkat Ali trials and a common initial blood test. |
| Free testosterone | The small fraction not bound to proteins | Free-testosterone findings are less consistent, and interpretation often needs SHBG and albumin. |
| Symptoms | Libido, erections, fatigue, mood, strength and other experiences | Symptoms can have many causes and do not diagnose testosterone deficiency by themselves. |
Who is most likely to benefit?
The current evidence suggests three groups worth separating:
- Men with confirmed low or borderline-low testosterone: this is where the most consistent signal appears.
- Older men with fatigue or androgen-deficiency symptoms: some controlled trials report hormonal and quality-of-life improvements, although proper medical assessment remains important.
- Healthy younger men: one small study reported changes after 600mg daily for two weeks, but the evidence base is thinner and a meaningful symptom benefit is not established.
Tongkat Ali should not be used to self-treat suspected hypogonadism. The NHS notes that late-onset hypogonadism is diagnosed using symptoms together with testosterone blood tests and may require specialist assessment.
How long does Tongkat Ali take to affect testosterone?
Changes have appeared as early as two weeks in a small healthy-young-men study and from four weeks in the 200mg arm of an older low-testosterone trial. Other studies lasted 8, 12 or 24 weeks. Taken together, the research supports thinking in weeks rather than days.
A feeling of energy after one dose is not evidence that testosterone has changed. Sleep, stress, training, food intake, illness and natural day-to-day variation can all influence how someone feels and can affect a blood result.
How to check testosterone properly in the UK
If low testosterone is a genuine concern, start with a GP rather than a supplement experiment. UK clinical guidance generally uses symptoms plus repeat morning blood tests. An NHS laboratory page recommends repeating a low result using a 9am fasting sample, with calculated free testosterone and additional hormones such as LH and FSH considered when appropriate.
For someone choosing to monitor a supplement response with a clinician, consistency matters: use the same laboratory, similar morning timing and similar sleep, training and food conditions. A single before-and-after result can be distorted by ordinary biological variation.
What dose has been studied for testosterone?
Controlled human studies have used roughly 100-600mg per day, but this range includes different standardised extracts and different populations. It is not a universal dosing recommendation. A large amount of raw powder cannot be assumed equivalent to a smaller amount of a characterised water extract.
When comparing products, check the full daily extract dose, eurycomanone amount, plant identity and batch testing. Our guides to the strongest Tongkat Ali claims and eurycomanone percentages explain how those numbers fit together.
Where SuperDosed Tongkat Ali fits
700mg root extract, standardised to 7mg eurycomanone per daily serving.
The formula states both the complete extract dose and measurable active-marker amount. It uses capsules because Tongkat Ali powder is intensely bitter, includes piperine, and avoids hiding the extract inside a proprietary blend.
See the complete formula and serving options on the SuperDosed Tongkat Ali product page. For the wider buying criteria, read our guide to buying Tongkat Ali in the UK.
Choose the extract, not the testosterone promise
Our full UK guide compares dose, standardisation, testing, formula transparency and value.
Tongkat Ali is not testosterone replacement therapy
Prescription testosterone replaces hormone under medical supervision after deficiency has been clinically assessed. Tongkat Ali is a botanical food supplement. It does not supply testosterone and should not be presented as an alternative treatment for diagnosed hypogonadism.
Long-term Tongkat Ali safety evidence remains limited. A 2021 EFSA assessment of one proposed standardised root extract concluded that its safety had not been established because of concerns raised in genotoxicity testing. Do not use Tongkat Ali if you are under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding. Speak with a GP or pharmacist before use if you take medication or have a hormone-sensitive condition.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tongkat Ali definitely increase testosterone?
No. Controlled studies and a meta-analysis show a promising average effect, but individual responses vary and some groups have stronger evidence than others.
How much does Tongkat Ali increase testosterone?
There is no universal percentage. The often quoted 37% figure came from salivary testosterone in one stress study and is not a guaranteed serum increase for every user.
Does Tongkat Ali work if testosterone is already normal?
Evidence in healthy men is limited but not absent. A small two-week study found hormonal changes in healthy young men, while broader reviews judge the ingredient only possibly effective in this group.
How long before Tongkat Ali changes testosterone?
Study changes have appeared between two and twelve weeks depending on the population, dose and measurement. The evidence does not support judging testosterone effects after one or two doses.
Does Tongkat Ali raise free testosterone?
Some studies report increases and others do not. In the 105-man low-testosterone trial, total testosterone improved versus placebo but free testosterone did not show a significant between-group difference.
Can Tongkat Ali replace TRT?
No. Testosterone replacement is a prescribed medical treatment for confirmed deficiency. Tongkat Ali is not a source of testosterone and is not equivalent to TRT.
Should I get a blood test before taking Tongkat Ali?
If testosterone support is your main reason for taking it, a properly timed baseline test interpreted alongside symptoms gives far more useful information than guessing. Discuss persistent symptoms with a GP.
Should Tongkat Ali be cycled for testosterone?
Human trials generally used continuous daily dosing for their study period. There is not enough evidence to identify one scientifically proven cycling schedule.
References: Leisegang et al. (2022), Medicina; Chinnappan et al. (2021), Food & Nutrition Research; Chan et al. (2021), Andrologia; Talbott et al. (2013), Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition; Leitao et al. (2021), Maturitas; Rakicioglu et al. (2024), International Journal of Impotence Research; NHS and Society for Endocrinology guidance. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
