Research suggests that Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) may support testosterone levels in men, with evidence coming from a range of study types including a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials that found statistically significant increases in total testosterone compared to controls, as well as human pilot studies in older adults, multiple animal studies, and in vitro cellular research pointing to plausible mechanisms involving aromatase inhibition and stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Studies indicate that the effect extends beyond testosterone alone, with animal and cellular research also suggesting improvements in sperm quality, fertility markers, and bone health in androgen-deficient conditions, and one human pilot study found benefits in both men and women, partly through reductions in sex hormone-binding globulin. The overall direction of the evidence leans supportive, though most human studies have been small and short in duration, the systematic review's authors noted that larger and more rigorous trials are still needed before clinical recommendations can be made, and a 2025 case report raised a potential cardiac safety concern by documenting an apparent case of atrial flutter following supplementation. Readers should be aware that the bulk of mechanistic evidence comes from animal and computational studies, which do not always translate directly to human outcomes, and that individual responses and safety considerations may vary.
Citations from PubMed and preprint sources. Match score (0-100) reflects automated search ranking, not clinical appraisal.
| Title | Type | Year | Direction | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurycoma longifolia (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A System... | Systematic review | 2022 | Supports | 72 |
| Tongkat Ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and f... | Other | 2014 | Supports | 67 |
| Beyond tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.): The effects of phytotherapics on te... | Review | 2019 | Supports | 62 |
| Tongkat Ali-Induced Atrial Flutter: A Probable Case. | Other | 2025 | — | 57 |
| In vivo effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Tongkat Ali) extract on reproduc... | Other | 2014 | Supports | 52 |
| Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treatin... | Other | 2025 | Supports | 47 |
| Effects of Eurycoma longifolia jack on laevator ani muscle in both uncastrate... | Other | 2001 | Supports | 42 |
| The anti-osteoporotic effect of Eurycoma Longifolia in aged orchidectomised r... | Other | 2011 | Supports | 37 |
| Eurycomanone, the major quassinoid in Eurycoma longifolia root extract increa... | Other | 2013 | Supports | 32 |
| The effect of Eurycoma longifolia on sperm quality of male rats. | Other | 2009 | Supports | 27 |
| Eurycoma longifolia upregulates osteoprotegerin gene expression in androgen- ... | Other | 2012 | Supports | 22 |
| Standardized quassinoid-rich Eurycoma longifolia extract improved spermatogen... | Other | 2013 | Supports | 17 |