Last updated: · Published by Eternal Elixir
Edited by Elaine Fletcher, Researcher
In a 12-week trial, 105 men aged 50 to 70 with low testosterone took a tongkat ali extract or a placebo every day, and the men on 200 mg saw their total testosterone climb above the placebo group by week 4. That result, and a handful of others like it, is where most claims about tongkat ali benefits for men come from. This guide lines up the human trials by outcome, shows which men were actually studied, and translates the trial doses into what you will see on a capsule label.
If you are comparing products, our tongkat ali supplement buyer’s guide covers labels, extracts and cost. Eternal Elixir sells Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg, so we have a stake in you knowing where the evidence is solid and where it runs out.
Tongkat ali benefits for men, in short: trials in men with low or borderline testosterone found it may help support testosterone, mood under stress, libido and sperm quality, at 200 to 400 mg a day of standardized root extract.
Key takeaways
- The clearest tongkat ali benefits for men show up in men whose testosterone was already low, and a 2022 meta-analysis of five randomized trials found the effect held in that group.
- Most trials used 100 to 400 mg a day of a standardized water extract for 4 to 24 weeks.
- Men in the trials also reported less fatigue, better sexual function and, in one study, better sperm quality.
- Safety markers stayed comparable to placebo in the controlled trials, but men with hormone-sensitive conditions or on prescription medicines should check with a clinician first.
Tongkat Ali Benefits for Men: The Evidence by Outcome
Tongkat ali is the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a shrub that grows in the rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a long history as a folk tonic for men, and over the last 15 years it has picked up a small but real body of human research. Most of that research used one type of preparation: a hot-water extract of the root, standardized to its active compounds.
The problem with most benefit lists is that they mix results from rats, healthy young men and men with diagnosed low testosterone as if they were the same thing. They are not. Here is how the main human trials line up when you sort them by outcome and by the men who took part.
| Outcome | Men studied | Daily dose and length | What was found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total testosterone | 105 men aged 50 to 70 with testosterone under 300 ng/dL | 100 or 200 mg for 12 weeks | Higher than placebo at both doses by week 12, and from week 4 at 200 mg |
| Testosterone and aging-male symptoms | 76 men with late-onset hypogonadism (no placebo group) | 200 mg for 1 month | Share with normal testosterone rose from 35.5% to 90.8% |
| Stress hormones and mood | 63 moderately stressed adults (32 men, 31 women) | Standardized extract for 4 weeks | Salivary cortisol down 16%, testosterone up 37%, less tension and anger |
| Libido and erectile function | 109 men aged 30 to 55 | 300 mg for 12 weeks | Better erectile function scores and 14% higher libido scores than at baseline |
| Sperm quality | 75 men with unexplained infertility (no placebo group) | 200 mg for 3 months | All semen measures improved and 11 partners became pregnant |
| Muscle strength | 13 active men and 12 active women aged 57 to 72 | 400 mg for 5 weeks | Handgrip strength and free testosterone rose |
Two patterns stand out. The men who benefited most were older or already low on testosterone, and nearly every trial used a standardized water extract at a few hundred milligrams a day. Keep both in mind when you read a product label later in this guide.
Testosterone: Which Men Saw a Rise
Testosterone is the headline claim, and it has the most data behind it. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis in Medicina pooled five randomized trials and found that men taking tongkat ali had higher total testosterone than men on placebo, with a large standardized effect size (1.35). The effect held when the authors looked only at men with hypogonadism, which is the medical term for low testosterone. They also wrote that more research is needed before routine clinical use.
The largest single trial behind that result was published in Food & Nutrition Research in 2021. It enrolled 105 men aged 50 to 70 whose testosterone was below 300 ng/dL. They took 100 mg or 200 mg of a standardized extract, or a placebo, for 12 weeks.
Total testosterone rose more than placebo in both extract groups, starting at week 4 in the 200 mg group. Fatigue scores and aging-male symptom scores also dropped. The study was funded by the company that makes the extract, which is common in supplement research and worth knowing.
An earlier open-label study in Andrologia gave 200 mg a day to 76 men with late-onset hypogonadism for one month. Before treatment, 35.5% had testosterone in the normal range. After a month, 90.8% did. With no placebo group, that result is a signal rather than proof.
What about younger men with normal levels? The evidence there is thinner. Healthy men with testosterone already in range have less room to move, and the trials that showed the biggest changes did not focus on them. If you are under 40 with normal labs, a meaningful testosterone change from tongkat ali is less likely.
Skip the comparison shopping: Tongkat Ali 200:1 Extract 2000mg from Eternal Elixir ships fast across the United States with 90 capsules per bottle. Browse the longevity range →
Stress, Mood and Strength
Some of the most practical findings have nothing to do with the bedroom. In a 4-week trial in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 63 adults screened for moderate stress took a standardized extract or a placebo. The extract group had 16% lower cortisol exposure, a 37% higher testosterone status in saliva, and lower scores for tension, anger and confusion. The trial included both men and women, so the result is not male-only, but it fits the pattern of tongkat ali acting on the stress side of the hormone balance.
Strength data are smaller. A 5-week pilot study in physically active seniors aged 57 to 72 gave 400 mg a day and found higher total and free testosterone and stronger handgrip in both men and women. There was no placebo group.
In the 105-man trial above, muscle strength also rose within the extract groups by week 12. That points in a useful direction for men over 50 who train, though it is far from settled.
Tongkat ali is often stacked with other botanicals men use for energy. Shilajit has its own 90-day testosterone trial, covered in our guide to shilajit benefits for men, and Korean ginseng has a separate evidence base we summarize in ginseng benefits for men.
Libido, Erectile Function and Sperm Quality
The libido claim has a randomized trial behind it. In a 12-week study of 109 men aged 30 to 55, published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 300 mg a day of a standardized extract improved the erectile function domain of a standard questionnaire. Libido scores were 14% higher by week 12. Sperm motility and semen volume also improved, and all safety measures were comparable to placebo.
A 6-month trial in Maturitas looked at 45 men averaging 47 years old with symptoms of age-related androgen decline. The men who combined 200 mg of tongkat ali with three weekly training sessions had the largest gains in erectile function and total testosterone. The design had no group taking the extract alone, so the trial says more about the combination than about the supplement by itself.
Is tongkat ali good for sperm count? One study suggests it may help. Men in infertile couples with no identified cause took 200 mg a day, and the 75 who completed three months showed improvement in every semen measure, including concentration and motility.
Eleven of their partners became pregnant. There was no placebo group and many men dropped out, so treat it as early evidence and involve a fertility specialist if conception is the goal.
You may also see tongkat ali sold alongside fadogia agrestis. That pairing has a very different evidence profile, since fadogia has no human trials. Our fadogia agrestis guide explains what the animal studies found.
From Trial Dose to Capsule: Tongkat Ali Benefits for Men in Practice
Here is where many men get confused. Trials used a few hundred milligrams of a standardized water extract. Store labels often list 1,000 to 2,000 mg of a “200:1” extract instead. Those numbers do not convert neatly, because an extract ratio describes how much raw root went in, while a standardized extract is tested for a set level of active compounds.
| What you see | What it means | How it compares with the trials |
|---|---|---|
| 100 to 400 mg standardized water extract | The extract type used in most trials | Direct match for the doses studied |
| 200:1 extract ratio | 200 parts raw root concentrated into 1 part extract | Describes strength, but is not proof of equivalence to a trial extract |
| Eurycomanone percentage | A measured marker compound | Useful for comparing bottles, rarely reported in trials |
| Whole root powder | Ground root, no extraction | Not what the trials used |
Eternal Elixir’s tongkat ali lists 2,000 mg of a 200:1 root extract per 3-capsule serving, with 90 capsules and 30 servings per bottle. At the current price of $29.99, that works out to $1.00 per serving. Our own product page states plainly that the 200:1 ratio does not establish equivalence to the proprietary extracts used in studies, and that this finished product has not been clinically tested. We would rather you hear that from us than discover it later.
When is the best time to take tongkat ali? None of the trials tested timing. Most men take it in the morning with breakfast, which keeps it away from sleep and fits the once-daily pattern used in the studies.
Try it for at least a month before judging the result, since trials ran from 4 weeks to 6 months. Eternal Elixir also offers a Tongkat Ali + Fadogia blend at $19.99 for 90 capsules, and a Korean Panax Ginseng 1600mg at $44.99 for men who prefer a different root.
Is Tongkat Ali Safe for Men?
In the controlled trials, safety looked reassuring. The 12-week libido trial reported safety parameters comparable to placebo, and the 105-man testosterone trial found no clinically relevant changes in blood counts, lipids, liver or kidney function. Those are short studies with a few hundred men in total, so long-term safety beyond six months is not well documented. Purity is the other half of safety, and Eternal Elixir products are third-party tested for purity before they ship.
Some men should skip it or talk to a doctor first:
- Men with prostate cancer, breast cancer or another hormone-sensitive condition
- Men already on testosterone therapy or other hormone treatment
- Anyone taking prescription medicines for blood pressure, blood sugar or mood
- Men with liver or kidney disease
- Anyone under 18
Does tongkat ali affect blood pressure? No trial was designed to answer that, and the published studies did not report blood pressure problems. If you take blood pressure medication, check with your prescriber before adding it. Men weighing tongkat ali against other options can compare it with our list of natural testosterone boosters, and those over 40 may find our supplements for men over 40 guide useful for building a simple routine.
The bottom line is that tongkat ali benefits for men are real but specific. The strongest results came from older men with low testosterone taking a standardized extract for at least a month. Younger men with normal levels should expect less, and every man should buy from a brand that is open about what is in the capsule. That is the standard Eternal Elixir sets for its own labels, including the limits of the research.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to drink tongkat ali?
No study has compared morning and evening doses. Most men take tongkat ali in the morning with food, which matches the once-daily routine used in trials and keeps it away from bedtime. Taking it at the same time each day matters more than the exact hour.
Does tongkat ali affect blood pressure?
The published trials did not report blood pressure problems, but none were designed to measure it closely. If you take medication for blood pressure, ask your prescriber before starting tongkat ali.
Is tongkat ali good for sperm count?
One study found that 200 mg a day for three months improved sperm concentration, motility and morphology in men with unexplained infertility. It had no placebo group, so the result is promising but not proven. Talk to a fertility specialist if you are trying to conceive.
Is tongkat ali safe for men?
In trials lasting up to six months, safety measures were similar to placebo. Men with hormone-sensitive cancers, those on testosterone therapy and anyone taking prescription medicines should check with a clinician first.
How long does tongkat ali take to work?
In the 105-man trial, testosterone rose above placebo by week 4 at 200 mg a day, and fatigue scores fell within two weeks. Most trials ran 4 to 12 weeks, so allow at least a month. If you want a broader energy plan, our guide to supplements for energy covers other options with human data.
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Sources
- Leisegang K, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) and serum total testosterone in men. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania). 2022. PMID 36013514
- Chinnappan SM, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a standardized tongkat ali root extract on testosterone and quality of life in men aged 50 to 70. Food & Nutrition Research. 2021. PMID 34262417
- Tambi MI, et al. Standardized water-soluble tongkat ali extract in men with late-onset hypogonadism. Andrologia. 2012. PMID 21671978
- Talbott SM, et al. Effect of tongkat ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2013. PMID 23705671
- Henkel RR, et al. Tongkat ali as a potential herbal supplement for physically active male and female seniors: a pilot study. Phytotherapy Research. 2014. PMID 23754792
- Ismail SB, et al. Randomized clinical trial of a freeze-dried water extract of Eurycoma longifolia for quality of life and sexual well-being in men. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012. PMID 23243445
- Leitão AE, et al. Six-month randomized trial of tongkat ali and concurrent training on erectile function and testosterone in aging men with androgen deficiency. Maturitas. 2021. PMID 33541567
- Tambi MI, Imran MK. Eurycoma longifolia Jack in managing idiopathic male infertility. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2010. PMID 20348942
