Tongkat Ali may help regulate hormones in young men: Study
A daily Tongkat Ali dose of 600 mg for two weeks led to increases in testosterone and free testosterone of 14% and 34%, respectively, according to findings published in the journal Andrologia.
“The lack of changes in luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels suggests that a lesser role played by Eurycoma longifolia in activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal [HPG] axis in the young adults,” explained the researchers from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK and the University of Malaya in Malaysia.
“The raised testosterone level may be due to a greater rate of hormone production via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis. The supplementation of Eurycoma longifolia for two weeks demonstrates steroidogenic effects on young men were dose-related. Consequently, the raised testosterone following Eurycoma longifolia supplementations could benefit muscle and strength gain in young adults.”
The study is reportedly the first to suggest that Eurycoma longifolia may impact testosterone levels via both the HPG and HPA axes.
“Asian Viagra”
Tongkat ali (also known as Eurycoma longifolia) comes from the root of a tree native to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and was dubbed the “Asian Viagra” by the New Sunday Times in 1999. Supplements containing the ingredient are often positioned for male libido, energy, weight loss, and sports performance.
Annie Eng, CEO of HP Ingredients, which supplies the US market with the branded LJ100 Eurycoma longifolia extract, commented: “This study is significant in that it is the first to measure hormonal effects in healthy young men. This study may certainly be used as a strong platform for formulating sports supplements for competitive athletes and trainers.”
Study details
The study included 32 your men with an average age of 24 who were randomly assigned to receive either the Eurycoma longifolia extract (600 mg per day) or placebo for two weeks.
Results showed that, in addition to the increases in testosterone and free testosterone levels, the Eurycoma longifolia group also experienced increases in estradiol of 30% after two weeks.
No significant changes were recorded for luteinizing hormone and follicle‐stimulating hormone levels, said the researchers.
“The raised testosterone level may be due to a greater rate of hormone production via the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis,” they wrote.
“The supplementation of Eurycoma longifolia for two weeks demonstrates steroidogenic effects on young men were dose‐related. Consequently, the raised testosterone following Eurycoma longifolia supplementations could benefit muscle and strength gain in young adults.”
Source: Andrologia
2021 DOI: 10.1111/and.14001
The effect of Eurycoma longifolia on the regulation of reproductive hormones in young males.”
Authors: K.Q. Chan, et al. “
