Herbs
Tongkat Ali: What the Research Actually Shows
In the best-known trial, 105 men aged 50 to 70 with low testosterone took tongkat ali extract for 12 weeks. Total testosterone rose 9% at 100 mg and 12.5% at 200 mg, against a 3% drop on placebo, per LiverTox. Free testosterone did not change. Studies are small and short, and SodaPeak holds at most 600 mg of raw root powder.
Written by the SodaPeak editorial teamUpdated · 9 min read
The root
What is tongkat ali?
Tongkat ali is the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a slender tree that grows in Malaysia, Indonesia and nearby countries. It has a long folk history as a tonic for men.
Today it is one of the most common herbs in products sold to men over 40.
SodaPeak lists "Tongkat Ali Powder (Eurycoma Longifolia Jack) Root" as the second of eight ingredients in its Test Boost Proprietary Blend. No amount is printed. Our tongkat ali ingredient page has the short profile.
The main trial
What did the 2021 tongkat ali trial find?
It found small gains in total testosterone and no change in free testosterone. LiverTox, the NIH liver-injury reference, summarizes a 2021 trial by Chinnappan and colleagues in 105 men aged 50 to 70 whose testosterone was already low, under 300 ng/dL (LiverTox: Tongkat ali).
The men took 100 mg or 200 mg of a standardized extract, or a placebo, for 12 weeks.
| Group | Daily dose | Change in total testosterone | Free testosterone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo | None | About 3% lower | Unchanged |
| Low dose | 100 mg standardized extract | About 9% higher | Unchanged |
| Higher dose | 200 mg standardized extract | About 12.5% higher | Unchanged |
LiverTox adds that the binding protein SHBG did not change, and that there was no clear athletic benefit (LiverTox: Tongkat ali). Free testosterone is the share not bound to proteins, the part many doctors watch. A total that rises while the free share stays flat is a modest result.
In real numbers
How big is a 12.5% rise in testosterone?
Small. Take a man who starts at 280 ng/dL, just under the low-testosterone line. A 12.5% rise would bring him to about 315 ng/dL, still near the bottom of the normal range.
That is our arithmetic, not a trial result, but it shows the scale. WebMD's summary reaches the same view: any rises "appear to be small" and do not seem to help physical performance (WebMD: Eurycoma longifolia).
The men studied were older and already low. The results say nothing about men with normal levels or about eight-ingredient blends.
The Urology Care Foundation defines low testosterone as a total below 300 ng/dL on two blood tests taken before noon, plus symptoms (Urology Care: Low testosterone). A supplement cannot tell you which side of that line you are on. Our low testosterone guide explains the tests.
Study quality
Why are the tongkat ali studies called small and short?
Because most enrolled dozens of people, not thousands, and ran for weeks, not years. Operation Supplement Safety, a Department of Defense program, says more evidence is needed to confirm any marketed benefit, and that the studies are small and short (OPSS: Tongkat ali).
Small trials can miss side effects and can overstate a benefit by chance. Short trials cannot say what happens after a year of daily use.
- Size: 105 men, split across three groups.
- Length: 12 weeks, not years.
- Product: a standardized extract, not raw root powder.
OPSS also found no benefit for endurance (OPSS: Tongkat ali). That matters for SodaPeak, whose only label claim is "Supports healthy muscle".
Safety
Is tongkat ali safe to take long term?
No one knows yet. LiverTox reports that side effects in trials were uncommon and mild, such as nausea, diarrhea, headache and rash, but that long-term safety is poorly documented (LiverTox: Tongkat ali).
The European Food Safety Authority went further. In 2021 it said the safety of Eurycoma longifolia root "has not been established under any condition of use", citing a concern about possible DNA damage (LiverTox: Tongkat ali). That is not proof of harm; it means the regulator could not confirm safety.
LiverTox also records one case of liver injury: a 47-year-old bodybuilder whose liver tests rose sharply while taking a tongkat ali product. One case does not show the root caused it, and LiverTox rates the link as possible but rare.
Dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, belly pain or unusual tiredness can be signs of liver trouble. Stop any supplement and get checked.
Product quality
Have tongkat ali products been contaminated?
Yes, some have. OPSS reports that tongkat ali products have been found with heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and some were spiked with sildenafil, the drug in Viagra (OPSS: Tongkat ali).
WebMD notes the same pattern: some products contained prescription drugs not listed on the label (WebMD: Eurycoma longifolia). Hidden sildenafil is a real danger for men who take nitrate heart medicines, because the pair can drop blood pressure sharply. More in hidden drugs in male supplements.
OPSS advises looking for independent third-party testing. SodaPeak's lot and certificate numbers are seller codes, not a lab report, and no screening result for it is public.
Powder or extract
Is tongkat ali root powder the same as a standardized extract?
No. A standardized extract is concentrated and tested to hold a set level of certain plant compounds. Plain root powder is ground root, with whatever the root happened to contain.
The 2021 trial used a standardized extract. SodaPeak's label says "Tongkat Ali Powder", and nearby lines say "Extract" for other herbs, so the wording looks deliberate. Weight for weight, a raw powder usually carries less of the studied compounds than an extract. The label does not say how SodaPeak's powder compares.
Standardized extract
100 or 200 mg a day of a concentrated, tested extract for 12 weeks. LiverTox lists 100 to 400 mg a day as the traditional range.
Root powder, amount hidden
Second in a 1,200 mg blend, so at most 600 mg per 2 capsules. No strength or standardization is printed.
Because the forms differ, 600 mg of powder cannot be read as three times the 200 mg trial dose.
SodaPeak's label
How much tongkat ali is in SodaPeak?
At most 600 mg per 2-capsule serving, and very likely less. FDA rules list blend ingredients from most to least by weight (FDA labeling guide ch. IV (blends)), and tongkat ali sits second, so it cannot outweigh horny goat weed, which is first.
That caps it at half the 1,200 mg blend. The real amount is almost certainly lower, because six more ingredients share what is left. At one capsule a day, the ceiling halves to 300 mg.
The Test Boost label math post walks through all eight, and the Supplement Facts page shows the panel itself.
Medicines
Who should not take tongkat ali?
Men on some medicines or with some conditions should ask a doctor first. WebMD lists possible interactions with propranolol, testosterone therapy, and the prostate-cancer drugs darolutamide and enzalutamide (WebMD: Eurycoma longifolia).
WebMD also advises talking to a provider first if you have a heart rhythm problem, kidney or liver disease, or a history of cancer or prostate problems (WebMD: Eurycoma longifolia).
SodaPeak adds seven more ingredients, several with their own interactions. The side effects page lists them together.
Bottom line
Does the tongkat ali research support SodaPeak?
Not directly. The research found small changes in total testosterone, using an extract, in older men with low levels. SodaPeak uses an undisclosed amount of raw powder in an eight-part blend, has no trial of its own, and makes no testosterone claim. If you have symptoms, start with a doctor and two morning blood tests.
FAQ
Tongkat ali: common questions
What were the 2021 tongkat ali study results?
About 9% at 100 mg and 12.5% at 200 mg a day over 12 weeks, against a 3% fall on placebo, according to LiverTox's summary. The 105 men were aged 50 to 70 and already low. Free testosterone did not change.
What did EFSA say about tongkat ali safety?
In 2021 the European Food Safety Authority said the safety of tongkat ali root has not been established under any condition of use, citing a possible DNA-damage concern, as LiverTox reports. That is a caution about missing evidence, not proof of harm.
Can tongkat ali products contain heavy metals?
Some have. Operation Supplement Safety reports tongkat ali products found with lead or mercury, and some spiked with sildenafil. It advises choosing products with independent third-party testing. No such test result is published for SodaPeak.
What dose of tongkat ali was used in studies?
Trials used 100 to 200 mg a day of standardized extract, and LiverTox lists 100 to 400 mg as the traditional range. SodaPeak's label math caps its tongkat ali powder at 600 mg per 2 capsules, with the real amount likely lower.
Can I take tongkat ali with testosterone therapy?
Ask your prescriber first. WebMD lists testosterone therapy as a possible interaction, along with propranolol and some prostate-cancer drugs. Men on hormone treatment should not add a hormone-active herb without medical advice.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for SodaPeak, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about SodaPeak
Tongkat ali
Tongkat ali is second on the label at up to 600 mg: the best-studied herb in SodaPeak, with small effects.
Read moreTest Boost label math
How weight order caps each of SodaPeak's eight blend ingredients, all eight ceilings in one table, and why the real amounts are lower.
Read moreLow testosterone guide
The two-test rule, the 300 ng/dL cutoff, how common low T is, and what booster pills have shown.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for SodaPeak
Ready to try SodaPeak?
Pick one or two bottles on the eBay listing. One bottle lasts 30 days at 2 capsules a day.
- eBay checkout
- 30-day returns
- Free economy shipping
