Men's Health · Vitality

Tongkat Ali for Men Over 50: What the Research Says

By OakMan Guide Editorial Team Updated November 6, 20269 min read

The short answer

Small human trials suggest Tongkat Ali may raise total testosterone, especially in men who start with low levels, and a 2022 review of five randomized trials found a clear overall rise. The trials were small, short and used different doses, so the evidence is promising rather than settled. Most used 100 to 600 mg of a root extract a day, which makes the label's extract and dose the first things to check.

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Dark wooden bowl of dried roots and sliced white herbs with small bowls of dried herbs in front of tall glass jars of dried roots on a wooden table

Photo: Chinese Medicine Podcast Podcast on Pexels.

Tongkat Ali is on the label of almost every men's vitality formula, so it is fair to ask what the research actually shows. We read the 2022 meta-analysis and looked at the trials in older men. Here is the plain version.

What is Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali is the root of Eurycoma longifolia, a plant from Southeast Asia that is also called "Malaysian ginseng." Researchers describe it as a traditional remedy in that region, used for stress and to improve physical strength. In supplements it is sold as a powdered root or, more often, as a concentrated extract, and that difference matters when you read a label.

It is also the lead ingredient in several men's vitality formulas, which is why our men's vitality guide spends a section on it. Here we go one level deeper into the studies.

What does the best evidence say?

The best single source is a 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis in the journal Medicina (Leisegang and colleagues). It searched the research up to July 2021, found nine human studies and pooled the five randomized trials that measured total testosterone. Men taking the extract ended up with significantly higher total testosterone than men taking placebo.

Chart of the 2022 Tongkat Ali meta-analysis: the rise in total testosterone is clear for men whose levels started below 300 ng/dL and for all five trials together, while the range for men with normal levels includes zero — Our chart of Table 2 in the 2022 meta-analysis. A line that touches zero means the result could be chance.

The split is the useful part. In the two trials of men whose testosterone started below 300 ng/dL, the rise was clear. In the three trials of men with normal levels, the results pointed the same way, but the range of likely results included zero, so we cannot tell it apart from chance.

The authors are careful, and so are we. They write that "more research is required before its use in clinical practice." Their own notes explain why:

Few and small. Five trials, one with only 8 men per group, and two of the nine studies in the review were only published as PhD theses.
They disagreed. The trials differed a lot in men, doses and length. The statistic that measures this, called I², was 87%, which is high.
Mixed quality. Of the five trials, two had a low risk of bias, two had some concerns and one had a high risk.
Publication bias. The authors' own test pointed to it, meaning positive small studies may be over-represented.

Put together, the fair summary is a promising signal, strongest in men who start low, that still needs bigger and longer trials.

What do the studies say about men over 50?

Three trials are the closest match to our readers, because they tested men in their 40s through 70s with 200 mg a day:

From the 2022 meta-analysis and the abstracts of the Tambi and Leitão trials.
Study	Men	Dose and length	What it found
Tambi 2012	76 men with late-onset hypogonadism	200 mg a day for 1 month	Symptom scores and total testosterone improved; men were compared with themselves before and after, with no placebo group
Chinnappan 2021	35 men per group, aged 50 to 70	100 mg or 200 mg a day, up to 12 weeks	Total testosterone came out higher than placebo at both doses in the review's analysis
Leitão 2021	45 men, average age 47, with symptoms of age-related androgen deficiency	200 mg a day, with or without exercise, for 6 months	Erectile function scores improved with the extract and with exercise, most with both

Two details to keep in view. The men in the Leitão trial averaged 47, so they were close to this age group, not squarely in it. And the Tambi study had no placebo group, which makes its numbers a hint, not proof.

Does Tongkat Ali help with erections, energy or muscle?

The Leitão trial is the one that looked at erections, and it is encouraging: the men who took 200 mg a day for six months improved their erectile function scores, and the best results came from the extract plus three exercise sessions a week. Because both parts helped, it also says something nice about the exercise. Our starter plan for strength training shows what a simple routine looks like.

The 2022 meta-analysis itself did not analyze sexual function, mood, muscle or fatigue as outcomes. It measured testosterone. Those other goals have traditional use behind them and a few small trials, and that is where the picture stays the least settled. For the bigger picture on erections after 50, including why they are worth a conversation at a checkup, see our erectile dysfunction guide and the piece on ED and heart health.

What dose and how long did the studies use?

The trials in the 2022 review used 100 to 600 mg a day, for as little as 3 days and as long as 6 months. Seven of the nine studies used the same commercial freeze-dried water extract of the root, standardized to a set share of a compound called eurycomanone (0.8 to 1.5%). That is the main point for shoppers: the trials tested a specific extract, so a label that says "Tongkat Ali extract" with its own milligram figure tells you far more than "root powder" inside a blend.

Length matters too. The longer trials in older men ran 12 weeks and 6 months, so the sensible way to try any product is to give it 8 to 12 steady weeks and keep a short note on how you feel.

Is Tongkat Ali safe, and does quality matter?

The 2022 review reports few problems. Only one trial listed side effects linked to the extract, mainly stomach symptoms and itching, and another saw side effects in both the extract and placebo groups. The longest trial was six months, so the studies cannot say what happens over years.

Quality is a separate matter. Two Malaysian market surveys, from 2004 and 2006, each tested 100 Tongkat Ali products for mercury. In the first, 36% were above the 0.5 ppm limit Malaysia sets for traditional medicines, and in the second, 26% were. Those are old surveys of products sold in Malaysia, not of supplements sold in the United States, yet they are a good reason to buy from a brand with a full label, a real support contact and a money-back guarantee.

How do I read a Tongkat Ali label?

Find the name and the milligrams. Look for "Tongkat Ali" or Eurycoma longifolia extract with its own figure on the Supplement Facts panel.
Compare with the studies. The trials used 100 to 600 mg a day, and 200 mg is a dose used in several of them.
Prefer a full label. A panel that lists each ingredient with its own dose lets you check the number yourself.
Pick a format you will take daily. The studies ran for weeks, and the best product is the one you remember.
Check the safety net. A support email and a money-back guarantee longer than the 8 to 12 weeks you plan to try it.

Where does HorseFil fit?

If you want to see those points on a real label, HorseFil is a handy example. Each strawberry gummy carries 200 mg of Tongkat Ali extract, a daily amount used in the Tambi, Chinnappan and Leitão studies, and the six other extracts each have their own milligram figure. You take one a day, and the order comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Our HorseFil review goes through the label line by line.

HorseFil Supplement Facts panel listing Tongkat Ali 200 mg and six other extracts with the dose per gummy — The Supplement Facts panel from the official HorseFil label.

As the label advises, ask your doctor first if you take medication or have a medical condition. That is easy to cover at a regular visit, and our checkups guide lists what else is worth bringing up.

What is the bottom line on Tongkat Ali?

Tongkat Ali is one of the better-studied herbs in the men's vitality category. The best evidence points to a rise in total testosterone, clearest in men who start low, with few side effects reported in trials of up to six months. Choose a label that names the extract and its dose, give it 8 to 12 steady weeks, and pair it with the basics in our men's health guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tongkat Ali raise testosterone?

In a 2022 meta-analysis of five randomized trials, men taking Tongkat Ali extract ended up with higher total testosterone than men taking placebo. The rise was clear in men whose levels started below 300 ng/dL and not clear in men with normal levels. The trials were small and differed a lot from one another, so the authors say more research is needed.

Does Tongkat Ali work for men with normal testosterone?

The evidence is less clear. In the 2022 meta-analysis, the three trials in men with normal levels pointed toward a rise, but the range of likely results included zero, so it could be chance. The clearer results came from men whose levels started low.

How much Tongkat Ali do the studies use?

The trials in the 2022 review used 100 to 600 mg a day of a root extract. Several of the trials in middle-aged and older men used 200 mg a day, including a 12-week trial in men aged 50 to 70, a 6-month trial and a 1-month study. Most used the same standardized water extract, so the type of extract matters as much as the number of milligrams.

How long do the studies run?

From 3 days to 6 months. The longer trials in older men ran 12 weeks and 6 months, which is why 8 to 12 weeks is a fair trial period for any product.

Can Tongkat Ali help with erections?

One 6-month randomized trial in 45 men, average age 47, with symptoms of age-related androgen deficiency gave 200 mg a day, with or without exercise training. Erectile function scores improved with the extract and with training, and the best results came with both together. It is one small trial, so we read it as encouraging and not as a promise.

Does Tongkat Ali have side effects?

In the 2022 review, only one trial reported side effects linked to the extract: stomach symptoms and itching. Others reported none or minimal ones, and one saw side effects in both the extract and placebo groups. The longest trial was 6 months, so long-term use has not been studied.

How do I choose a Tongkat Ali supplement?

Look for the words Tongkat Ali or Eurycoma longifolia extract with its own milligram figure on the Supplement Facts panel, a dose in the range the studies used, a full label without a hidden blend, a format you will stick with, and a real support contact and money-back guarantee.