The Study
Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects
This study gave some people a special plant extract and others a fake pill, then checked if they felt less stressed and had better hormone levels. It found a difference, so we can say the extract might help—but we can't say it definitely fixes stress for everyone.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study tested if a herbal supplement called Tongkat Ali helps people who feel stressed all the time.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 556 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1These changes suggest the supplement helps reduce specific stress-related feelings and balances key hormones — but doesn't make you feel happier overall or change your body.
- 2After 4 weeks of taking 200 mg daily: cortisol (stress hormone) went down 16%, testosterone went up 37%, tension dropped 11%, anger dropped 12%, and confusion dropped 15%.
- 3No changes in depression, energy, or body fat.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
Year
2013
Authors
S. Talbott, J. Talbott, A. George, Michael Pugh
Related Content
Claims (10)
Taking Tongkat Ali supplements lowers cortisol and raises free testosterone in adults experiencing stress.
Taking 200 mg of standardized Tongkat Ali extract daily for four weeks does not change body weight, body fat percentage, or liver enzyme levels in adults with moderate stress.
In moderately stressed adults, taking 200 mg of Tongkat Ali extract daily for four weeks lowers salivary cortisol by 16%, raises free testosterone by 37%, and improves the cortisol-to-testosterone ratio by 36%.
Taking 200 mg of Tongkat Ali extract daily for four weeks lowers self-reported levels of tension, anger, and confusion in adults with moderate stress, without changing levels of depression, vigor, or fatigue.
Taking 200 mg of Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks increases the cortisol-to-testosterone ratio by 36% in adults with moderate stress, which is associated with a hormonal shift that reduces muscle breakdown caused by stress.
Taking 200 mg of standardized Tongkat Ali extract daily for four weeks does not change body weight, body fat percentage, or liver enzyme levels in adults with moderate stress.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.