The Study
The Effect of Tongkat Ali Supplementation on Body Composition in Exercise-Trained Males and Females
This study gave some people a supplement and others a fake pill, then checked if their muscles, hormones, or mood changed. It found no difference — so we can say the supplement didn't do anything noticeable in these people. But it doesn't prove it won't work for someone else, like an older person or someone who doesn't exercise.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave a herbal supplement called Tongkat Ali to people who work out a lot, to see if it made them stronger, leaner, or happier.
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 561 / 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.
- 1No, the results mean this supplement doesn't help trained athletes improve their body, mood, or performance in just four weeks.
- 2After 4 weeks, people who took Tongkat Ali lost the same amount of muscle and fat as those who took a sugar pill.
- 3Their testosterone and stress hormones didn't change.
- 4They didn't get stronger, sleep better, or feel better emotionally.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Applied Sciences
Year
2024
Authors
Jose Antonio, C. Evans, Flavia Pereira, Hena Thakkar, Viraaj Miriyala, Robert Rocanelli, C. Castillo, Alyana Andal, Jose Rojas, Juan Carlos Santana, Lia Jiannine, Jaime Tartar, Jason Curtis
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking 400 mg of Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks does not change lean body mass, fat mass, or body fat percentage in adults who have been regularly training for over 13 years.
Taking 400 mg of Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks does not change the levels of free testosterone or cortisol in the saliva of people who exercise regularly.
Taking 400 mg of Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks does not change handgrip strength, mood, sleep quality, or reaction time in adults who regularly exercise.
Taking 400 mg of Tongkat Ali daily for four weeks does not improve the physical changes that result from regular resistance and aerobic exercise in trained adults.
Tongkat Ali affects testosterone and body composition differently in people who exercise regularly compared to older adults or those with low testosterone.
Taking Tongkat Ali supplements lowers cortisol and raises free testosterone in adults experiencing stress.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.