Supplementation with 200 mg per day of the E. longifolia extract combined with or without a concurrent training program was associated with higher testosterone levels after six months, compared to placebo, in men with Androgen Deficiency of Aging Males (ADAM), a condition that reportedly affects between 6 and 12% of middle-aged men worldwide.
Improvements in a range of other measures, from cardiorespiratory fitness measures such as VO2 peak and heart rate to decreased body fat and waist circumference, to sexual measures like erectile function and sexual desire.
“The interventions carried out in this study are feasible in practice, which is capable of obtaining results that impact the daily lives of men who experience the ADAM process, providing a healthier and more active aging process, and, consequently, a higher quality of life,” wrote scientists from the State University of Santa Catarina in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
“Asian Viagra”
Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) 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: “These two studies overall validate our previous research on LJ100 in men, which is compelling news for formulators. As more men are proactive about their health and no longer embarrassed to take measures to support their sexual abilities and virility, LJ100 is a powerful tool for this ever-growing audience.”
Study details
In the first study, which was published in Maturitas, 45 men with ADAM were randomized into four groups: No training plus placebo (group 1 or G1); no training plus 200mg of the E. longifolia (EL) extract (G2); concurrent training (CT) program plus placebo (G3); and training plus 200mg of the E. longifolia extract (G4).
Both groups three and four displayed significant improvements in erectile function, with the best results observed for the combined training + E. longifolia extract group.
In addition, sexual desire scores also significantly increased by 235% in G4.
Testosterone levels increased in the G2, G3, and G4 groups, with improvements compared to placebo of 55%, 29%, and 48%, respectively, compared to placebo.
In the second study, published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, the same cohort was also examined for effects of 200 mg E. longifolia extract consumption and muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness during the six months of concurrent training.
The data indicated that the isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors significantly increased in G3 (14%) and G4 (17%), while the isokinetic peak torque of knee flexion increased in the CT + EL group (G4) only.
“For men with ADAM, the CT alone or associated with the EL consumption improved the serum testosterone concentration, knee flexion and extension muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak and heart rate), ADAM symptomatology and decreased body fat and [waist circumference],” stated the researchers.
“The reduction of serum triglycerides concentration was observed only in the CT + EL group presenting a potential summation effect, while the use of EL alone reduced the LDL-cholesterol in men with ADAM.
“Therefore, CT alone or associated with EL consumption could be an effective non-pharmacological treatment to improve symptomatology in middle-aged men with ADAM,” they concluded.
Sources:
Maturitas
Volume 145, March 2021, Pages 78-85, doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.12.002
“A 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to evaluate the effect of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) and concurrent training on erectile function and testosterone levels in androgen deficiency of aging males (ADAM)”
Authors: A.E. Leitão et al.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
Volume 42, February 2021, 101301, doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101301
“Exercise associated or not to the intake of Eurycoma longifolia improves strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in men with androgen deficiency”
Authors: A.E. Leitão et al.