Key takeaways
- Tongkat ali has placebo-controlled human trials, all of them on a standardized extract.*
- A proprietary blend shows one total weight, so you cannot tell how much of anything is inside.
- Zinc, boron and maca each play a specific supporting role, and each dose is printed.
- Printed doses and third-party testing beat a long, mysterious ingredient list.
What tongkat ali actually is
A root from Southeast Asia, used there for generations and studied in modern trials for stress hormones, fatigue and testosterone. It is not a hormone and not a steroid. It supports the body’s own systems rather than adding hormones to them.*
What the human trials found
Two randomized, placebo-controlled trials carry most of the weight. Both used 200 mg a day of a standardized hot-water extract.
TESTO PLUS contains 500 mg of tongkat ali root powder, not that extract. More milligrams, different material. The trials describe the botanical, not this bottle. Read both trials in full.
Why most “T-boosters” disappoint
The problem is rarely the ingredient list. It is that you can’t see the doses. US labeling rules allow a “proprietary blend” to show only its total weight.1 A brand can print an impressive stack and hide how little of each ingredient is inside.
The supporting cast, read honestly
- Zinc. Needed for normal testosterone production. In men who were low in zinc, correcting the shortfall raised testosterone.2 Adding more to normal levels is a different story. The zinc evidence.*
- Boron. A trace mineral studied for its role in how the body handles steroid hormones.* TESTO PLUS lists it on the panel as 20 mg of boron amino acid chelate.
- Maca. A root from the high Andes of Peru, traditionally used for libido and energy.*
What to look for on the label
- Every ingredient with its exact dose printed. No proprietary blends.
- Third-party lab testing of every batch, with the batch’s Certificate of Analysis (COA) available to registered customers.
- Made in an FDA-registered facility, with ingredients sourced from a GMP-certified facility.
That is the standard TESTO PLUS is built to: 19 ingredients, 2,273 mg, every milligram on the label.*
TESTO PLUS
Nineteen ingredients, 2,273 mg per serving, every dose printed on the label. Two tablets a day, no caffeine.*
Quick answers
Does tongkat ali raise testosterone?
In a four-week human trial of a standardized root extract, testosterone ran 37% higher than placebo; in a twelve-week trial of men aged 50 to 70, total testosterone was higher than placebo at week 12. Both studied the extract, not TESTO PLUS, which contains root powder. Individual results vary.*
Are proprietary-blend T-boosters safe?
Hidden doses are mainly a transparency problem: you cannot verify what you are taking or compare it with the research. Choose formulas that print every dose and are third-party lab tested.
How is TESTO PLUS different?
It prints all 19 ingredients and their exact doses, every batch is third-party lab tested, and it carries a 100-Day Happiness Guarantee.
Sources
- U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR §101.36 — Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements (how ingredients, extracts and proprietary blends must be listed). www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-C/section-101.36
- Prasad AS, Mantzoros CS, Beck FW, Hess JW, Brewer GJ. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition. 1996;12(5):344–348. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/
- Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, et al. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10:28. doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-28
- Chinnappan SM, George A, Pandey P, Narke G, Choudhary YK. Food Nutr Res. 2021;65:5647. (Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a standardized Tongkat Ali root extract in men aged 50–70.) doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v65.5647
Keep reading
TESTO PLUSTongkat Ali: What the Human Research Actually Shows
TESTO PLUSZinc and Male Hormone Health: What the Evidence SaysTESTO PLUSInside TESTO PLUS: 19 Ingredients, 2,273 mg*Study results describe individual ingredients in the forms and doses tested, not TESTO PLUS. TESTO PLUS contains tongkat ali as root powder. Individual results vary.
Every TESTO PLUS amount quoted here is taken from the Supplement Facts panel. Contains shellfish (oyster).
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.