Balance During Endurance Exercise
Talbott S, Talbott J, Negrete J, Jones M, Nichols M, and Roza J.
Background
Eurycoma longifolia, commonly known as “Tongkat Ali” or “Longjack,” is often touted
as a testosterone “booster” and marketed to athletes as a training aid and performance
enhancer. Rodent studies have shown oral delivery of Eurycoma extract to improve
sexual performance and increase serum testosterone levels. Open-label human trials
have suggested that Eurycoma extract may help prevent age-associated androgen
deficiency, improve sexual function, and increase psychological parameters such as
mood, energy, and sense of well-being.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Eurycoma longifolia on
testosterone and cortisol levels during intense endurance exercise.
Methods
We used a water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia (E) standardized to 22%
eurypeptides and 40% glycosaponins. Male subjects (N=30) were recruited from a 24-
hour mountain biking event and asked to provide a saliva sample before and after each
lap for measurement of cortisol and testosterone by enzyme immunoassay
(Salimetrics, State College, PA). Subjects completed 4 laps (14.91 miles/lap) and
provided 8 saliva samples over a 24h period. Subjects consumed 100mg of E (N = 15)
or a look-alike placebo (P, N = 15) approximately 30 minutes prior to endurance
exercise.
Results
Cortisol levels were 32.3% lower in E compared to P (0.552+0.665 versus 0.816+0.775
ug/dL, P < 0.05). Testosterone levels were 16.4% higher in E compared to P
(86.72+40.90 versus 72.47+33.77 pg/mL, P < 0.05).
Conclusions
These results suggest that Eurycoma longifolia extract may help to maintain normal
levels of cortisol (low) and testosterone (high) and thus promote an overall “anabolic”
hormonal state (versus a “catabolic” state characterized by elevated cortisol and
suppressed testosterone) during intense endurance exercise.
References:
Ahmad N, Teh BP, Halim SZ, Zolkifli NA, Ramli N, Muhammad H. (2020),
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Bhat, Rajeev; Karim, A.A. (2010), Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia Jack): A review on its ethnobotany and pharmacological importance, Fitoterapia,
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Bucci LR. (2000), Selected herbals and human exercise performance, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 72(2 Suppl) Pages 624S–36S
Hamzah, S. & Yusof, A. (2003), The ergogenic effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack: a pilot study, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 37: 464-470.
Henkel, Ralf R.; Wang, Ruxiang; Bassett, Susan H.; Chen, Tao; Liu, Na; Zhu,Ying ; Tambi, Mohd Ismail (2013), Tongkat Ali as a Potential Herbal Supplement for Physically Active Male and Female Seniors—A Pilot Study, Phytotherapy Research,Volume 28, Issue 4, Pages 544-550
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Woodhouse, L. J., Gupta, N., Bhasin, M., Singh, A. B., Ross, R. et al. (2004), Dose-dependent effects of testosterone on regional adipose tissue distribution in healthy young men, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 89, Pages 718-26.
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