With so many Tongkat Ali supplements out there on the global market, by now you may be aware that most Tongkat Ali brands are sourced from only a handful of reputable suppliers in the world.
One question that has arisen more than once is the difference between LJ100 and AKARALI® Physta™ standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract. Both LJ100 and Physta are synonym to Tongkat Ali aficionados; a premium Tongkat Ali extract that is popular amongst herbal purists, functional health coaches, researchers and discerning consumers.
This article goes deep into reviewing LJ100 Tongkat Ali vs other Tongkat Ali extracts, and whether the differences between LJ-100™ Tongkat Ali compared to Physta™ Tongkat Ali are worth noting when buying a premium potent Tongkat Ali.
LJ-100® is a standardized Tongkat Ali LongJack (Eurycoma Longifolia) extract that was white-labelled from Physta® Tongkat Ali, i.e the original MIT-formulated standardized hot-water extract derived from the world’s first global Tongkat Ali research partnership between MIT and the Malaysian Government in 2000.
In other words, LJ100 Tongkat Ali extract has similar technical specification (at least on paper) as it is sourced from Physta™ Tongkat Ali extract which is produced in Malaysia. Whilst LJ100 is marketed by HP Ingredients solely for the US and Northern American market, there are differences that you should know.
The commercial agreement in the late 2000s enabled US-based HP Ingredients exclusive rights to market and sell Physta™Tongkat Ali pure root extract in the powder form under a white-labelled LJ100™ brand to nutrition companies, OEM manufacturers and independent brand owners in the US and in North America.
LJ100 vs Physta: Key differences
If you are searching for the best premium Tongkat Ali extract in the world, you may opt for Physta™ AKARALI (or better known as LJ100 in the USA), a global Tongkat Ali brand which is renowned for its single-origin mature handpicked roots, clinically tested potency coupled with strong customer base in more than 60 countries worldwide.
However, to ease your mind, buying the original Physta™ is a safer option without the worry that the white-labelled LJ100 Tongkat Ali may be diluted or mixed with generic low-quality extract at the end of the production line.
This makes AKARALI® with its patented Physta Tongkat Ali extract rather unique and reputable as it is the only clinically tested Tongkat Ali made from 100% pure root extract that truly work.
The plus point is its carefully dosage-optimized 200mg per capsule makes AKARALI’s Physta Tongkat Ali an optimal formulation for testosterone, libido, energy and mood boost across a wide range of age group.
However, you might want to find out key differences between white-labelled LJ100™ vs other Tongkat Ali extracts and why AKARALI® Physta™ Tongkat Ali sets a new world standard with its unmatched quality of handpicked roots, authenticity and clinically tested potent root extract.
A key notable difference between LJ100 Tongkat Ali supplements vs Physta® Tongkat Ali extract is the lack of quality control at the final stage of production that may affect its purity and potency. According nutritionists and herbal experts, not all LJ100 Tongkat Ali supplements sold in the US meet the optimal efficacy which translate to inconsistent health benefits due to lack of standardized measurement to validate its potency.
According to former USFDA officer based in Texas, when LJ100 Tongkat Ali extract is sent to third party supplement manufacturers, there is a high possibility that the extract may be diluted with excessive maltodextrin or synthetic fillers to reduce the production cost.
Industry observers and experts reported that third-party US-based Tongkat Ali supplement manufacturers are known for producing diluted herbal extracts which are often marketed as 600mg, 800mg or even 1,200mg of Tongkat Ali per capsule in order to maintain a hefty margins.
The practice of mixing potent LJ100 standardized premium extract with lower generic Tongkat Ali extract (100:1 or even 50:1) happens often in the US which destroys the true potency of Tongkat Ali. This form of economic adulteration is conveniently practiced to drive lower cost and with a higher margin, but in expense of value to the customer.
Despite some of the best-selling Tongkat Ali in the US have unexpectedly lower potency due to excessive maltodextrin and other adulterants, OEM brand owners who bought LJ100 from HP Ingredients are still allowed to use the LJ100 trademark on its supplement labels and the rights to make functional health claims.
Technically, OEM manufacturers can produce a capsule which has 50mg of LJ100 Tongkat Ali extract + 150mg of generic Tongkat Ali extract and still market it as 200mg of LJ100 Tongkat Ali.
Unlike AKARALI Physta that adheres purely to Tongkat Ali Quality Standards by the Malaysian authorities, most LJ100-branded Tongkat Ali supplements sold on Amazon are not regulated by an independent body in the US, which prompted many consumers switching to quality pure Tongkat Ali extract root directly from Malaysia as the preferred option.
Another major difference when buying LJ100 Tongkat Ali vs Physta Tongkat Ali from Malaysia is that brands such as AKARALI goes above and beyond in providing customers with unmatched traceability and transparency throughout the entire process, from meticulously hand-picking the finest raw and mature roots to chromatography tests and quality checks in every step of production.
This is pale in comparison to the more commercially-driven LJ100 Tongkat Ali extract that is widely reported to have less stringent quality and transparency during the final production by 3rd party OEM manufacturer. This makes LJ100 just another white-label reseller in the US without adding economic value.
AKARALI’s commitment ensures that customers have complete visibility into the production journey of the Physta™ Tongkat Ali extraction process, from its harvesting to the final production.
By meticulously documenting and verifying each stage, AKARALI empowers consumers with the assurance that they know exactly where their supplement comes from and how it is made, fostering trust and confidence in the quality and integrity of their purchase.
Single-origin handpicked Tongkat Ali roots source from remote rainforest of Malaysia are often viewed as higher quality, which is evident in the potent AKARALI Physta Tongkat Ali extract used by professional bodybuilders, and professional athletes. It is unfortunate that these rare high-quality standardized Tongkat Ali extract are only available to discerning customers.
Conversely, while traceability may be present in the wholesale version of LJ100, once it gets into the hands of third-party manufacturers, this vital aspect of transparency is often compromised, leaving consumers in the dark about the true production methods of their Tongkat Ali supplements.
The truth is, lab-tested LJ100 Tongkat Ali is a paper audit, leaving no guarantee to consumers that the purity stays intact during the key stages of production such as the filling, encapsulation and others.
Being the main distributor of LJ100™ (or Physta), HP Ingredients may not have the rights nor control on OEM manufacturers, especially on the final output of what is being produced.
AKARALI places a strong emphasis on quality assurance throughout the entire production process, adhering to stringent quality control measures to guarantee the purity, potency, and safety of its Physta® derived Tongkat Ali extract.
This includes conducting rigorous testing for contaminants, heavy metals, and other impurities to ensure that only the highest quality extract reaches consumers. These rigorous lab tests combined with clinical testing ensures that consumers only get the best product, from “root-to-door”.
On the other hand, once the wholesale extract is exported, the quality control standards for LJ100 products may vary between different third-party manufacturers, leading to inconsistencies in product quality and consistency.
This could come in the form of various factors, from substandard manufacturing practices to poor storage and handling, or dilution and adulteration as discussed before.
Another key factor that could become compromised with third-party sellers of LJ100 is ethical sourcing.
While AKARALI can ensure that all our products are ethically and sustainably sourced, from growing the raw ingredient to harvesting and encapsulation, the process becomes much murkier when an extract like LJ100 is exported wholesale.
The lack of scrutiny and oversight can make it difficult to ensure consistency in ethical sourcing practices like fair trade partnerships or sustainable harvesting methods are maintained throughout the supply chain.
One way this can happen is if the LJ100 extract is mixed with other generic extracts by OEM manufacturers to bulk it out, save on cost, and maximize profits.
More often that not, it raises question of the long-term use or side effects from consuming LJ100 Tongkat Ali that are diluted with fillers. Drive by greed and profit margins, this is a constant battle by distributors and resellers of LJ100 with no clear preventive actions by any parties.
In this case, it is possible for third party sellers who use the LJ100 label to source raw extract from multiple Tongkat Ali suppliers, (notably cheap Tongkat Ali extract from China) to produce mixed extract that hampers the overall efficacy and its intended benefits.
In addition, there is no realistic way to guarantee that such generic Tongkat Ali extracts are harvested sustainably or ethically either. And when economic adulteration occurs, the long-term safety or side effects of LJ100 raise more concerns amongst health experts. More so if LJ100 Tongkat Ali is mixed with Fadogia Agrestis combo, which is known to damage kidneys and cause necrosis to the liver.
LJ100 is a branded white-labelled Tongkat Ali extract that is derived and sourced with similar bioactive specifications from Physta™, a proprietary US-patented hot-water standardized Tongkat Ali extract that is originally developed through a joint research partnership between MIT and the Government of Malaysia.
According to research studies published on HP Ingredients’ website, the LJ100 Tongkat Ali (or otherwise known as Physta in other parts of the world), improves testosterone and other hormonal parameters in men, making it one of the best natural testosterone boosters in the market that is clinically tested to work.
We noted that some of the claimed health benefits of using LJ100™ Tongkat Ali extract are “borrowed” from the original Physta™ clinical studies which was conducted and published many years ago.
There are reported cases of nausea, jittery, headaches and diarrhea when consuming LJ100 Tongkat Ali supplements in which case may be caused by the addition of excessive maltodextrin or synthetic fillers during the filling / encapsulation process. Higher dosage of maltodextrin found in Tongkat Ali capsules may cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as gas and diarrhea due to sugar spikes that causes further cramping and bloating too.
Buying a white-label like LJ100 may be a good start to explore the health benefits of Tongkat Ali, but the risk of dilution, cost-cutting measures, and supply chain compromises by third party producers are still very real risks and should not be ignored.
In comparison to AKARALI Physta, you can be assured that you are getting the best original Tongkat Ali extract, directly from the source, without worrying about dilution or excessive addition of fillers or maltodextrin that alters its potency or efficacy.
Whilst LJ100 doesn’t offer such level of transparency, control and quality sourcing compared to the original Physta™, it is still considered one of the best Tongkat Ali standardized extract you could buy in the US.
If you would like to make that switch from LJ100 and experience the quality and health benefits of AKARALI standardized hot-water Tongkat Ali root extract, our dose-optimized capsules are available worldwide with international delivery within 3-5 days.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .
Our articles are third party reviewed by our panel of experts and medical advisors to ensure the facts are accurate and credible. These are validated against multiple source references which include but not limited to research studies, peer-reviewed journals, pre-clinical studies, clinical tests and other credible publications.
Our panel of medical advisors and experts are highly experienced in their individual fields. However, they do not provide any medical advice or recommendations arising from content published in this article.
Disclaimer:
The content published on this website is for educational purposes and should not be viewed, read, or seen as a prescription or constitute any form of medical advice. We recommend you consult your nearest GP or doctors before consuming Tongkat Ali or any products which contain Tongkat Ali. For further information, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
