Living in an illusion of grandeur amongst premium T-boosters, Turkesterone seems to be a promising anabolic stimulant that is heavily promoted by content creators on TikTok.
But will it end up having the same fate as Fadogia Agrestis Tongkat Ali combo?
Between Turkesterone vs. Tongkat Ali, which works better? Or should you take Turkesterone with Tongkat Ali to gain more muscle mass?
With only one proven human study since 1978, can Turkesterone compete amongst established single-ingredient supplements such as Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia)?
This article provides a fair assessment and review of these two popular adaptogen herbs, giving you further insights into Turkesterone and Tongkat Ali. We shall go deep into the facts, scientific evidence, intended use, restrictions and feedback on Turkesterone.
Turkesterone supplements promises hope for bodybuilders to gain larger muscle mass, faster lean muscle development, higher testosterone boost and prevent muscle loss. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, it continued to be popularized by online influencers in the US.
Harder Than Last Time (HTLT) Turkesterone Supplement “Turk Builder Max,” is founded by social media influencer Greg Doucette, an IFBB Pro and long-time bodybuilding coach and Eric Janicki, also an IFBB Pro. It offers 10 mg of turkesterone and 10 mg of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE), both standardized from Ajuga turkestanica extract sourced from Uzbekistan.
For the record, pro bodybuilder Greg Doucette of HTLT Supplement has not won any Mr Olympia or Mr Universe titles.
Meanwhile, 10-time Mr. Universe World Champion Sazali Samad never took Turkesterone to build his muscles. The 56-year-old professional bodybuilder has been taking 200mg to 400mg standardized Tongkat Ali extract for 5 years to maintain his physique combined with whole food to achieve a balanced diet.
Taking Tongkat Ali for 5 years may benefit bodybuilders and athletes to reduce body fat, far more effective than Turkesterone it seems.
From top left (Greg Doucette), bottom left (Eric Janicki) and right (Sazali Samad) – professional bodybuilders who took Turkesterone and Tongkat Ali supplements daily.
Along with other US best-selling Turkesterone brands such as Human X, Peak Revival, Nutricost Turkesterone, Double Wood Turkesterone, here is the question –
Does it help bodybuilders to gain muscle mass or would you benefit better by taking Turkesterone with Tongkat Ali as part of your muscle-building stack?
Ecdysterone and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE) are steroids that are not clinically tested for long term safety
Natural bodybuilding community Your Natural Federation (YNF) Australia warns users of excessive use of herbal supplements in competitions as steroid-free bodybuilding event organizers are elevating its standards across the globe.
“WADA has placed Turkesterone in their monitoring list, so most bodybuilders opt for Tongkat Ali as an effective, sustainable and safer option. “ said YNF Co-Founder Andric Liew.
Potent clinically tested Tongkat Ali brands such as AKARALI is already widely accepted by the bodybuilding and sports communities in the US, making Turkesterone supplements an unnecessary investment given the superior measurable benefits.
Tongkat Ali is the go-to muscle-building supplement for bodybuilders in competitive events such as YNF Australia (pictured above), Mr Universe World Champion, Mr. Asia and others.
❌ Tests on Muscle Strength: Yes (View Paper)
❌ Tests on Testosterone: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Free Testosterone: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Young Adults: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Men’s Libido: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Men’s Erection: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Cortisol Hormone: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Dopamine: Data Not Available
❌ Tests on Estrogen: Data Not Available
✅ Tests on Muscle Strength: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Testosterone: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Free Testosterone: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Young Adults: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Men’s Fertility: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Men’s Erection: (View Paper)
✅ Test on Cortisol : (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Dopamine: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Estrogen: (View Paper)
✅ Tests on Uric Acid: (View Paper)
✅ Test on Immune System: (View Paper)
Turkesterone supplements are less popular than Tongkat Ali supplements due to their unproven health benefits, lack of scientific studies on their efficacy and safety, and severe side effects due to impurities.
Google search data showed that consumers prefer Tongkat Ali to Turkesterone. Consumer interest in Tongkat Ali grew by 75% compared to Turkesterone in 2022 and this trend continued in 2024 with more users seeking to switch to Tongkat Ali as a proven testosterone supplement that benefits most semi-professional bodybuilders.
Turkesterone supplements are less popular on Amazon too. In comparison, clinically tested premium Tongkat Ali products are far more popular than Turkesterone, especially among men seeking for an effective testosterone supplement.
Source: Google Search Trend on Tongkat Ali vs. Turkesterone based on consumer interest in 2022.
Tongkat Ali is widely used by bodybuilding communities in the US and UK including in competitive events. Turkesterone is not well researched. I wouldnt recommend if you are using it long term.
Turkesterone is believed to offer many potential health benefits despite the lack of scientific evidence, clinical trials, research or real-world performance tests (i.e total research studies on Turkesterone is approximately 10) – mainly claimed by TikTok users and influencers.
The claimed (unverified) health benefits by the best-selling Turkesterone supplements from Peak Revival, Gorilla Mind, Solatix, Double Wood Turkesterone and others include:
Turkesterone's safety and toxicity have not been established. Why putting yourself at risk if you are taking it in high doses throughout your training?
Turkesterone should not be used continuously for more than three weeks due to severe side effects that can impair the liver and kidneys. Experts believe most Turkesterone formulations contain a high level of toxicity that is not compatible with long-term consumption.
In an exclusive video on “Why You Need to Stop Taking Tukesterone”, chief editor Jerry Brainum from Generation Iron Fitness & Bodybuilding Network explains why Turkesterone supplements fail as an anabolic substance based on credible research studies on Turkesterone and ecdysteriod.
Turkesterone doest not work on boosting testosterone as it has no effect on androgen receptors.
According to Brainum, the ecdysteroids in Turkesterone does not work on testosterone as it has no effect on androgen receptors. In addition, previous animal study on rats showed an increased protein synthesis in liver, but this study showed no anabolic effects on muscle development or protein synthesis. He added that limited human studies on ecysteroid based on 10 young adults exposed to weight training did not show any anabolic effects, with no changes in fat-loss or protein synthesis despite gain in weight and upper body strength and leg reps.
Jerry Brainum warned users against trusting Joe Rogan’s statement that Turkesterone supplement did produce anabolic effects on humans. The sad truth of Turkesterone has led to more negative reviews by users who have used ecdysteroid supplements such as Gorilla Mind Turkesterone supplement as a natural testosterone booster.
Get more insights and find out how to use Turkesterone and Tongkat Ali more effectively.
Yes, you may take Tongkat Ali and Turkesterone together at low dosage of 200mg – 400 mg per day. However, users are warned that taking Tongkat Ali and Turkesterone together at high doses may be harmful with reported severe side effects such as moderate nausea, headaches, frequent vomiting, and insomnia. The severe side effects of Turkesterone Tongkat Ali on liver functions and kidneys have not been established.
There are no quantifiable added benefits of taking Turkesterone and Tongkat Ali together due to lack of clinical studies on humans. However, anecdotal user evidence reported higher muscle gains due to compounded anabolic effects and better protein synthesis from both herbs.
A 2021 animal study found that an Ajuga turkestanica extract (which contains turkesterone) did not have any anabolic effects on muscle mass in aging mice after 28 days. The study concludes that Turkesterone does not increase muscle mass.
Turkesterone does not help you to reduce weight as its bioactive ingredient does not exhibit thermogenic or fat-burn properties. A 2021 animal study showed no reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) in aging mice after taking turkesterone for 28 days. There are no clinical evidence or human clinical studies to prove the efficacy of turkesterone in promoting fat loss, or increase metabolism rate in human.
Turkesterone is believed to activate androgen receptors that increase protein synthesis which helps to accelerate muscle growth and strength. Despite a lack of scientific evidence, Turkesterone is popular amongst bodybuilders as many believe that ecdysterone achieves faster muscle growth when paired with weight training. However, multiple studies on Tongkat Ali showed the effects on lean muscle growth due to its thermogenic properties that accelerate fat burn and metabolism. The addition of high crude protein content (>30%) suggests that pure Tongkat Ali extract performs better than ecdysterone or Turkesterone when it comes to lean muscle development.
Yes, you may use Turkesterone Tongkat Ali stack, or mix both herbs together as both deliver compounded anabolic effects to your muscle-building activities. However, the gains may be attributed to Tongkat Ali’s bioactive ingredients and less to Turkesterone.
Taking both Turkesterone and Fadogia Agrestis may be toxic to the liver and kidneys as a recent animal study in 2023 showed the damaging effects of Fadogia on liver tissues (i.e necrosis), chronic inflammation of kidneys, and testicular functions. It is not advisable to take Turkesterone and Fadogia Agrestis, or any form of Turkesteron Fadogia supplements even at low dosages.
Related article: Does Fadogia Agrestis affect liver and kidneys? Here is what science says.
There is no conclusive evidence and a lack of clinical studies to confirm the effects of Turkesterone on kidneys or liver functions. However, Tongkat Ali animal studies and human clinical trials showed no negative effect of liver enzymes and kidney functions.
Related article: Does Tongkat Ali affect kidneys or liver?
There is no clinical study, or anecdotal evidence (eg: from blood tests) to validate Turkesterone’s effect on testosterone, free testosterone and other hormones. Despite the lack of scientific evidence on testosterone gains, many believe Turkesterone delivers a healthy testosterone boost that leads to muscle gains.
Tongkat Ali performs significantly better than Turkesterone in increasing free usable testosterone with improvement between 60% to 500%. Larger testosterone gains are reported in studies when combining Tongkat Ali supplements with multivitamins or other herbal supplements in your stack.
A randomized placebo clinical test on 93 test participants showed a free testosterone increase between 582% (for men) to 600% (for women) after consuming Tongkat Ali for 24 weeks.
Note: (n= 19 males) with test participants between 20 – 60 years consuming 50mg Physta® Tongkat Ali extract (Eurycoma Longifolia) with Multi-Vitamins. (Source: Tongkat Ali Clinical Test Study)
Turkesterone exhibits mild testosterone-boosting properties based on past animal studies. However, the results may not be statistically significant and the lack of scientific evidence has deterred many consumers from viewing Turkesterone as an effective testosterone booster.
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) is a more established herbal supplement, clinically proven and performance-tested on endurance athletes (i.e marathon runners) compared to Turkesterone. For example, Tongkat Ali elevates running performance and is widely used by ultramarathon runners to gain further distance by reducing premature muscle fatigue and enhancing testosterone levels during longer runs.
No, Turkesterone is not a libido booster and there is no study or evidence to suggest, imply or conclude Turkesterone’s capability to boost sexual desire or libido.
Yes, Tongkat Ali is a better supplement for men’s fertility than Turkesterone. Tongkat Ali supplementation showed higher sperm count, sperm motility and morphology based on human studies and clinical trials. It is also used by doctors and in men’s fertility clinics as an alternative natural supplement to boost sperm quality in recent years.
Best-selling Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements such as HumanX Turkesterone & Tongkat Ali (900mg) and Peak Revival-X Turkesterone & Tongkat Ali (1,000mg) claim to support muscle development with their potent Turkesterone formulation and other hosts of benefits for bodybuilders. However, our review of the ingredients used in polyherbal Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements suggest that these health claims and benefits are not backed by any research studies. Both Tongkat Ali and Turkesterone may support better protein synthesis, but Tongkat Ali gives better edge in contributing on muscle growth by promoting better fat burn in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) due to its thermogenic effects which lead a higher metabolism rate.
Turkesterone vs. Tongkat Ali. Which is better?
Whether you choose Turkesterone or Tongkat Ali, depends on your health objectives and the intended use. So if you are using supplements to build muscle in the shortest time without worrying too much about its side effects, then Turkesterone may suit your needs. Due to its efficacy, potency and lack of standardization, it may not work for everyone.
Despite the lack of empirical evidence and human studies, Turkesterone is sold as a single herb supplement or mixed with popular Tongkat Ali and Fadogia Agresits.
The best-selling Turkesterone Tongkat Ali Fadogia stack is deemed popular if you are obsessed with growing muscles, with little evidence or empirical studies to back up its health benefits.
With less than 10 studies to date, Turkesterone requires further research studies and extraction technology is still in its infancy stage, with quality issues from unreliable Turkesterone suppliers.
Coupled with a tsunami of quality and raw material issues, you need to choose the best Turkesterone supplements from reputable manufacturers. Unfortunately, best-selling Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements such as HumanX and Peak Revival, Gorilla Mind Turkesterone, Double Wood Turkesterone may not contain a high concentration of ecdysteroid to exhibit efficacy or any form of health benefits.
Due to a lack of regulation and standardized extract protocols, most Turkesterone supplements have less ecdysterone than what was claimed by most Turkesterone brands or manufacturers. This explains Turkesterone supplements may not work to boost testosterone or to induce any health benefits as advertised. However, the rise of polyherbal Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements is now drawing the attention of bodybuilders once again, with new health claims on muscle development and muscle growth.
99.7% of supplements containing ecdysterone has less than the label claim
Here is a good example.
Peak Ecdysone is among the best-selling Turkesterone supplements in 2023 next to Double Wood Turkesterone, HumanX Turkesterone Tongkat Ali and many others. However, the brand were in the limelight for the wrong reasons.
Jeff Nippard, a professional drug-free bodybuilder shared a shocking finding about Turkesterone supplements which garnered 1.8 million views on Youtube.
Peak Ecdysone Turkesterone supplement has only 6mg of ecdysterone in the capsule as opposed to 100mg as claimed on the label
On the other hand, Tongkat Ali generally fits the profile of users who wants to achieve all-rounded health benefits, with almost-guaranteed results.
In fact, Tongkat Ali is amongst the best testosterone supplement for men. We found that almost 70% of testosterone boosters sold in the market today contain Tongkat Ali as one of the key active ingredients, making it popular amongst weight lifters, bodybuilders and endurance athletes.
Now, that says a lot about Tongkat Ali, which is backed by more than 300+ studies and clinical tests on humans, compared to Turkesterone, which recorded less than 10 research studies to date.
The high number of research undertaken in the last few decades makes Tongkat Ali one of the best herbal sports supplement in the USA, making it a versatile herb that can be added with creatine, protein powder, matcha green tea, coffee, zinc, magnesium and many other sports supplements.
Tongkat Ali is more effective and safer than Turkesterone due to its years of clinical tests on sports performance.
10-time Mr. Universe World Champion Sazali Samad is amongst the top professional bodybuilders who took standardized Tongkat Ali extract daily for the past 5 years to maintain his muscle mass, which helps him stay in shape throughout his training and during competition.
“Turkesterone supplement is more of a hype for building muscle mass. After trying it for four weeks, it did not give me any additional or measurable benefits.“ said 57-year-old Sazali, who trains six times a week with a full recovery rest day.
Turkesterone did not help grow or maintain my muscle mass
For professional bodybuilders and athletes, the main benefits of Tongkat Ali supplementation are its thermogenic and metabolic properties – which are shown to aid in the reduction of visceral fat, fat mass and increase metabolic rest rate. This may help younger athletes or even older bodybuilders above 30 to prevent premature muscle atrophy, sarcopenia and other age-related loss of muscle mass or strength.
This makes supplements such as Human X, Peak Revial Turkesterone-Tongkat Ali or DoubleWood Turkesterone Tongkat Ali rather a wasteful investment as the polyherbal formulation (i.e combination of two herbs) is not clinically tested to enhance or provide additional benefits to muscle growth, strength or fat burn.
In fact, you may gain better results by taking a pure single-ingredient Tongkat Ali supplement that is standardized using hot water extract.
A pilot study on a 22-year-old athlete taking 600mg of Tongkat Ali daily for six weeks showed a significant reduction in body fat mass (from 13.8kg to 12.7kg), fat percentage drop (from 17.7% to 16.4%) and improved Basal Metabolic Rate (from 1911 kcal to 1913kcal) after the 3rd week.
As a fat-burner, Tongkat Ali performs better than Turkesterone hands down.
Here is a data-driven insights showing Tongkat Ali’s fat-burning performance based on a 600mg of daily supplementation after 3 weeks.
| Before Taking Tongkat Ali (1st week) | After Taking Tongkat Ali (3rd Week)
|
Body Fat Mass | 13.8kg | 12.7kg |
Total Fat Percentage | 17.7% | 16.4% |
Fat-Free-Mass | 64.3kg | 64.5kg |
Visceral Fat Rating | 3 | 2 |
Basal Metabolic Rate | 1911 kcal | 1913 kcal |
“Turkesterone could be a short-term supplementation if you are new to herbal supplement, but Tongkat Ali is by far the safest long-term choice” said Dr. Annie George, Head Scientist of Biotropics.
Tongkat Ali attracts people from all walks of life, from first-time users who are embarking on a body transformation, avid sports amateurs, lightweight marathon runners, cyclists and many others. But on the other hand, Turkesterone is mainly used by high-risk gym junkies to achieve rapid muscle gains, without considering its long-term effects on health.
This makes Turkesterone-Tongkat Ali supplement rather popular. However, you should choose wisely as Turkesterone could be harmful to the liver and kidneys when taken in high doses and due low number of studies, it is hard to establish the long term safety and side effects.
As for Tongkat Ali, the effectiveness and health gains are dosage-dependent. It means the recommended daily dosage can be fine-tuned to maximize specific health outcomes (eg: muscle mass, strength).
For instance, you can consume a super-potent Tongkat Ali at a lower dosage of 200mg per day to gain its full benefits.
Whilst Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements may work in theory, combining Turkesterone and Tongkat Ali may not work as much as you hoped for.
In fact, the actual results or health gains are contributed by Tongkat Ali’s efficacy due to its scientifically proven bioactive ingredients, backed by decades of research on eurycomanone, eurpeptides and glycosaponin.
We have explained in great detail in our Fadogia Agrestis Tongkat Ali review.
The total net gain from combining two herbs is not the sum of individual gains.
Yet, most people think 1 + 1 = 2.
This allows further manipulation into thinking that the sum of 0.6 + 1.4 = 2 (or must be equal to two)
Because this is how we are wired to think.
So combining 600mg of Tongkat Ali extract and 1,400mg of Turkesterone does not mean you will gain 2x more muscle strength.
Yet some manufacturers or supplements try to deceive consumers by adding Turkesterone with Tongkat Ali, making it a potential scam as reported by users on TikTok, Reddit and by many others.
The truth is, that every new herbal ingredient like Tongkat Ali or Turkesterone must be tested on potency and efficacy. However, Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements contain polyherbal formulations and ingredients that are not clinically tested for pharmacological effects, or side effects when consumed at the recommended dosage due to the unregulated nature of herbal industry in the US.
In short, Turkesterone is the largest herbal scam in 2023.
Yes, there are lots of false prophecy and hype on Turkesterone despite its lack of clinical evidence.
Single supplements containing 100% Turkesterone extract sold online with false health claims are common on Amazon. Users are cautioned not to purchase Turkesterone supplements or ecdysteroid supplements on Amazon that are not clinically tested on humans. This applies to Turkesterone Tongkat Ali supplements sold in the US that are heavily promoted by influencers, or by uncertified health experts.
Here is the conclusion of Turkesterone vs. Tongkat Ali in a nutshell.
If you can’t wait and desperately seeking ways to turbocharge your muscle strength with fast results (without even thinking twice about its long-term effects), Turkesterone may be the right supplement for you.
If you are looking for a more sustainable, proven and safer option, then clinically tested Tongkat Ali is the answer.
The best Tongkat Ali products on Amazon such as AKARALI are a testament that Turkesterone cannot win the herbal supplement race.
There are many grey areas and untested territories when it comes to Turkesterone. Consumer confidence may change in the future as more clinical trials are conducted to validate the efficacy of Turkesterone.
We constantly advise our readers to consult their nearest doctor before consuming Turkesterone or even Tongkat Ali.
Whether you are consuming Turkesterone as a single ingredient, together, or in a combination with other herbs, please be careful of the potential adverse reactions, or severe side effects.
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.
One Response
I really appreciate this website and also the break down of other supplements on this website, with that being said is there any supplements recommended for female body growth and libido sort of like a female version to Tongkat Ali something that will increase her natural estrogen levels, any herbs from Asian countries that will be good or even Latin America not Maca but something else and at a good dose to thank you