How long it takes a supplement to work depends on the effect you're after and how much you're taking. The main key? Consistency. Details here.
Would you take a supplement that helps you build 10 pounds of muscle and lose 10 pounds of fat without changing your diet or training? What if you had to take it every day for 6 weeks, and if you missed one dose, it wouldn't work? Sure, no problem, you'd say.
But there is a problem: consistency and adherence.
Based on drug studies from the W.H.O. and The Lancet, about 50% of patients are non-adherent. The drugs will help them if they'd only take them as prescribed, but half of the patients don't. Sometimes, they have a good reason, like a drug's unpleasant side effects. But most of the time, they simply forget.
In the supplement world, we've seen the same problem: A supplement has a proven effect, but the supplement user doesn't consistently take it. In other cases, he or she doesn't take it for a long enough time to get the desired effect. They might say, "It didn't work for me!" In reality, they didn't work for the supplement by being consistent and patient.
It does get confusing, though. Studies on individual ingredients use different amounts or forms of the ingredients. And sometimes the studies last for a few days, other times for months. The question, "How long does it take to work?" is often hard to answer.
So, let's focus on one ingredient, a natural testosterone booster, and see if we can parse out the details.
Longjack: How Long Does It Take to Work?
Longjack (also called Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat ali) is known for increasing testosterone, reducing cortisol, reducing fat mass, increasing libido, and helping with erectile dysfunction.
It works, but how long does it take? It depends on the particular effect being studied, the extract quality, and the amount used. Much also depends on when and how a desired effect is tested. For example, a study might show that Longjack users had increased testosterone after 12 weeks. Great, but did they test it at 4 or 6 weeks? Maybe the T boost was also measurable then, but they only took blood tests at weeks 1 and 12.
Keeping all that in mind, here's what we know so far from Longjack studies:
- Increased Testosterone: 4-12 weeks – If we combine the results of several Longjack studies, we'd find that most report significant increases in free or total testosterone in 4-12 weeks. Dosages vary between 100 and 600 mg/day, with 200 mg/day being common. One randomly controlled trial reported a measurable testosterone increase in just 3 days. This T-boosting effect of Longjack was observed using normal and hypogonadal men.
- Reduced Cortisol: 4-12 weeks – One noted study used 200 mg of Longjack daily, while another used 300 mg. Both reported significant cortisol reductions. In the 4-week study, subjects were moderately stressed. Those with higher stress markers (really high cortisol) may need to take it longer.
- Reduced Fat Mass: 12 weeks – Most Longjack studies don't focus on fat loss, but one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 300 mg/day of LJ100 (the standardized, purest form) reported significant fat mass reduction in 12 weeks.
- Increased Libido: 4-12 weeks – For sex drive, we have to rely on subjective reports, but a 2012 study (200 mg/day, 4 weeks) noted improved sexual well-being in hypogonadal men, likely tied to testosterone increases. A 6-month study (200 mg/day) reported enhanced libido in men with androgen deficiency. A 300 mg/day LJ100 study (12 weeks) improved quality of life, including sexual health.
- Better Erections: 12 weeks – A 2014 systematic review cited a 12-week trial using 300 mg/day showing benefits for erectile dysfunction. A 6-month study (200 mg/day) reported better erectile function in men with androgen deficiency, likely due to testosterone increases.
- Improved Mood: 4 Weeks – A 2013 study noted reduced stress and improved mood after 4 weeks of 200 mg/day.
How to Use This Info
Depending on why you're taking Longjack, hopefully the above gives you an idea of what to expect and when. Obviously, consistency is key.
Just be sure to use the proven LJ100 form, ideally formulated with Labrasol to increase absorption and bioavailability. Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon) contains 300 mg per serving, and you only need to take it once per day (one softgel), making adherence much easier.
References
- Ismail, Shaiful Bahari, et al. “Randomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in Men.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, 2012, article ID 429268, doi:10.1155/2012/429268.
- Leitão, Alice Erwig, et al. “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).” Maturitas, vol. 145, 2021, pp. 78–85, doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.12.002.
- Talbot, Shawn M., et al. “Effect of Tongkat Ali on Stress Hormones and Psychological Mood State in Moderately Stressed Subjects.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 10, no. 1, 2013, article 28, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-28.
- Thu, Hnin Ei, et al. “Eurycoma longifolia as a Potential Alternative to Testosterone for the Treatment of Osteoporosis: Exploring Time-Mannered Proliferative, Differentiative and Morphogenic Modulation in Osteoblasts.” Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, vol. 9, no. 4, 2018, pp. 272–278, doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2017.07.011.
- Udani, Jay K., et al. “Effects of a Standardized Extract of Eurycoma longifolia (LJ100) on Quality of Life, Physical Function, and Body Composition: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 11, no. 1, 2014, article P38, doi:10.1186/1550-2783-11-S1-P38.