by Chris Shugart
The Longjack Test
This natural substance definitely boosts testosterone and libido, but many of the supplements containing it don't work. Why? Let's find out.
Think of something you want from Amazon. It could be anything. I'll choose a product I'm familiar with – pocketknives. Let's say I want a folding knife that locks open with a two-inch blade and a grippy handle. I go to Amazon and find thousands of options.
Some cost ten bucks, and some cost a hundred or more. They look the same and all fit my requirements. So, why are some selling for a ten spot and some for a C-note? Well, some of them suck and others are well-made.
The cheap ones have flimsy steel, janky handles, and weak locks. The expensive ones do their job and last forever. But to the average person who doesn't know much about knives, the ten-dollar blades are "the same thing" and seem like a better deal.
The same is true for supplements. This is especially true for ingredients like Longjack (Eurycoma longifolia or Tongkat Ali). It's a proven testosterone booster, libido igniter, and performance enhancer. But there's a catch. Only some Longjack products work. Like the pocketknife shopper, you need to know what to look for.
A Shocking Study
A 2015 study in the Journal of Applied Sciences examined a bunch of Longjack supplements. Some were stand-alone products, and some used Longjack as part of a combined formulation. The scientists knew that for Longjack to work, it had to have the right number of bioactive fractions – eurypeptides, glycosaponins, and eurycomanone.
"Bioactive fractions" are the specific components in a substance that are biologically active and contribute to its effects. These fractions often consist of secondary metabolites, enzymes, peptides, or other molecular groups with distinct biological properties. For natural extracts, bioactive fractions are typically isolated and concentrated to enhance efficacy and ensure consistency.
The best Longjack comes from Malaysia, and the government is highly protective of its signature herb. They developed "MS 2409:2011" – the Malaysian Standard, a benchmark for testing Longjack.
Back to the study. The researchers used this benchmark to test 41 Longjack supplements. They were mainly looking for a level of eurycomanone around 0.8 to 1.5 w/v (%) – the level needed for the product to actually work. Here's what they found:
- Out of 42 products, only 24 contained eurycomanone.
- Out of those 24 products, 11 complied with the criteria set by the Malaysian Standard.
So, 18 of the supplements flat out won't work because they don't contain the bioactive fractions needed. Thirteen others did contain the powerhouse component but not enough to get the job done (boost testosterone, primarily). So, only 11 products out of 42 passed the test.
How to Shop for Longjack That Works
First, the most effective Longjack supplement probably won't be the cheapest. The good stuff simply costs more.
Second, look for "LJ100" on the label. This makes it easy. LJ100 is the patented, standardized extract – the golden child of Malaysian Longjack. It contains bioactive compounds like 40% glycosaponins, 22% eurypeptides, and 1% eurycomanone.
Third, look for a supplement that ramps up bioavailability using Labrasol: caprylocaproyl polyoxyl-8 glycerides. This is a delivery system borrowed from the pharmaceutical industry to ensure absorption into the bloodstream.
Finally, make sure your Longjack supplement contains enough LJ100 to get the job done (300 mg). Some supplement companies use the good stuff, but not enough. This makes their product look less expensive, but in reality, you'd have to take twice as much.
No surprises here, but our Longjack supplement – Omega-Man High Absorption Longjack (Buy at Amazon) – meets all the criteria above.
Reference
- Norhidayah, et al. "Detection and Quantification of Eurycomanone Levels in Tongkat Ali Herbal Products." Journal of Applied Sciences, 2015.