A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial
PubMed 30854916 · doi:10.1177/1557988319835985
What was done
In a 16-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 57 overweight men aged 40–70 years with mild fatigue received either a standardized ashwagandha extract (Shoden beads, providing 21 mg withanolide glycosides daily) or placebo for 8-week treatment periods. Fifty participants completed the first 8-week phase and 43 completed the full 16-week study. Outcomes included salivary steroid hormones (DHEA-S, testosterone, cortisol, estradiol) and self-reported measures of mood and aging symptoms via the Profile of Mood States (POMS-SF) and Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) questionnaires.
What was found
Ashwagandha intake was associated with an 18% greater increase in salivary DHEA-S (p = .005) and a 14.7% greater increase in salivary testosterone (p = .010) compared to placebo. No statistically significant between-group differences were found for salivary cortisol, estradiol, fatigue, vigor, or sexual and psychological well-being.
Why it matters
This trial demonstrates that a standardized ashwagandha extract can elevate salivary DHEA-S and testosterone in aging, overweight men. However, these endocrine increases did not translate into statistically significant symptomatic improvements over placebo during the study period.
Limits
The sample size was modest, with substantial attrition (14 of 57 enrolled did not complete the full 16 weeks). Hormone levels were measured only in saliva rather than serum. The 8-week intervention window may have been insufficient to detect symptomatic changes, or the hormonal increases may not produce noticeable clinical effects.
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