The Claim

In overweight men aged 40–70 years with mild fatigue, daily supplementation with 21 mg of withanolide glycosides from a standardized ashwagandha extract (Shoden beads) for 8 weeks is associated with an 18% greater increase in salivary DHEA-S and a 14.7% greater increase in salivary testosterone compared to placebo, and these effects are not sustained after discontinuation of treatment.

Source: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
68score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In overweight men aged 40–70 with mild fatigue, taking 21 mg of withanolide glycosides from ashwagandha daily for 8 weeks leads to an 18% higher increase in salivary DHEA-S and a 14.7% higher increase in salivary testosterone compared to a placebo, but these increases return to baseline after stopping the supplement.

See the scientific wording

In overweight men aged 40–70 years with mild fatigue, daily supplementation with 21 mg of withanolide glycosides from a standardized ashwagandha extract (Shoden beads) for 8 weeks is associated with an 18% greater increase in salivary DHEA-S and a 14.7% greater increase in salivary testosterone compared to placebo, but these effects are not sustained after discontinuation of treatment.

Why this might work

Chemicals in ashwagandha activate brain cells that signal the pituitary gland to release a hormone that tells the testes to make more testosterone and DHEA-S. When the supplement stops, the signal stops and hormone levels return to normal.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males

    This study found that taking a specific ashwagandha supplement for 8 weeks raised two male hormones in middle-aged overweight men with mild fatigue — and when they stopped taking it, the hormone levels went back down. That’s exactly what the claim says.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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