The Study
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) root extract in improving cardiorespiratory endurance and recovery in healthy athletic adults.
This is a scientific experiment where 50 athletes were randomly split into two groups - one got real Ashwagandha pills, the other got fake pills. Neither the athletes nor the researchers knew which was which. After 8 weeks, the Ashwagandha group showed better VO2 max (how well their body uses oxygen during exercise). Because of this careful setup, we can say the herb probably caused the improvement, not just by chance. But it's just ONE study with a small number of people, so we can't be 100% sure it will work for everyone.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Researchers tested if Ashwagandha root extract helps healthy athletes run longer and recover faster. They gave 25 athletes 300mg Ashwagandha twice daily for 8 weeks while another 25 got placebo pills.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 547 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes - statistically significant improvements in cardiovascular endurance and recovery metrics were observed in the Ashwagandha group.
- 2Ashwagandha group showed significantly better VO2 max (P=0.0074), recovery scores (P<0.0001), and antioxidant levels (P<0.0001) compared to placebo group.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Year
2021
Authors
S. Tiwari, S. Gupta, A. K. Pathak
Related Content
Claims (6)
Taking ashwagandha supplements (an herb used in traditional medicine) every day for about 2 months might help people exercise longer without getting as tired by improving how efficiently their body uses oxygen during physical activity.
Taking ashwagandha root extract (300mg twice daily for 8 weeks) can help healthy athletes improve their VO2 max, which measures how well their body uses oxygen during exercise.
Taking ashwagandha root extract helps athletes recover better after working out, as measured by their Total Quality Recovery scores.
Taking ashwagandha root extract may help athletes have more antioxidants in their bodies, which could protect them from the harmful effects of exercise-related stress.
Can an herb called ashwagandha help athletes feel less tired and more energized?
Taking ashwagandha root extract twice a day (300mg each time) for 8 weeks was completely safe for healthy athletes - they didn't experience any bad side effects during the study.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.