Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Ashwagandha Supplementation on Exercise Endurance: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial Can u tell me what is in this article Becoz its lock
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Efficacy Safety Low-Dose Ashwagandha Supplementation Exercise Endurance Randomized Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Clinical Trial
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PMID: 41846233
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Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Ashwagandha Supplementation on Exercise Endurance
Authors: Himanshu Prajapati, Milan Satia, Dhara Shah, Ishita Basera, Tanvi Shah
Journal: Phytotherapy Research (PTR)
Published: August 2026
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.70178
PMID: 41846233
Background / What the study is about
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a well-known adaptogen used traditionally for stress relief and physical performance. This study tested a specific formulation called Low-Dose Ashwagandha (LDA / "Ashwa.30") - a bioactive-optimized, root-only extract standardized to:
- >15% withanolides (w/w)
- >15% ATP-active fraction (w/w)
The key angle here is that it used a very low dose (30 mg/day), much lower than most previous studies, to see if it still works.
Study Design
- Type: 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Participants: Healthy adults
- Groups: LDA (30 mg/day) vs. placebo
What Was Measured
Primary endpoint:
- VO2max (maximal oxygen uptake) - assessed using the Modified Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test (MBPTT), an indirect method for cardiorespiratory fitness
Secondary endpoints:
- Lactic acid levels - marker of when the body shifts from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism (fatigue threshold)
- Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) - marker of muscle stress/damage
- Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE - Borg scale) - how hard participants felt they were working
- Fatigue score (VAS - Visual Analogue Scale)
- Safety biomarkers - hematological, liver (hepatic), kidney (renal), metabolic panels, and vital signs
Key Results
| Outcome | Finding |
|---|---|
| VO2max | Significantly improved in LDA group vs placebo |
| Maximal heart rate | Significantly improved in LDA group |
| Lactic acid at exercise | Lower in LDA group - suggesting prolonged aerobic metabolism (body stays in aerobic zone longer before fatiguing) |
| CPK levels | Significantly reduced - less muscle energy stress |
| Borg RPE & fatigue scores | Improved in LDA group (participants felt less exertion) |
| Safety | Well tolerated - no treatment-related adverse events; all organ function parameters stayed in normal range |
Conclusions
- Just 30 mg/day of this standardized ashwagandha extract over 8 weeks significantly:
- Enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max)
- Delayed fatigue onset
- Reduced perceived effort during exercise
- Protected against muscle stress (lower CPK)
- It was safe with no adverse effects on liver, kidneys, blood, or metabolism
- The authors suggest LDA is a potential safe and effective low-dose supplement for endurance performance
Why This Study Matters
Most previous ashwagandha RCTs used doses of 300-600 mg/day. This trial showed that a highly concentrated, standardized extract at just 30 mg can produce measurable exercise performance benefits - which is notable for tolerability, cost, and minimal dosing.
Note: This is an industry-funded study by design (the extract "Ashwa.30" appears to be a proprietary product), so independent replication would strengthen these findings.
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PubMed page (always free):
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41846233/
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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13436173/
Publisher DOI link (may be paywalled):
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.70178
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