Background: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera also known as Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry) is a prominent herb in Ayurveda medicine, commonly used to promote youthful vigor, longevity, and overall wellbeing. This paper focuses on ashwagandha as an ergogenic aid and presents the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the effects of ashwagandha administered as an adjuvant to a resistance training program, on serum testosterone and inflammatory markers in healthy adults.

Aim: To investigate the effects of Ashwagandha root extract on serum testosterone and inflammatory markers in healthy adults following resistance training.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 80 healthy male and female adults between 18–45yearsof age after obtaining informed consent. Enrolled participants were randomly allocated to receive capsule Ashwagandha root extract 300 mg, or an identical placebo capsule containing starch. Both treatments were given twice daily for with milk or water for 8 weeks. Study assessments included serum testosterone (total and free), CD4 cell counts, and serum levels of inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-Alpha), done at baseline and after 8 weeks.

Results: Four participants in the placebo and 3 from ashwagandha group did not complete the study, and analyses were done on 73 (36 ashwagandha, 37 placebo) participants data. The free serum testosterone levels increased (p<0.0001) in males receiving Ashwagandha compared to placebo. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were less in the Ashwagandha group, but these were statistically insignificant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Ashwagandha root extract supplementation in combination with resistance training is effective in improving free testosterone levels in men but not in women.