Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cheah KL, Norhayati MN, Husniati Yaacob L, Abdul Rahman R
PloS one · 47 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Meta-analysis (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Universiti Sains Malaysia
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2021-09-24 · PLoS One · vol. 16 · issue 9 · p. e0257843
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Cited
- 86 citations · more than 96% of similar papers · 5.0× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 75 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants · Banking Sector Performance and Management · Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Keywords
- Medicine, Withania somnifera, Insomnia, Randomized controlled trial, Placebo, Anxiety, Meta-analysis, Alertness, Adverse effect, Confidence interval, Traditional medicine, Strictly standardized mean difference, Quality of life (healthcare), Physical therapy, Internal medicine, Psychiatry, Alternative medicine
- MeSH
- humans, sleep initiation and maintenance disorders, plant extracts, drug administration schedule, anxiety, sleep, quality of life, randomized controlled trials as topic
4 authors
From MY
- Kae Ling Cheah · correspondingHospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Mohd Noor Norhayati · correspondingHospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Lili Husniati Yaacob · correspondingHospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Razlina Abdul Rahman · correspondingHospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Objective
To determine the effect of Ashwagandha extract on sleep.
Methods
A comprehensive search was conducted in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Google Scholars, World Health Organization Trials Portal, ClinicalTrials.gov, Clinical Trial Registry of India, and AYUSH Research Portal for all appropriate trials. Randomized controlled trials that examined the effect of Ashwagandha extract versus placebo on sleep in human participants 18 years old and above were considered. Two authors independently read all trials and independently extracted all relevant data. The primary outcomes were sleep quantity and sleep quality. The secondary outcomes were mental alertness on rising, anxiety level, and quality of life.
Results
A total of five randomized controlled trials containing 400 participants were analyzed. Ashwagandha extract exhibited a small but significant effect on overall sleep (Standardized Mean Difference -0.59; 95% Confidence Interval -0.75 to -0.42; I2 = 62%). The effects on sleep were more prominent in the subgroup of adults diagnosed with insomnia, treatment dosage ≥600 mg/day, and treatment duration ≥8 weeks. Ashwagandha extract was also found to improve mental alertness on rising and anxiety level, but no significant effect on quality of life. No serious side effects were reported.
Conclusion
Ashwagandha extract appears to has a beneficial effect in improving sleep in adults. However, data on the serious adverse effects of Ashwagandha extract are limited, and more safety data would be needed to assess whether it would be safe for long-term use.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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