Biopsychological Effects of Ashwagandha (<i>Withania somnifera</i>) in Athletes and Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review
Ferreira JF, Ferreira RM, Maia F, Fernandes LG, Leão C, Pimenta N
Muscles (Basel, Switzerland) · 4 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Systematic review (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2025-07-28 · Muscles · vol. 4 · issue 3 · p. 24
- Cited
- 4 citations · more than 80% of similar papers · 1.5× the field average
- References
- 109 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants · Pharmacology and Nanomedicine Research · Health, Education, and Aging
- Keywords
- Withania somnifera, Checklist, Medicine, Athletes, Scopus, Alternative medicine, Web of science, Systematic review, Population, Health benefits, Traditional medicine, Physical therapy, MEDLINE, Clinical psychology, Meta-analysis, Psychology, Environmental health, Biology, Internal medicine, Pathology
6 authors
From PT
- Joana Fonseca Ferreira · correspondingInstituto Superior da Maia
- Ricardo Maia FerreiraPolytechnic Institute of Coimbra; Instituto Superior da Maia
- Filipe MaiaInstituto Superior da Maia
- Luís Gonçalves FernandesInstituto Superior da Maia
- César LeãoPolytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo; Instituto Superior da Maia
- Nuno PimentaInstituto Superior da Maia
Abstract
Ergogenic supplements are becoming increasingly popular in the diet of trained individuals, due to their potential benefits. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the supplements that has recently grown in popularity. Despite growing interest, its scientific background remains limited and sometimes inconsistent.
Objective
This overview of systematic reviews aimed to evaluate the effects of Ashwagandha supplementation on sports performance and health-related outcomes.
Methods
A systematic literature search was carried out on the following electronic databases: PUBMed, Scopus, Academic Search Complete, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using the search terms "ashwagandha" and "systematic review" in the title or abstract of the publication in July 2024. The eligibility of the articles was assessed using the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, and Study Design) approach, and risk of bias was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 checklist.
Results
Of the 2388 systematic reviews found, 11 met the inclusion criteria, which included 151 original studies representing 9005 individuals. Findings suggest that Ashwagandha supplementation may improve various aspects of sports performance, such as endurance and muscular strength, as well as health-related outcomes, including anxiety reduction, improved sleep quality, and enhanced sexual function. The most commonly used doses of Ashwagandha supplementation are between 500 mg and 1000 mg a day.
Conclusion
While current evidence indicates promising effects of Ashwagandha on physical and psychological parameters, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed. Therefore, its use in athletes or healthy individuals should be considered with caution and based on individual needs.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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