Ashwagandha for Muscle Damage

Overseen By Philip Chilibeck

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Breastfeeding, Exercise-affected conditions, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 10 days

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether Ashwagandha, an herbal supplement, can speed up muscle recovery after exercise. Researchers aim to determine if short-term Ashwagandha use can improve muscle strength, reduce swelling, and ease soreness, particularly in the biceps. Participants will receive either Ashwagandha or a placebo, a harmless pill that resembles the supplement but has no effect. This trial may suit individuals aged 18-35 who exercise regularly and have no allergies to common pill ingredients. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to understanding Ashwagandha's potential benefits for muscle recovery.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Studies have shown that Ashwagandha, a herbal supplement, is generally safe and easy for most people to use. One study found that participants took Ashwagandha root extract for eight weeks without major side effects. While some research suggests more information is needed on higher doses, most evidence indicates it is safe when used in typical amounts. Ashwagandha also helps reduce stress and improve physical performance, supporting its positive safety profile. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising?

Researchers are excited about Ashwagandha for muscle damage because it offers a natural alternative to standard treatments like NSAIDs, which can have side effects with long-term use. Most treatments for muscle damage focus on reducing inflammation and pain, but Ashwagandha may help by promoting muscle recovery and reducing oxidative stress. Additionally, its potential to deliver results with just 600 mg daily makes it an appealing option for those seeking a simpler, plant-based approach.

What evidence suggests that Ashwagandha might be an effective treatment for muscle recovery?

Research shows that Ashwagandha, a herbal supplement, can increase muscle size and strength. Studies have found that it aids in physical recovery and boosts muscle performance. One study linked Ashwagandha to stronger muscles and reduced tiredness. In this trial, participants will receive either Ashwagandha or a placebo. Previous research demonstrated that Ashwagandha outperformed a placebo in helping athletes recover after exercise. These findings suggest Ashwagandha may help muscles recover faster and feel less sore after workouts. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for men and women aged 18-35 who are generally healthy. It's not suitable for those with conditions affected by exercise, or individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have allergies to Dicalcium Phosphate, Cellulose, Vegetable magnesium stearate, or Silica.

Exclusion Criteria

Conditions that may be affected by exercise (determined by 'yes' answers to the 'Get Active Questionnaire')

Pregnant

Breastfeeding

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Ashwagandha supplementation or placebo for 10 days

10 days

Daily supplementation

Exercise and Assessment

Participants perform muscle-damaging exercise and undergo assessments before and after exercise, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-exercise

4 days

Multiple assessments over 4 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ashwagandha

Trial Overview

The study tests if taking Ashwagandha supplements can help muscles recover after exercise. Participants will either receive Ashwagandha or a placebo and their muscle strength recovery, swelling, and soreness will be monitored.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ashwagandha Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

600 mg/d Ashwagandha

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

600 mg/d placebo for 10 days

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Saskatchewan

Lead Sponsor

Trials

261

Recruited

156,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 18 healthy volunteers, ashwagandha (WS) was well-tolerated at escalating doses over 30 days, with only one participant experiencing mild adverse effects, indicating its safety for use.

The study showed significant improvements in muscle strength and a trend towards reduced body fat percentage, suggesting that ashwagandha may enhance physical performance and overall health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. Raut, AA., Rege, NN., Tadvi, FM., et al.[2021]

The study analyzed adverse event reports related to herbal supplements from two databases, FAERS and CVAR, revealing that herbal supplements accounted for 2.51% and 6.83% of total reports, respectively, indicating a significant presence of herbal-related safety concerns.

Common herbs associated with adverse events included Avena sativa (oats), Cannabis sativa (marijuana), and Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort), highlighting the need for further investigation into the safety profiles of these supplements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identifying Herbal Adverse Events From Spontaneous Reporting Systems Using Taxonomic Name Resolution Approach. Sharma, V., Gelin, LFF., Sarkar, IN.[2020]

A study analyzing 489 kratom-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported to the FDA from 2004 to 2021 found that kratom use is associated with significant safety concerns, including a 63-fold higher than expected rate of accidental deaths.

The analysis revealed strong signals for addiction and withdrawal symptoms, as well as a notable number of reports related to toxicity and seizures, indicating that while kratom is popular for treating pain and anxiety, it poses potential health risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evaluation of adverse drug reactions and outcomes attributed to kratom in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System from January 2004 through September 2021. Li, X., Ndungu, P., Taneja, SB., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 57 studies from 2010 to 2015 identified various botanical extracts that can help improve skeletal muscle health, particularly in older adults.

The review categorized the benefits of these extracts into five key areas: reducing inflammation, preventing muscle damage, combating fatigue, preventing muscle atrophy, and promoting muscle regeneration and differentiation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review on the Effects of Botanicals on Skeletal Muscle Health in Order to Prevent Sarcopenia. Rondanelli, M., Miccono, A., Peroni, G., et al.[2020]

Herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are increasingly recognized for their potential risks, including toxicity, contamination, and interactions with other drugs, despite being perceived as low risk by the public.

Regulatory safety assessments for HMPs face challenges due to under-reporting of adverse reactions and a lack of comprehensive toxicity data, but new methods like predictive toxicology and poison control data can enhance safety evaluations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessment of herbal medicinal products: challenges, and opportunities to increase the knowledge base for safety assessment. Jordan, SA., Cunningham, DG., Marles, RJ.[2022]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8006238/

Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical ...

The primary outcome was changes in physical performance variables (muscle strength, VO2max, muscle fatigue, tiredness, and physical recovery) after Ashwagandha ...

2.

jissn.biomedcentral.com

jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-015-0104-9

Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation ...

This study reports that ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significant increases in muscle mass and strength.

3.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejsc.12265

Effects of Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania ...

This study investigates the effects of ashwagandha on exercise recovery and muscle strength in professional female athletes.

4.

journalofsportsmedicine.org

journalofsportsmedicine.org/full-text/752/eng

The effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on sports ...

Regarding the significant outcomes of interest, five studies included in this review confirmed that Ashwagandha was more effective than placebo in enhancing VO2 ...

5.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26609282/

Examining the effect of Withania somnifera ...

This study reports that ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significant increases in muscle mass and strength

6.

nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com

nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12986-025-00902-7

a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports ...

Although most research data indicates that Ashwagandha supplementation is safe and tolerable, more data is needed to evaluate safety of higher ...

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229920319099

Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract: A Randomized, ...

The present study revealed that the consumption of Ashwagandha root extract for 8 weeks was safe in both males and females volunteers.