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Cited by 106Phytochemicals and Medicinal PlantsMedicinal Plants and Bioactive CompoundsSports Performance and Training

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Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis

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Bonilla, Diego A., Moreno, Yurany, Gho, Camila, Petro, Jorge L., Odriozola-Martínez, Adrián, Kreider, Richard B.·2021·Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
DOI 10.3390/jfmk6010020PMC PMC8006238
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Abstract

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is considered a potent adaptogen and anti-stress agent that could have some potential to improve physical performance. This preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA)-based comprehensive systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis aimed to evaluate clinical trials up to 2020 from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases regarding the effect of Ashwagandha supplementation on physical performance in healthy individuals. Besides implementing estimation statistics analysis, we developed Bayesian hierarchical models for a pre-specified subgroup meta-analysis on strength/power, cardiorespiratory fitness and fatigue/recovery variables. A total of 13 studies met the requirements of this systematic review, although only 12 were included in the quantitative analysis. A low-to-moderate overall risk of bias of the trials included in this study was detected. All Bayesian hierarchical models converged to a target distribution (Ȓ = 1) for both meta-analytic effect size (μ) and between-study standard deviation (τ). The meta-analytic approaches of the included studies revealed that Ashwagandha supplementation was more efficacious than placebo for improving variables related to physical performance in healthy men and female. In fact, the Bayesian models showed that future interventions might be at least in some way beneficial on the analyzed outcomes considering the 95% credible intervals for the meta-analytic effect size. Several practical applications and future directions are discussed, although more comparable studies are needed in exercise training, and athletic populations are needed to derive a more stable estimate of the true underlying effect.

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  • Conclusive evidence from rigorous, methodologically sound, well-designed, validated, and replicated trials does not exist for the indications for which ashwagandha is used.

    “Nonetheless, conclusive evidence from rigorous, methodologically sound, well-designed, validated, and replicated trials does not exist for the aforementioned indications.11–13”

    From Ashwagandha-induced liver injury—A case series from India and literature review (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Discussion (4.1) says the small number of studies means pooled effects should be interpreted cautiously and further research is needed to confirm ashwagandha’s effects on physical performance. The Conclusions (5) nevertheless report benefits over placebo. The paper does not establish that conclusive evidence is lacking for all the other indications implied by “aforementioned indications,” or that rigorous, validated trials do not exist. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Metadata

Authors
Bonilla, D. A., Moreno, Y., Gho, C., Petro, J. L., Odriozola-Martínez, A., & Kreider, R. B.
Affiliations
  • University of the Basque Country (ES)
  • Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas (CO)
  • Research Division, Dynamical Business & Science Society—DBSS International SAS, Bogotá 110861, Colombia
  • Universidad de Córdoba (CO)
  • Texas A&M University (US)
Corresponding author
Bonilla, Diego A.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-02-11
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
20
ISSN
2411-5142 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/jfmk6010020
PMC
PMC8006238
OpenAlex
W3126875939
Cited by
106
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
Withania somnifera, physical performance, adaptogens, anti-stress agents, strength and power, cardiorespiratory fitness, fatigue, recovery, dietary supplementation, healthy individuals

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