Writing in Heliyon, scientists from Nirmal Hospital in Jhansi report that 60 mg and 120 mg daily doses of Arjuna Natural, Pvt. Ltd.’s proprietary Shoden brand of ashwagandha were also effective for reducing anxiety scores and increasing testosterone levels.
“These findings build upon existing evidence by showing that Shoden retains therapeutic effects at lower doses than other formulations, making it a potent and cost-effective option for managing stress and anxiety,” Benny Antony, PhD, joint manager director for Arjuna Natural told Nutraingredients, adding that traditional ashwagandha extracts may require higher doses of 250 mg to 600 mg.
Dr. Antony said that the supplement may appeal to those with GAD and healthy individuals looking to manage stress.
“It can also support populations with high cortisol-related symptoms, such as fatigue, reduced testosterone levels, and impaired mood.”
How ashwagandha may relieve stress
Withania somnifera, commonly known as ashwagandha, is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. As an adaptogen, ashwagandha affects the endocrine system and hormones, helping to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Its effects on the central nervous system include modulating acetylcholinesterase activity, serotonin receptors and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) activity.
The herb’s ability to lower cortisol means that it may be useful for stress, anxiety and sleep, with a 72% improvement in sleep quality recently reported for the Shoden brand.
Shoden is produced using extracts from the root and leaves of Withania somnifera and is standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides.
Study details
The parallel arm study recruited 60 healthy adults from the outpatient department at Nirmal Hospital who met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder and had higher morning cortisol. The participants were randomized to receive 60 mg or 120 mg per day of the Shoden ashwagandha extract (AE) or placebo for 60 days.
The data indicated that anxiety scores, measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), decreased by 59% in both the AE60 and AE120 groups, compared to a negligible increase of 0.83 % in the placebo group.
In addition, morning cortisol levels decreased by 66% and 67% in AE60 and AE120, respectively, compared to a 2.22% decrease in the placebo group.
Testosterone levels increased by 22% and 33% in AE60 and AE120, respectively, compared to a 4% increase in males in the placebo group, the researchers reported.
Perceived stress scale scores decreased by 53% in AE60 and 62% in AE120, compared to 5% in the placebo group.
The clinical global impression severity scores, which are rated by clinicians, decreased by 72% in AE60 and 68% in AE120, and the patient global impression of change in the AE60 and AE120 groups showed a 60% improvement compared to 12% in the placebo group.
“Ashwagandha extract with 35 % withanolide glycosides can be recommended for individuals seeking to reduce high levels of stress and anxiety,” the researchers concluded.
Source: Heliyon
Volume 10, Issue 17, e36885, doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36885
“Shoden promotes relief from stress and anxiety: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on healthy subjects with high stress levels.”
Authors: D. Nidhi Mishra et al.
