Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance
Abstract In recent years Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) gained a lot of interest as an adaptogen, aiding sleep, stress management and presenting health and sports-related benefits. Although clinical effects have been previously reviewed, the specific mechanism of Ashwagandha’s action and its impac...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Nutrition & Metabolism |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00902-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1825197672577892352 |
|---|---|
| author | Mateusz Sprengel Radosław Laskowski Zbigniew Jost |
| author_facet | Mateusz Sprengel Radosław Laskowski Zbigniew Jost |
| author_sort | Mateusz Sprengel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In recent years Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) gained a lot of interest as an adaptogen, aiding sleep, stress management and presenting health and sports-related benefits. Although clinical effects have been previously reviewed, the specific mechanism of Ashwagandha’s action and its impact on different aspects of physical performance, body composition, as well as medical effects need more thorough analysis. Therefore, this narrative review delves into the available research examining the effects of Ashwagandha supplementation on such qualities as: strength, endurance, power, recovery, muscle mass, body fat, fertility, anxiety, metabolic health and aging, with additional focus on potential mechanisms underlying these effects. Moreover, we propose future perspectives based on the gaps observed in Ashwagandha research up to date. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca14c6fa38ce4341a5792e035e31baa8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1743-7075 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrition & Metabolism |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca14c6fa38ce4341a5792e035e31baa82025-02-09T12:16:06ZengBMCNutrition & Metabolism1743-70752025-02-012211810.1186/s12986-025-00902-7Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performanceMateusz Sprengel0Radosław Laskowski1Zbigniew Jost2Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and SportDepartment of Physiology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and SportDepartment of Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and SportAbstract In recent years Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) gained a lot of interest as an adaptogen, aiding sleep, stress management and presenting health and sports-related benefits. Although clinical effects have been previously reviewed, the specific mechanism of Ashwagandha’s action and its impact on different aspects of physical performance, body composition, as well as medical effects need more thorough analysis. Therefore, this narrative review delves into the available research examining the effects of Ashwagandha supplementation on such qualities as: strength, endurance, power, recovery, muscle mass, body fat, fertility, anxiety, metabolic health and aging, with additional focus on potential mechanisms underlying these effects. Moreover, we propose future perspectives based on the gaps observed in Ashwagandha research up to date.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00902-7AnxietyEnduranceFertilitySleepStrengthStress |
| spellingShingle | Mateusz Sprengel Radosław Laskowski Zbigniew Jost Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance Nutrition & Metabolism Anxiety Endurance Fertility Sleep Strength Stress |
| title | Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance |
| title_full | Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance |
| title_fullStr | Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance |
| title_short | Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) supplementation: a review of its mechanisms, health benefits, and role in sports performance |
| title_sort | withania somnifera ashwagandha supplementation a review of its mechanisms health benefits and role in sports performance |
| topic | Anxiety Endurance Fertility Sleep Strength Stress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00902-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mateuszsprengel withaniasomniferaashwagandhasupplementationareviewofitsmechanismshealthbenefitsandroleinsportsperformance AT radosławlaskowski withaniasomniferaashwagandhasupplementationareviewofitsmechanismshealthbenefitsandroleinsportsperformance AT zbigniewjost withaniasomniferaashwagandhasupplementationareviewofitsmechanismshealthbenefitsandroleinsportsperformance |