The effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on sports performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Ranil Jayawardena1
, Kalani Weerasinghe2, Piumika Sooriyaarachchi3
1Department of Physiology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2Health and Wellness Unit, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
3Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Keywords: Indian ginseng, sports supplementation, Withania somnifera, sports performance ÖZ
Abstract
Ashwagandha is well known for its health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and cardioprotective properties, as well as its potential to enhance physical fitness and improve sports performance. This review aims to systematically assess the existing literature regarding the effect of Ashwagandha on sports performance within the athletic community. A thorough literature search was performed using databases including SciVerse Scopus®, PubMed®, Web of Science®, Medline, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and AYUSH. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of Ashwagandha on aerobic fitness levels using RevMan 5.3 software. The screening of 781 potentially relevant articles for eligibility resulted in the inclusion of eight studies assessing the effect of Ashwagandha on sports performance in the present review. All trials originated in India. The sports categories involved were athletics, hockey, cycling, boxing, and sprinting. The results demonstrate that Ashwagandha supplementation, at a dosage of 300 mg to 500 mg of aqueous root extract daily, taken twice a day for a duration ranging from 8 to 12 weeks, is effective in enhancing sports performance comparing with control or placebo groups. This includes improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, recovery, and various physical fitness parameters. The primary finding of the meta-analysis indicates that, in comparison to a placebo, Ashwagandha significantly improved VO2max in athletes by 4.09 ml/min/kg (95% CI, 2.55-5.63, p<0.001; I2=92%, p<0.001). The analyzed studies did not reveal any adverse impact; however, seeking guidance from medical professionals before commencing Ashwagandha supplementation in competitive sports is recommended.
Cite this article as: Jayawardena R, Weerasinghe K, Sooriyaarachchi P. Trunk muscle endurance and upper extremity performance in healthy adults. Turk J Sports Med. 2025 May 16th; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0862
RJ: conceptualization, methodology; PS: software, data curation; KW: writing original draft preparation; RJ: supervision; PS, RJ: validation; KW, PS, RJ: writing, reviewing and editing. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript and discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
The authors confirm the absence of any financial or personal relationships that could potentially impact the integrity of the work presented in this paper.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
