Ashwagandha Supplementation for Prevention of Muscle Damage

NCT06900569 — Not applicable, Completed, 19 participants, University of Saskatchewan

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Ashwagandha Supplementation for Recovery From Muscle-damaging Exercise and Sleep Quality

Registry	NCT06900569
Status	Completed
Phase	Not applicable
Study type	Interventional; randomized, parallel, masking: triple, treatment
Enrollment	19 (Actual)
Sponsor	University of Saskatchewan (Other)
Conditions	Muscle Damage
Interventions	Ashwagandha, Placebo (Dietary supplement)
Dates	start 2025-03-22, primary completion 2025-04-30, completion 2025-05-15, first posted 2025-03-28, last updated 2026-02-23
Locations	1 site in Canada

-Summary

Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement that has a wide range of benefits related to exercise when supplemented for about 8-12 weeks. This study aims to investigate whether short-term Ashwagandha supplementation can enhance muscle recovery following exercise by measuring muscle strength recovery, swelling, and soreness in the biceps.

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+Detailed description

The purpose of the study is to determine the effects of Ashwagandha supplementation on recovery from muscle-damaging exercise. Ten to twenty participants will be randomized to receive Ashwagandha supplementation (600 mg/d) or placebo for 10 days. On day 7, participants will perform a muscle damaging exercise session (six sets of concentric and emphasized eccentric repetitions with the biceps). Before and after exercise and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise, isometric muscle strength, muscle swelling (ultrasound), and muscle soreness will be assessed. The investigators hypothesize the Ashwagandha will alleviate symptoms of muscle damage (swelling and soreness) and enhance strength recovery after a bout of muscle-damaging exercise.

+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
Placebo	Placebo comparator	Dietary Supplement: Placebo	600 mg/d placebo for 10 days
Ashwagandha	Experimental	Dietary Supplement: Ashwagandha	600 mg/d Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (Dietary supplement): 600 mg/d Ashwagandha
Placebo (Dietary supplement): 600 mg/d placebo

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Change in isometric biceps strength measured with a dynamometer (Nm) [72 hours]

Secondary outcomes

Change in muscle thickness measured with ultrasound (cm) [72 hours]
Change in muscle soreness measured with a visual analog scale with scores ranging from 0 (no soreness) to 10 (maximal soreness) [72 hours]
Change in sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index with scores ranging from 0 (no sleep problems) to 3 (lowest sleep quality) [10 days]

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 35 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria: male or female, aged 18-35y

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Exclusion Criteria:

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

Allergies to:

* Dicalcium Phosphate
* Cellulose
* Vegetable magnesium stearate
* Silica

+Locations (1)

Facility	City	Country	Status
University of Saskatchewan	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Canada