Evidence supporting the use of: Withanolides
For the body system: Specific Hormones

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Withanolides are steroidal lactones found primarily in Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), an herb widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. There is growing scientific interest in withanolides due to their adaptogenic and hormone-modulating properties. Multiple preclinical (animal and in vitro) studies suggest that withanolides may influence hormone regulation, particularly in relation to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These effects are thought to contribute to Ashwagandha’s ability to help manage stress and support cortisol balance. Some small-scale human trials indicate that Ashwagandha supplementation can lower serum cortisol and may modestly improve thyroid hormone levels (notably T4) in subclinical hypothyroidism. There is also limited evidence that withanolides may support testosterone levels in men, potentially by reducing stress-induced hormonal suppression; however, these findings are not universally replicated and generally involve small sample sizes and short durations. While the mechanistic rationale and early clinical results are promising, high-quality, large-scale human trials are still lacking. Therefore, scientific support exists primarily for stress-related hormone modulation (especially cortisol), but evidence for broader hormonal effects is still emerging.

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