Evidence supporting the use of: Withanolide
For the body system: Cortisol

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Synopsis

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

Withanolides are a group of naturally occurring steroidal lactones found primarily in Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), a herb widely used in Ayurvedic medicine. Traditional use of Ashwagandha has centered on its adaptogenic properties—helping the body manage stress. Modern scientific research has begun to validate these claims. Several randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials have investigated Ashwagandha extract (standardized to withanolide content) for its effects on stress and cortisol levels. Studies have shown that Ashwagandha supplementation can lead to significant reductions in serum cortisol, the primary stress hormone, in chronically stressed adults. For example, a 2012 study by Chandrasekhar et al. found that participants taking high-concentration Ashwagandha root extract experienced a 27.9% reduction in serum cortisol compared to placebo. The proposed mechanism involves withanolides modulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thereby reducing excessive cortisol production. However, while results are promising, most studies involve Ashwagandha extracts rather than pure withanolides, sample sizes are moderate, and study durations are short. Therefore, while there is emerging scientific evidence supporting the use of withanolide-containing extracts for supporting healthy cortisol levels and stress adaptation, further large-scale, long-term studies are needed for definitive validation.

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