Effects of <i>Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal</i> (Ashwagandha) on cognitive and physical function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Zhu X, Zeng Q, Lei Y, Xu D
Frontiers in pharmacology · 1 cita
Cómo se estudió
- Diseño
- Revisión sistemática (indexado por PubMed)
- Estudiado en
- Personas
- Resultado principal
- Marcadores de salud y funcionamiento
Quién lo pagó
- Financiación
- Financiación independiente
- Gobierno
- Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen
Según 1 financiador declarado y la declaración de financiación del texto completo.
Publicación
- Publicado
- 2026-05-11 · Front Pharmacol · vol. 17 · pág. 1799467
- Editorial
- Frontiers Media
- Citado
- 2 citas · más que el 97% de estudios similares · 8.4× el promedio de su campo
- Impacto
- Entre el 10 % más citado de su campo
- Referencias
- 43 trabajos
- Acceso
- Acceso abierto (revista) · CC-BY
- Áreas de investigación
- Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants · Piperaceae Chemical and Biological Studies · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Palabras clave
- Withania somnifera, Cognition, Confidence interval, Meta-analysis, Randomized controlled trial, Systematic review, Subgroup analysis, MEDLINE
4 autores
- Xiaoling Zhu🇨🇳Qinghai University
- Qiang Zeng
- Yuyu Lei🇨🇳Qinghai University
- Danping Xu🇨🇳 · autor de correspondenciaQinghai University
Resumen
El texto original del estudio, en el idioma en que se publicó.
Background
This study aimed to systematically review and evaluate the effects of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae) supplementation on cognitive and physical function in adults by meta-analysis.
Methods
Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase from inception to 1 February 2026. Ramdom control trials were included to evaluate the effects of Ashwagandha on cognitive function, musclestrength, testosterone, body weight, and body fat percentage by meta-analysis using Stata 14. A random-effects model was used to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals. To assess the heterogeneity, sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed with RoB 2, evidence certainty for each outcome was evaluated with GRADE system, and botanical reporting was assessed with the ConPhyMP checklist.
Results
Twenty studies with 1,249 participants were included. Ashwagandha significantly improved memory (SMD = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27-0.78; P 2 = 29.7%), attention and processing speed (SMD = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.07-0.51; P = 0.009; I2 = 0%), and executive function (SMD = -0.42; 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.13; P = 0.004; I2 = 37.5%). Visuospatial ability improved after excluding one heterogeneous study (SMD = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.08-0.70; P = 0.013; I2 = 0%). Only one study assessed global cognition and reported significant improvement. For physical outcomes, Ashwagandha increased testosterone (SMD = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.54; P = 0.001; I2 = 20.8%) and muscle strength (SMD = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.12-1.04; P = 0.013; I2 = 56.9%). Subgroup analysis showed significant muscle strength gains in physically active individuals (SMD = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.56-1.49; P 2 = 0%) but not in untrained or special populations. No significant effects were observed on body weight or body fat percentage. Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness, and most studies were rated as high or moderate quality.
Conclusion
Ashwagandha supplementation significantly improved several aspects of cognitive function (including global cognitive, memory, attention and processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial ability), as well as serum testosterone and muscle strength in adults, but did not affect body weight or body fat percentage.
Systematic review registration
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261292996.
Resumen vía Europe PMC. Los derechos de autor siguen siendo de los autores o la editorial (CC BY).
Confianza de la comunidad
Cargando…
¿Cuánto confías en los hallazgos de este estudio?
Comentarios
¿Algo está mal aquí?
Señala este estudio si su información, etiquetas o financiación parecen incorrectas. Un editor revisa cada señalamiento.
Información educativa sobre investigación publicada. No es consejo médico ni una recomendación para empezar o dejar nada.