Ashwagandha Shown to Increase DHEA-S and Testosterone in Men

by | Nov 12, 2019 | 2019, Ashwagandha, Botanicals, Men's Health

Written by Jessica Patella, ND. An eight-week supplementation with ashwagandha extract was associated with increased levels of DHEA-S and testosterone.

Men's healthOne of the most common complaints in primary care settings is fatigue, effecting an estimated 20-40% of individuals 1.  Higher fatigue levels can indicate aging and are associated with reductions in male steroid hormones 2.  The herb ashwagandha is used in Ayurvedic medicine to promote youthful vigor, enhance muscle strength and endurance, and improve overall health 3.  The recent research evaluated if supplementing ashwagandha in overweight men would improve their vitality and hormone levels 3.

It is estimated that testosterone levels in men decrease by 1-2% annually after the age of 40 2.  DHEA, a steroid hormone that is a precursor to other hormones in the body, also decreases by an average of 1-4% yearly between the ages of 40-80 4.  Both testosterone and DHEA influence sexual health, lean body mass, mental health, cognition, bone density, cardiovascular function, and metabolic activity 3,5.  When testosterone levels are low in men it is strongly associated with increased morbidity 6, major depressive disorder 7, cardiovascular disease 8 and type 2 diabetes 9.  DHEA levels have also predicted longevity in men and higher concentrations have been associated with improved mood and less fatigue 10.

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb, which increase the body’s ability to handle the damages of stress.  Adaptogens also have neuroprotective, anti-fatigue, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, and anti-aging effects 3,11.  For these reasons it was used in the research to examine the effects of supplementing ashwagandha in overweight, otherwise healthy males from 40-70 years of age with mild-to-moderate fatigue 3.

The men were randomly allocated to one of two groups: placebo followed by ashwagandha (n=29) or ashwagandha followed by placebo (n=28) 3.  The ashwagandha tables contained 10.5mg of withanolide glycosides (21mg/day total), the main constituent in ashwagandha.  Participants were instructed to take two tablets once daily, 2-hours away from food (preferably after dinner).  The study was for a total of 16-weeks and tablets were switched in both groups at week-8 3.

The results were as follows:

  • Salivary testosterone increased by 14.7% with ashwagandha (p=0.01)
  • Salivary DHEA-S increased by 18.0% with ashwagandha (p=0.005)
  • There were improvements in fatigue, vigor, sexual and psychological wellbeing, in both the placebo and ashwagandha groups, with no significant differences between the two groups.

These findings suggest a strong placebo effect in the physical and psychological symptoms, which could be due to the small sample size or the fact that participants were recruited through social media and therefore highly motivated to see improvement 3.  A large portion of the participants (20%) were shift-workers and/or employed in occupations requiring traveling to remote mining locations, which may alter the efficacy of ashwagandha due to altered sleep patterns 3.

In conclusion, supplementing ashwagandha in overweight men, showed an increase in testosterone and DHEA-S.  Larger sample sizes are needed to confirm results and determine if taken over a longer period of time, may have additional psychological and physical effects 3.

Source: Lopresti, Adrian L., Peter D. Drummond, and Stephen J. Smith. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males.” American journal of men’s health 13, no. 2 (2019): 1557988319835985.

© The Author(s) 2019

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Posted November 12, 2019.

Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.

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  2. Feldman HA, Longcope C, Derby CA, et al. Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2002;87(2):589-598.
  3. Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Smith SJ. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males. American journal of men’s health. 2019;13(2):1557988319835985.
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