PMID 41156498

Research
All papers

Ashwagandha Does Not Enhance the Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Selected Energy Metabolism Parameters in Young Healthy Men

Charmas M, Jówko E, Długołęcka B, Klusiewicz A, Przybylska I, Galczak-Kondraciuk A

Question

Does 600 mg/day ashwagandha extract enhance the effects of an 8-week supervised rowing HIIT program on body composition, lipid profile, adiponectin, asprosin, and irisin in healthy young men?

Summary

Healthy young men completed 8 weeks of rowing HIIT while taking either ashwagandha extract or placebo. HIIT changed selected exercise-related hormone responses, but ashwagandha did not add clear benefits for body composition, lipid profile, or the measured energy-metabolism hormones.

Methodology

  • Healthy male physical education students who were not competitive athletes
  • 38 participants.
  • Rowing ergometer.
  • Work intervals: 1.5 minutes.
  • Recovery: 1.5 minutes at 70 W.
  • Intensity: 75-95% Pmax by study week.
  • About 15-21 minutes of interval/recovery work.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled supplementation trial with supervised HIIT in both groups
  • Body composition, Lipid profile, and Energy-metabolism hormones were tracked.

Outcomes

Supplement effect

Ashwagandha did not add significant benefits beyond placebo for body composition, lipid profile, or measured energy-metabolism hormones.

Supplement effects were not significant for the main health and metabolism outcomes.

No clear change

Lipid profile

The 8-week HIIT block did not significantly change lipid profile.

Reported p>0.05.

No clear change

Hormone responses

HIIT was associated with lower resting adiponectin and higher irisin after exercise/recovery, while asprosin showed no clear significant effect.

Significant term/time effects were reported for adiponectin and irisin.

Mixed

Insights

  • Do not present ashwagandha as a proven add-on for HIIT metabolic benefits based on this study.
  • The rowing protocol is a reproducible ergometer progression but not directly bodyweight-friendly.
  • Surrogate hormone changes should be described cautiously for consumer workout guidance.

Limitations

  • Small sample of healthy young men.
  • No non-exercise control group.
  • Short 8-week intervention.
  • Surrogate lipid and hormone outcomes.
  • Adherence and adverse-event details were not reported.

Safety

  • No adverse-event outcomes were reported in the extracted article.
  • Participants were screened for health, injury, medication, substance, and supplement factors.