Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41204297›Full record

ArticleNutrition & metabolism2025

Impact of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) supplementation on serum lipid concentrations and anthropometric parameters in adults with overweight and obesity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.

Juan Manuel Ballesteros-Torres, Alejandra Vázquez-Aguilar, Ivan Luzardo-Ocampo, Anayansi Escalante-Aburto, Cindy Joanna Caballero-Prado

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrition & metabolism, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Juan Manuel Ballesteros-TorresDepartamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (FCB), Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Ave. Universidad s/n, Cd. Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, 66450, N. L, Mexico.
Alejandra Vázquez-AguilarDepartment of Health Sciences, University Center of the Valleys, University of Guadalajara, Ameca, Jalisco, 46600, Mexico.
Ivan Luzardo-OcampoTecnologico de Monterrey, The Institute for Obesity Research, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Col: Tecnológico, Monterrey, 64700, N. L, Mexico.
Anayansi Escalante-AburtoTecnologico de Monterrey, The Institute for Obesity Research, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Col: Tecnológico, Monterrey, 64700, N. L, Mexico. anayansi.escalante@tec.mx.
Cindy Joanna Caballero-PradoEscuela de Ciencias Aliadas de la Salud, Departamento de Nutrición, Universidad de Monterrey, Av. Morones Prieto 4500 Pte, C. P. 66238, San Pedro Garza García, N. L, Mexico. cindy.caballero@udem.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOverweight and obesity are widespread in Mexico, often linked to dyslipidemia and higher cardiovascular risk. The search for safe and effective treatments has promoted interest in natural supplements such as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), recognized for its adaptogenic and potential lipid-lowering properties.

objectiveTo assess the impact of Ashwagandha supplementation on serum lipid profiles and anthropometric parameters in Mexican adults with overweight and obesity.

methodsA double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial was carried out with 43 adults (n = 17 in the control group and n = 21 in the intervention group) over 40 days. Participants followed a monitored diet and received one daily capsule containing 500 mg of Ashwagandha or a placebo, in addition to a guided unrestricted dietary plan. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were taken at baseline and after the intervention. In silico analysis was also performed to examine the binding affinity of Ashwagandha bioactive compounds to key proteins involved in lipid metabolism.

resultsAshwagandha supplementation did not produce statistically significant changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), or waist circumference (WC). However, significant reductions were observed in triglyceride and VLDL-c levels (p = 0.0082 and p = 0.0321, respectively). In silico results supported these findings, showing favorable interactions between compounds such as withanolide A and lipid metabolism targets, including AMPK, CETP, and LPL.

conclusionsAshwagandha supplementation improved serum lipid profiles in adults with overweight and obesity, suggesting potential lipid-lowering effects when combined with a prescribed dietary plan. Also, it was possible to elucidate some metabolic pathways in which Ashwagandha composition has an influence on producing the reported effects. Further long-term studies with controlled dietary intake are needed to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Indexed as

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)DyslipidemiasIn Silico analysisObesityPlasma lipidsSupplementationTriglycerides

Identifiers

PMID41204297
PMCPMC12595879

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.