Obesity, Overweight
Conditions
Brief summary
This clinical trial aimed to assess the impact of ashwagandha supplementation on serum lipid concentrations and body composition in Mexican adults with overweight and obesity. It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, including adult patients who consumed ashwagandha pills for 40 days after giving informed consent. Two groups were part of the study: an experimental group receiving the supplement and a placebo group. Measurements conducted included anthropometric parameters and blood biochemical parameters.
Detailed description
This clinical trial aimed to assess the impact of ashwagandha supplementation on serum lipid concentrations and body composition in Mexican adults with overweight and obesity through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled protocol. The study included adult patients who met inclusion such as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 kg/m\^2 or higher, glucose levels around 100 mg/dL, LDL-C levels of 160 mg/dL or higher, total cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher, HDL-C levels lower than 40 mg/dL, and triglyceride levels exceeding 150 mg/dL). Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, had diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or hypersensitivity to Solanaceae products. Volunteers signed an informed consent form as per NOM-012-SSA3-2012 guidelines, detailing the study's purpose and terms. Participants adhered to a prescribed dietary plan that included Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) supplementation and consented to monitoring of their dietary intake and biochemical parameters measurement. The ashwagandha supplementation involved 500 mg capsules taken daily for 40 days, with an intervention group (W. somnifera supplementation, 500 mg/day, n=17) and a placebo group (starch rice capsule/tablet/day, n=17). Both groups received personalized meal plans to ensure that observed changes were directly attributable to the supplements. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, waist circumference, and BMI. Blood samples were extracted after 12 hours of fasting using a vacutainer system, and biochemical determinations were processed the same day with semi-automated equipment via COBAS® colorimetric methods. Parameters such as glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, and VLDL-c were analyzed. Sociodemographic data were described by gender, while clinical and anthropometric variables were categorized by intervention and control groups. Quantitative variables were compared using the student's t-test for related samples. Significant differences between baseline and experimental groups were found for total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, the LDL/HDL-c ratio, and triglycerides.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTWithania somnifera
The experimental supplement administered to patients in this study was Withania somnifera, commonly known as ashwagandha. It is classified as a dietary supplement and is regulated similarly to pharmaceutical medications. The supplement has been authorized for commercialization and use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Participants received the supplement in the form of 500 mg capsules, taken daily over a 40-day period, following the manufacturer's instructions. The range of the recommended daily dose is between 240 and 600 mg. The purpose of administering this supplement was to evaluate its impact on various health parameters, including serum lipid concentrations and body composition, in the study's participants.
OTHERPlacebo Intervention
The product administered to the placebo group was designed to simulate the appearance and administration of the experimental supplement but without containing any active ingredients. Participants in the placebo group received capsules/tablets filled with starch rice. These capsules were taken daily over the same 40-day period as the experimental group, ensuring that the placebo group followed identical administration and monitoring procedures. The use of starch rice capsules aimed to serve as a neutral control, allowing for a comparison between the effects of the actual Withania somnifera supplement and the placebo.
Sponsors
Tecnologico de Monterrey
Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
Ivan Luzardo-Ocampo
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
In this double-blind study, rigorous masking procedures were implemented to ensure the integrity of the results. None of the participants knew or met each other, and they had no prior information about the researcher conducting the study. Participants were instructed not to discuss their experiences, feelings, or outcomes with each other throughout the study duration. Furthermore, the researchers who processed the data were blinded to the participants' identities; they only analyzed the biochemical and anthropometric parameters without knowing which patient each set of data belonged to or any personal background information. This ensured that the analysis remained unbiased and confidential.
Intervention model description
This clinical trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted in the Nutrition department with the Clinical Analysis Laboratory at University of Monterrey. It aimed to evaluate ashwagandha's effect on serum lipid concentrations and body composition in Mexican adults with overweight and obesity. Eligible participants were adults with a BMI of 25 kg/m\^2 or higher, glucose levels around 100 mg/dL, LDL-C levels of 160 mg/dL or higher, total cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher, HDL-C levels lower than 40 mg/dL, and triglyceride levels exceeding 150 mg/dL. Participants provided informed consent per NOM-012-SSA3-2012 guidelines. They followed a prescribed dietary plan including 500 mg daily ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), authorized for use by the FDA. The supplementation period lasted 40 days. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (W. somnifera, n=17) or placebo group (starch rice capsule/tablet, n=17).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
29 Years to 38 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Participants who are willing to comply with the study guidelines for a 40-day period. 2. Individuals who consent to undergo initial anthropometric and biochemical analyses. 3. Participants willing to follow personalized meal plans. 4. Individuals who agree to receive reminders and monitoring communication via email and/or text messages.
Exclusion criteria
1. Individuals with known allergies or intolerances to Withania somnifera or starch rice. 2. Participants who are unable or unwilling to follow the daily supplementation regimen. 3. Individuals with medical conditions that might interfere with the study results or pose a health risk when taking the supplement. 4. Participants currently taking any other supplements or medications that could interfere with the study outcomes.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body Mass Index Measurement | Along with the 40 days] | Quantified body mass index did not change between baseline and experimental groups |
| Body Weight Measurement | Along with the 40 days | Measured body weight did not change between baseline and experimental groups. |
| Waist circumference | Along with the 40 days | Measurement of waist circumference, that did not change statistically. |
| Diastolic blood pressure | Along with the 40 days | Measurement of diastolic blood pressure, that did not change statistically. |
| Blood Glucose | Along with the 40 days | Initial and final blood glucose only changed for the placebo group (p:0.008). |
| Blood lipids profile | Along with the 40 days | Initial and final values of blood lipids profile parameters for each group changed statistically (Experimental: Total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-cm VLDL-c, LDL/HDL-c ratio, and triglycerides; Placebo: HDL-c, LDL-c, and LDL/HDL-c ratio) |
Countries
Mexico
Outcome results
None listed