Ashwagandha Root Extract Stabilises Physiological Stress Responses in Male and Female Team Sports Athletes During Pre-Season Training.

Plain-language summary

This study looked at whether ashwagandha (an herbal supplement traditionally used to blunt stress) helps team-sport athletes handle the strain of pre-season training, when the stress hormone cortisol and fatigue pile up. Fifty-six rugby, water-polo, and football athletes took either 600 mg a day of ashwagandha root extract or a placebo for 42 days. Researchers tracked stress markers in saliva, muscle strength, aerobic fitness, and how recovered the athletes felt using the Hooper Index (a daily self-rating of fatigue, sleep, stress, and soreness, where a lower score means better recovery). Ashwagandha steadied the stress markers, improved recovery scores, and boosted strength through the hard training block.

Key findings

• Ashwagandha stabilized stress biomarkers (cortisol in women, cortisone in men) during pre-season training.
• Women taking ashwagandha reported better recovery scores (Hooper Index) and less muscle soreness.
• Men taking ashwagandha saw improved jump performance (Countermovement Jump).