Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Body Composition: A Narrative Review

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has gained interest as an anti-stress agent due to its withanolide content. Ashwagandha's adaptogenic nature, through regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, makes it a promising agent for improving responses to external stressors, including changes in body composition. Studies have demonstrated that ashwagandha can positively affect stress regulation, metabolism, and muscle strength, but how these adaptations impact body composition has not been thoroughly described. Theoretically, ashwagandha's mechanistic effects may reduce body fat and increase muscle mass, thereby optimizing body composition. This review summarizes the current evidence on the effects of ashwagandha supplementation on body composition metrics and proposes mechanisms that explain the results. Therefore, this literature review analyzed the current literature examining changes in body composition metrics, including body mass, fat mass, lean mass, muscle mass, and anthropometric measurements, in adults when supplementing with ashwagandha. The discussion details specific protocol and population differences between the included studies and how these differences influence body composition results. The discussion also outlines future research directions on potential effects on weight management and sex-specific adaptation to better understand ashwagandha's underlying effects on body composition.