What was compared
Forty-six men with oligospermia were randomized to root extract or placebo for 90 days. Investigators measured semen parameters and reproductive hormones. [1]
The report described substantial increases from baseline in sperm concentration, semen volume and motility in the extract group, with smaller changes in controls. Its highlighted percentage increases were within-group changes, not automatically the placebo-adjusted treatment effect. [1]
Limits of the result
The small sample and laboratory endpoints limit the conclusion. The trial does not establish a personal infertility regimen, an optimal dose or a live-birth advantage. Funding and conflicts were not established from the abstract. [1]
A hypothetical distinction
Imagine a laboratory marker doubles from a low starting value. That is a relative change in the marker; it is not a doubling of the chance of pregnancy, which is a separate outcome.
| Detail | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 46 men | Pilot sample |
| 90 days | Marker follow-up |
| Live birth | Benefit not established |
Sources for this article
- Clinical Evaluation of the Spermatogenic Activity of the Root Extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Oligospermic Males: A Pilot Study - PubMed
Source consulted: 2026-09-19. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.