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Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism, a thyroid disorder without obvious symptoms of thyroid deficiency, occurs in 3%–8% of the global population. Ashwagandha Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, a traditional medicine in Ayurveda, is often prescribed for thyroid dysfunctions. Objective: This pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in subclinical hypothyroid patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center placebo-controlled study was performed at Sudbhawana Hospital, Varanasi, India between May 2016 and September 2016. Fifty subjects with elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (4.5–10 μIU/L) aged between 18 and 50 were randomized in either treatment (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25) groups for an 8-week treatment period. Interventions: Ashwagandha root extract (600 mg daily) or starch as placebo. Efficacy Variables: Serum TSH, serum triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels. Results: A total of four subjects (two from each group) withdrew their consent before the second visit. Eight weeks of treatment with ashwagandha improved serum TSH (p < 0.001), T3 (p = 0.0031), and T4 (p = 0.0096) levels significantly compared to placebo. Ashwagandha treatment effectively normalized the serum thyroid indices during the 8-week treatment period in a significant manner (time-effects: TSH p < 0.001, T3 p < 0.001, and T4 p < 0.001). Four subjects (8%) (ashwagandha: 14%; Placebo: 312%) out of 50 reported few mild and temporary adverse effects during this study. Conclusion: Treatment with ashwagandha may be beneficial for normalizing thyroid indices in subclinical hypothyroid patients.
Sharma et al. (Tue,) studied this question.