Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract on aging-related changes in healthy geriatric client-owned dogs
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at a pet clinic in Telangana, India (July to September 2022) enrolled 20 apparently healthy, obese, client-owned geriatric Labradors aged 8 years or older and gave 10 of them ashwagandha root extract at 15 mg/kg orally once daily and 10 a placebo, to test whether ARE mitigates age-related changes. Haematology, liver and kidney markers, oxidative stress, cortisol and inflammatory markers were measured at baseline, day 30 and day 60. ARE raised erythrocyte count and haemoglobin, lowered liver and kidney markers relative to placebo, reduced cortisol and lowered inflammatory cytokines from baseline at day 60.
Record
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Status | completed |
| Setting | client owned |
| Intervention | Withania somnifera/ashwagandha root extract (ARE) |
| Intervention class | diet or supplement |
| Comparator | Placebo control |
| Dose regimen | 15 mg/kg, once daily, orally |
| Duration | 60 days (assessed at initiation, day 30 and day 60); conducted July 2022 to September 2022 |
| Dogs | 20 |
| Population note | 10 dogs in the ARE group and 10 in the placebo group (1:1 randomization) |
| Breed | Labrador |
| Age | aged 8 years or older |
| Other | apparently healthy, obese, client-owned geriatric dogs recruited at a pet clinic in Telangana, India |
| Primary outcome | Serum cortisol, haematological profile, biochemical markers (liver and kidney function), antioxidant indicators and anti-inflammatory responses |
| Result (as reported) | Erythrocyte count and haemoglobin were significantly increased with ARE (p < 0.001) and leukocyte count decreased (p < 0.05); liver function markers (ALT, AST, albumin, globulin; p < 0.001 at day 60) and kidney function markers (creatinine, BUN; p < 0.001 at days 30 and 60) decreased in ARE-treated dogs compared to placebo; oxidative stress markers were significantly modulated; serum cortisol reduced significantly (p < 0.001); and key inflammatory markers (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, NF-kB, IL-10) decreased from baseline (p < 0.001) at day 60. The authors conclude ARE has adaptogenic properties in healthy geriatric dogs. |
| Lead organisation | College of Veterinary Science, P.V.N.R. Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad (ethics approval); conducted at Cure Pet Clinic, Hanamkonda, Telangana, India |
| Sponsor or funder | None stated (funding information: None) |
| Start year | 2022 |
| End year | 2022 |
| Tags | supplement, ashwagandha, adaptogen, inflammation, oxidative-stress, cortisol |
Notes: Separate trial from the ashwagandha gut-parameter study in research Beagles (PMID 39911483): different animals, setting and ethics approval.
Sources and verbatim quotes
Effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract on aging-related changes in healthy geriatric dogs: A randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled study. (2024) PMID 39078383 (results)
This study aimed to explore the clinical potential of Withania somnifera/ashwagandha root extract (ARE) to mitigate age-related changes in healthy geriatric dogs.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Telangana, India, from July 2022 to September 2022. Twenty apparently healthy dogs, aged 8 years or older, were enrolled.
The dogs were divided into two groups to receive ARE (15 mg/kg, once daily, orally) or a placebo control.
Various parameters, including serum cortisol levels, haematological profiles, biochemical markers, antioxidant indicators and anti-inflammatory responses, were assessed at the initiation of study, day 30, and day 60.
The erythrocyte count and haemoglobin levels were significantly increased with ARE (p < 0.001), whereas leukocyte count decreased (p < 0.05).
Moreover, significant decreases in important markers of liver function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin and globulin; p < 0.001 at day 60), as well as kidney function markers (creatinine and blood urea nitrogen; p < 0.001 at days 30 and 60), were observed in ARE-treated dogs compared to the placebo control group.
In addition, the levels of markers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and malondialdehyde) were significantly modulated by ARE intervention, indicating strong antioxidant effects.
Interestingly, serum cortisol levels reduced significantly with ARE (p < 0.001).
Compared to baseline, ARE significantly decreased key inflammatory markers, including interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells and interleukin-10 (p < 0.001) levels at day 60.
In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that ARE has adaptogenic properties in healthy geriatric dogs by improving haematological and biochemical profiles, enhancing antioxidant defence, reducing stress and modulating inflammatory responses.
Effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract on aging-related changes in healthy geriatric dogs: A randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled study. (2024) PMID 39078383 (design)
A total of 20 visibly healthy, obese geriatric Labrador dogs aged ≥8 years with normal haemato‐biochemical parameters were enrolled, irrespective of their gender.
All the dogs enrolled were client‐owned, living in Telangana, India, and were recruited at the Pet clinic during routine visits.
Thus, 10 dogs were in the ARE group, and another 10 dogs were in the placebo group (Figure 1).
The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) at the College of Veterinary Science, P.V.N.R. Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad (29/25/C.V.Sc, Hyderabad, dated 2/7/2022)
The randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted from July 2022 to September 2022 at Cure Pet Clinic, Hanamkonda, Telangana, India.
## FUNDING INFORMATION None.
Reproduce: canine_trial_search(trial_id="ashwagandha-geriatric-labradors-rct-2024") in dog-geroscience-mcp; dataset canine-trial-registry.