Ashwagandha root extract on gut parameters in healthy geriatric research Beagles
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Telangana, India randomly divided 12 healthy geriatric research Beagles aged 12-15 years, housed at a certified kennel, into ARE (KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract, 15 mg/kg orally once daily for 2 months; n = 6) and starch placebo (n = 6) groups, hypothesising that ARE would improve vital parameters for healthy ageing through the gut. Haematology, biochemistry, stool parameters and faecal metabolites were assessed on days 0, 30 and 60. ARE increased erythrocytes and haemoglobin, lowered ALT and AST at day 60 versus placebo, reduced faecal score, modulated L-citrulline and lowered propionic acid and total SCFAs from baseline.
Record
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Status | completed |
| Setting | laboratory colony |
| Intervention | Withania somnifera/Ashwagandha root extract (ARE; KSM-66) capsules |
| Intervention class | diet or supplement |
| Comparator | Placebo (starch-filled capsules identical in appearance) |
| Dose regimen | 15 mg/kg body weight, once daily, orally, for 2 months |
| Duration | 2 months (assessed on day 0, day 30 and day 60) |
| Dogs | 12 |
| Population note | 6 placebo and 6 ARE |
| Breed | Beagle |
| Age | 12-15 years |
| Other | healthy geriatric dogs bred for research purposes, approximately 11 kg, housed at a certified kennel in Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Primary outcome | Serum haematology, biochemical markers, stool parameters (faecal score and pH) and gut-microbiome parameters (faecal short chain fatty acids, L-citrulline, intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase, lactate, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase) |
| Result (as reported) | Erythrocyte counts and haemoglobin were significantly increased with ARE; serum ALT and AST significantly decreased at day 60 compared with placebo; L-citrulline was significantly modulated while I-ALP, lactate and CPS were unaffected; faecal score reduced significantly (p < 0.001) while faecal pH was unaltered; propionic acid and total SCFAs decreased from baseline after 60 days while butyrate and acetic acid were unchanged. The authors suggest ARE has gut health promoting benefits in healthy geriatric dogs, reducing age-related changes by modulating the microbiome and its metabolites. |
| Sponsor or funder | KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract and corn starch placebo provided as gift samples by Ixoreal BioMed, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (no other funding stated) |
| Tags | supplement, ashwagandha, gut, microbiome, scfa, beagle, colony |
Notes: Separate from the client-owned Labrador ashwagandha trial (PMID 39078383); different animals, kennel setting and a 2023 ethics approval. Lead organization not stated explicitly in the extracted text (ethics approval number references CVSC-WGL).
Sources and verbatim quotes
The role of Ashwagandha in modulating gut parameters in dogs-a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. (2024) PMID 39911483 (results)
/Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) on important gut-microbiome parameters in healthy geriatric dogs.
We hypothesized that ARE might promote a healthy gut by its adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory effects and improve vital parameters for healthy ageing.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Telangana, India. Twelve healthy geriatric Beagle dogs aged 12-15 years were enrolled.
The dogs were divided into two groups to receive ARE (15 mg/kg, once daily, orally, for 2 months) or a placebo control.
Various parameters were assessed, including serum haematology, biochemical markers, stool parameters, and gut-microbiome parameters.
The erythrocyte counts and haemoglobin levels were significantly increased with ARE (
In addition, the levels of L-citrulline were significantly modulated by ARE intervention, whereas the intervention did not affect intestinal-type alkaline phosphatase (I-ALP), lactate, and carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (CPS).
Interestingly, the faecal score reduced significantly with ARE (
), while the faecal pH remained unaltered.
Compared to the baseline, ARE significantly decreased two microbial metabolites, propionic acid, and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels after 60 days of intervention, whereas butyrate and acetic acid levels remained unchanged in the faecal samples.
In summary, these findings suggest that ARE has gut health promoting benefits in healthy geriatric dogs by improving haematological and biochemical profiles; the levels of L-citrulline; propionic acid; and SCFA; thus, reducing age-related changes by modulating the microbiome and the associated metabolites.
The role of Ashwagandha in modulating gut parameters in dogs-a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. (2024) PMID 39911483 (design)
The study was conducted on 12–15-year-old beagle dogs bred for research purposes (*n* = 12) weighing approximately 11 kg at study initiation which were randomly divided into placebo (*n* = 6) and ARE (*n* = 6) groups.
The study was conducted at a certified kennel in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
The placebo group received starch-filled capsules identical to ARE’s appearance, color, odor and taste (KSM-66).
The study dogs received either ARE or placebo in the form of capsules daily once, orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight.
The study was approved by the local Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) and the central government’s Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA), New Delhi, India, vide approval number: 03/LA/CVSC-WGL/2023.
The study was conducted using high withanolides concentration (>5%) enriched KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) and corn starch (placebo) which were provided as gift samples by Ixoreal BioMed, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, United States.
a significant decrease in important serum liver biomarkers (alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST];
Reproduce: canine_trial_search(trial_id="ashwagandha-gut-parameters-geriatric-beagles-rct-2024") in dog-geroscience-mcp; dataset canine-trial-registry.