Kerry’s Sensoril Ashwagandha supports quality of life for postmenopausal women – Clinical study
Withania somnifera is commonly used to reduce mental and physical dysfunctions associated with excess stress and anxiety.
SINGAPORE – The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences has reported that Kerry’s Sensoril Ashwagandha supplement solution supports the quality of life for post-menopausal women.
The study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with standardised aqueous extracts of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus, Ar) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Ws), or their combination, on menopausal symptoms, vascular dysfunction, bone turnover, and serum concentrations of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in postmenopausal women.
Dr. Monica Maria Olivares, RDA Director of Women’s and Infant Health at Kerry, said, “This study further supports the current and extensive research naming Sensoril a safe and effective solution.
“Driving progress in women’s health is of vital importance to us at Kerry, which is why we have curated a suite of naturally sourced and clinically studied ingredients that support women across every life stage.”
The first investigational product, Sensoril, is an aqueous extract derived from the roots and aerial parts of Withania, consisting of 50 small molecules, including 26 withanolides.
Ten primary secondary metabolites (9 withanolides and one flavonoid glycoside) were selected for quantification by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and were in the range of 0.4%–1.0%.
The second investigational product is an aqueous extract derived from Ar roots standardised to > 30% saponins.
Postmenopausal women aged 40 to 55 were enrolled in a double-blind, randomised study to receive one of six treatments: placebo, Ar 250 mg/500 mg, Ws 250 mg/500 mg, or a 500 mg extract combining Ar 250 mg and Ws 250 mg.
Results
After 24 weeks, the primary outcomes were changes in the menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire, bone mineral density/bone turnover markers (BTMs), and reflection index (RI).
Secondary outcomes included changes in serum inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, as well as an assessment of the supplement’s safety and tolerability.
The supplemented groups showed a significant dose-dependent reduction in MENQOL and RI compared to the placebo (P < 0.0001).
According to the figure below, a total of 123 out of 135 subjects completed the 24-week dietary supplementation intervention period: placebo (n = 20), Ws 250 mg (n = 20), Ws 500 mg (n = 22), Ar 250 mg (n = 20), Ar 500 mg (n = 20), and Ws + Ar (n = 21).
Significantly decreased levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde, and increased glutathione and nitric oxide levels (P < 0.0001) were observed.
Standardised aqueous extracts derived from Ayurveda: Ar, primarily recommended for female health, and Ws, commonly used to reduce mental and physical dysfunctions associated with excess stress and anxiety, showed the same results.
Both ingredients significantly reduced the severity of bothersome menopause symptoms, as assessed by the MENQOL questionnaire, in a dose-dependent manner; however, no apparent synergism was observed, and overall, the Ws extract led to more significant improvements at equivalent dosing.
The percentage change in BTM observed in women supplemented with the lower dose of the Ws extract was also similar or better than that observed in women supplemented with the higher dose of the Ar extract, exemplifying the more potent suppression of bone turnover and loss by the Ws extract.
GSH levels increased the most in women supplemented with the higher dose of Ws for 24 weeks, whereas the lower dose of Ws performed similarly to the higher dose of Ar.
Furthermore, MDA levels were reduced by ~11% and 17% after 24 weeks of supplementation with the lower and higher doses of the Ws extract, respectively, compared to reductions of only 3%–4% with Ar extract supplementation.
Thus, the Ws extract appeared to exhibit more potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in this population, likely underpinning the greater reductions observed in vascular dysfunction and bone breakdown among supplemented women.
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