Ashwagandha for Testosterone: What the Trials Show (About 57 ng/dL, With Big Caveats)
Pooled trials put ashwagandha's testosterone bump in men at roughly 57 ng/dL, with no change in women. The studies are small and short, two of the key trials were paid for by the extract's maker, and none tested it in men diagnosed with low testosterone.
By Kymata Health Editorial Published Last checked
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes our grades or rankings. How we make money →
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
Momentous Ashwagandha, 60 capsules
from Momentous
Label: 1 capsule: 300 mg NooGandha ashwagandha extract (standardized to 3.5% withanolides).
Best for regular use: $18.74 on subscription vs $24.99 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Key takeaways
From 6 sources- A 2026 meta-analysis of hormone data from 23 placebo-controlled trials (1,706 participants) found ashwagandha raised testosterone in men by about 57 ng/dL on average, with no meaningful change in women1.
- The most-cited trial gave 57 young men 600 mg a day of root extract during 8 weeks of weight training: testosterone rose 96.2 ng/dL versus 18.0 ng/dL on placebo2.
- In overweight men aged 40 to 70, testosterone rose 14.7% more than on placebo, yet fatigue, vigour and sexual well-being did not differ from placebo3.
- Not every trial clears the bar: in a 60-day stress study, men's testosterone rose 11.4% on ashwagandha, but the gap versus placebo was not statistically significant4.
- Both trials in middle-aged and stressed adults were funded by the company that makes the extract they tested34.
What this article covers
1 evidence profileThe evidence, graded
Pulled from the trial tables in our evidence profiles. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Graded findings
2 rows- CGrade CMuscle strength and size with resistance trainingImproved Greater gains than placebo in 1-RM bench press (SMD 0.60; 95% CI 0.20 to 1.01), lower-body 1-RM (0.52; 0.19 to 0.86) and chest circumference (0.86; 0.41 to 1.31), but not body fat (-0.32; -0.72 to 0.08). Both strength results lost significance under a stricter (HKSJ) adjustment; certainty low.Ashwagandha · Meta-analysis · n=161 · 2026 · PMID 42738987
- CGrade CFatigue and vigor in older menNo effect Fatigue, vigor and sexual well-being improved over time in both conditions with no significant difference from placebo. DHEA-S rose 18% and testosterone 14.7% more than with placebo.Ashwagandha · Crossover RCT · n=57 · 2019 · PMID 30854916
What the pooled trials show
The largest synthesis so far, published in 2026, pooled 23 randomized placebo-controlled trials (1,706 participants) that measured hormones on ashwagandha1. Testosterone rose in men by a mean of 57.43 ng/dL but not in women (5.09 ng/dL), and the difference between the sexes was statistically significant1.
The same analysis found lower cortisol and a modest rise in T4 with no change in TSH or T3, and the authors flagged high heterogeneity between trials and limited data on some hormones1. Its authors declared no conflicts of interest1.
For scale, the authors of one stress trial noted that men's testosterone falls by about 110 ng/dL per decade after age 304. Against that yardstick, the pooled rise of about 57 ng/dL is real but modest14.
Have a bottle? Check its ashwagandha dose against the trials in Label Lens.
The trials behind the number
Young men new to lifting: in an 8-week Indian trial, 57 men aged 18 to 50 took 300 mg of root extract twice daily or a starch placebo while following the same resistance programme2. Serum testosterone rose 96.2 ng/dL with ashwagandha versus 18.0 ng/dL with placebo, alongside bigger bench-press gains (46.0 vs 26.4 kg added)2.
Middle-aged men with mild fatigue: an Australian 16-week crossover trial gave overweight men aged 40 to 70 a root-and-leaf extract delivering 21 mg of withanolide glycosides a day3. Salivary testosterone rose 14.7% more and DHEA-S 18% more than on placebo, but cortisol, oestradiol, fatigue, vigour and sexual well-being did not differ; 43 of the 57 men enrolled finished all 16 weeks3.
Stressed adults: in a 60-day trial of 240 mg a day in 60 adults, testosterone rose in the men over time but the change was not statistically different from placebo, and nothing changed in the women4.
Infertile men: a 2018 systematic review found one randomized trial and several uncontrolled studies; in men with low sperm counts, testosterone was 17% higher than at baseline after 90 days, but the reviewers called the evidence too limited to be robust5.
What the trials do not tell you
The trials recruited healthy, stressed, fatigued or infertile men rather than men diagnosed with low testosterone, so they say nothing about ashwagandha as a substitute for testosterone therapy235. A rise in a lab number also did not translate into better energy or sex drive in the one trial that measured both against placebo3.
Extracts differ. The trials used specific branded root or root-and-leaf extracts at different withanolide strengths, and the authors of the crossover trial warned against generalising their result to other products3. Compare the herb with other popular testosterone supplements in our tongkat ali review.
Who paid for the research
Both the crossover trial in middle-aged men and the 60-day stress trial were funded by Arjuna Natural Ltd., which makes the Shoden extract they tested; the company supplied the product and, according to the papers, had no role in analysis or writing34.
The weight-training trial used KSM-66 extract manufactured by Ixoreal BioMed; its authors declared no competing interests and the paper names no outside funder2. The 2026 meta-analysis authors declared no conflicts1.
Who should be careful
Drug interactions: the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says ashwagandha might interact with thyroid hormone medicines, and lists antidiabetes medicines, blood pressure medicines, immunosuppressants and sedatives as possible interactions6. Check your medicines in the interaction checker and see our ashwagandha drug interactions guide.
Prostate cancer, pregnancy, liver and thyroid: because ashwagandha might raise testosterone, experts cited by NIH say it might not be safe for men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer; some experts also advise against use in pregnancy, and NIH notes it might not be safe while breastfeeding6. Cases of liver injury and of thyrotoxicosis have been reported, and France's food-safety agency advised against use in people with endocrine disorders6. More in ashwagandha side effects: liver and thyroid.
Quick answers
Common questions
4 answersHow much does ashwagandha increase testosterone?
How long does ashwagandha take to affect testosterone?
Does ashwagandha raise testosterone in women?
Will higher testosterone from ashwagandha boost libido or energy?
In the trial that measured both, testosterone rose versus placebo but fatigue, vigour and sexual well-being did not3.
Keep reading
Full evidence profiles
Every graded study, studied doses, interactions and safetyRelated articles
4 articles- ArticleAshwagandha for Stress and Sleep: What the Trials Found, and Why the Results Vary So MuchDoes ashwagandha help with stress and sleep?
- ArticleAshwagandha Interactions: Thyroid Medicine, Sedatives, SSRIs, Alcohol, Magnesium and L-TheanineWhat does ashwagandha interact with?
- ArticleAshwagandha Side Effects: The Liver, Thyroid and Pregnancy Warnings Behind Denmark’s BanWhat are the side effects of ashwagandha?
- ArticleAshwagandha vs Rhodiola for Stress: One Has the Meta-Analyses, the Other Has a Handful of Short TrialsIs ashwagandha or rhodiola better for stress?
More on Supplements and vitamins
5 pages- TopicSupplements and vitamins: every page
- In this topicB12 After 50 and on Metformin: Why Levels Drop, and What the Trials Say About Fixing ThemAbsorbing B12 gets harder with age, and two of the most prescribed drug types make it harder still.
- ToolEvidence-graded supplement stacks
- Also inTestosterone (TRT) and men's hormones
- TopicsBrowse all topics
Browse the full Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia or all supplement articles.
Where to buy Ashwagandha
Products from brands we partner with that contain Ashwagandha. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied, and the label for other ingredients.
Ashwagandha products from partner brands
7 products Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickMomentousMomentous Ashwagandha, 60 capsulesWe use this brand at home. What we useSubscribe & save 25%
Offer details
Pick “Subscribe 25% Off” on the product page; delivery every 1, 2 or 3 months; cancel or reschedule anytime.
- Subscription price shown on each product card.
- Our Momentous links apply the brand’s ambassador discount at checkout, so there is no code to type. Momentous sets any discount it applies; check the cart total before you pay.
- Offer terms from Momentous’ site, checked Oct 8, 2026. Offers can change; the brand's checkout is final.
1 capsule: 300 mg NooGandha ashwagandha extract (standardized to 3.5% withanolides); 60 servings
$24.99one-time$18.74subscribeChecked Oct 15, 2026 - HerbsProNOW Foods KSM-66 Ashwagandha, 90 Veg Caps
1 veg capsule: 600 mg organic KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract
$18.41one-timeChecked Oct 14, 2026 - Botanic ChoiceBotanic Choice Ashwagandha Extract, 90 capsules
1 vege capsule: 450 mg ashwagandha root extract (1.5% withanolides, 6.75 mg); label directions 1 capsule 1 to 3 times daily with a meal
$24.00one-timeChecked Oct 12, 2026 - Physician’s ChoicePhysician’s Choice KSM-66 Ashwagandha (60 capsules)
2 capsules: 1,000 mg per serving as listed by the brand, from organic KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract (standardized to 5% withanolides) with organic black pepper extract; 30 servings
$29.97one-timeChecked Oct 20, 2026 - Dr. TobiasDr. Tobias Ashwagandha with Black Pepper (60 capsules)
Per serving: 1,300 mg organic ashwagandha root extract with 10 mg organic black pepper; 60 capsules, a 30-day supply
$21.99one-timeChecked Oct 14, 2026 - GoliGoli Ashwagandha Gummies, 60 gummies
1 gummy: 150 mg KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract and 12.5 mcg vitamin D (as ergocalciferol); label suggests 2 gummies twice daily
$15.98one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026 - Renue by ScienceRenue by Science LIPO Ashwagandha, liposomal capsules (90)Subscribe & Save 10%
Offer details
Choose the Subscribe & Save option on the product page.
- 10% off subscription orders on the products we list (prices on each card).
- Offer terms from Renue by Science’s site, checked Oct 15, 2026. Offers can change; the brand's checkout is final.
1 capsule: 200 mg ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract; 90 servings
$29.95one-time$26.96subscribeChecked Oct 15, 2026
References
6 sources. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited in this article
6 sources- 1Hormonal Modulation with Withania somnifera: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized-controlled TrialsPlanta Medica, 2026 · PMID 41740946
- 2Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trialJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2015 · PMID 26609282
- 3A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight MalesAmerican Journal of Men's Health, 2019 · PMID 30854916
- 4An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyMedicine (Baltimore), 2019 · PMID 31517876
- 5Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng) in male infertility: An evidence-based systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine, 2018 · PMID 30466985
- 6Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (accessed October 14, 2026)NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2025
Ashwagandha and other dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Talk to your clinician or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines. Product links on this page are paid partner links.