EFFECT OF OF ALKALOID IN ASHWAGANDHA ROOT EXTRACT ON THYROID INDICES AMONG HYPOTHYROID WOMEN

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is characterized by a condition in which the body doesn’t produce sufficient thyroid hormones which affects 3%–8% of people globally (Taylor et al., 2018). In Pakistan 6-10% of females are affected by hypothyroidism respectively (Alam Khan et al., 2002)) Ashwagandha root extract contains active ingredient withaferin-A (alkaloid) that effects both the axis of hypothalamus−pituitary−adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamus−pituitary−thyroid (HPT) thus normalizing the thyroid hormone level activity by negative feedback inhibition (Dongre et al., 2015). This study has aimed to evaluate the effect of alkaloid in ashwagandha root extract on TSH, T3 and T4 among hypothyroid women.

Methodology: The study was conducted among 64 participants with BMI 25.0 – 29.9 and who meet the inclusion exclusion criteria. First, all the participants were divided in to two groups; control group (n=32) and intervention group (n=32). The participants were selected from London Aesthetics and Rejuvenation center Gynae OPD and Medicine OPD, Lahore. All the participants were advised to take conventional medicines (as per physician recommendation). While the intervention group participants were advised take 600mg/day of Ashwagandha root extract containing alkaloid as active ingredient daily for 10 weeks. It was requested that the participants do not change their usual exercise routine and refrain from using any additional dietary supplements. The lab test for thyroid hormones, TSH, T3 and T4 were collected on 0 week and after 10th week of study. Body fat percentage was also measured at 0 week and then after 10^th week.

Results: Average mean age of conventional treatment group was 24.53 ±3.47 and intervention group was 22.84 ± 5.07. The mean difference of BMI pre and post treatment in conventional treatment group is 25.14±3.505 to 24.28±2.89 and intervention group is 25.37± 2.22 to 24.27±2.55. The mean difference of T3 in pre-treatment was 1.14± 0.16 to post treatment 1.27± 0.303 and T4 pre-treatment 52.7±27.33 to post treatment 57.57±29.7. The reduction of TSH and body fat were also observed. The mean difference of TSH level pre and post treatment (6.76±0.555 to 5.04±0.734) in intervention group.

Conclusion: Ashwagandha root extract showed significant mean difference in reduction of BMI, Body fat and TSH level in participants (p= 0.001). There is significant mean difference in T3 and T4 level were also observed