Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of an Oral Withania Somnifera Product in Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT07008300

Last Updated: 2025-12-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: WITHDRAWN
• Clinical Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-01

Brief Summary

This study will measure the oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of known compounds from a standardized Withania somnifera botanical dietary supplement in healthy older adults.

Detailed Description

This is a single-blind, crossover trial evaluating (a) the pharmacokinetics of withanolides from two doses (120 and 240 mg) of a commercially available Withania somnifera root and leaf extract (Shoden®), (b) the safety and tolerability of these doses over four weeks' use and (c) the feasibility of remotely measuring sleep- and stress-related outcomes in older adults. There will be two four-week study periods separated by a two-week washout period. During each study period, participants will attend a 13-hour pharmacokinetics study visit, where they will receive a single dose of either 120 or 240 mg Shoden®, and return for 24- and 48-hour blood and urine collections. After the 48-hour visit, they will continue taking Shoden® at the administered dose (120 or 240 mg) for four weeks, at which time they will return for a follow-up visit.

Conditions

Healthy; Aging

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Shoden 120 mg

Shoden, administered as a single 120 mg capsule, once at the pharmacokinetics visit and once daily for four weeks following the 48 hour visit.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Shoden

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Shoden® powder is a commercial, dried 70% ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, WS) root and leaf, standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides. Shoden® powder is manufactured by Arjuna Natural Pvt Ltd, based in Kochi, Kerala, India.

Shoden 240 mg

Shoden, administered as a single 240 mg capsule, once at the pharmacokinetics visit and once daily for four weeks following the 48 hour visit.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Shoden

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Shoden® powder is a commercial, dried 70% ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, WS) root and leaf, standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides. Shoden® powder is manufactured by Arjuna Natural Pvt Ltd, based in Kochi, Kerala, India.

Interventions

Shoden

Shoden® powder is a commercial, dried 70% ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha, WS) root and leaf, standardized to 35% withanolide glycosides. Shoden® powder is manufactured by Arjuna Natural Pvt Ltd, based in Kochi, Kerala, India.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 65 and older, male and female

2. Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 17 and less than 35 at screening

3. Sufficient vision and hearing to complete all tests

4. Willingness to discontinue all botanical supplementation for one week prior to and throughout study

5. No known sensitivity to Withania somnifera or any of its derivatives

6. Normal or clinically not significant 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recording

7. Hepatic (ALT, AST, bilirubin), renal (creatinine, estimated GFR), and TSH parameters within normal range

8. Hemoglobin ≥13.0 g/dL or hematocrit ≥39% (males) OR hemoglobin ≥12.5 g/dL or hematocrit ≥38% (females), per FDA recommendations on blood donation

9. General health status that will not interfere with the ability to complete the study

10. Willingness to attend all study visits

11. Willingness to avoid caffeine and xanthine-containing foods or beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeine-containing sodas, colas, etc.), as well as grapefruit juice and poppy-containing foods for 48 hours prior to baseline visits

12. Willingness to adhere to special diet (no dairy, grapefruit products, poppy-containing foods, high-fat meals, caffeine, or xanthine-containing foods or beverages) during baseline visits and until after 24-hour visit

13. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score ≥26

Exclusion Criteria

1. Current smoking, alcohol, or substance abuse according to DSM-V criteria

2. Participants who are currently pregnant, actively trying to conceive a child, or planning to within three months of study completion

3. Severe aversion to venipuncture

4. Donation of blood within 90 days of screening

5. Participation in drug research study within 90 days of screening

6. Serious health condition (i.e., illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition which requires a) overnight hospitalization or b) continuing treatment that may cause episodic periods of incapacity of more than 3 consecutive days) within 30 days of screening

7. Allergy to nightshade plants (Solanaceae family)

8. Abnormal labs indicating symptomatic and untreated urinary tract infection

9. History of prostate cancer

10. History of kidney transplant

11. Cancer within the last five years, with the exception of non-metastatic skin cancers

12. Comorbid conditions requiring medication such as diabetes, kidney failure, liver failure, hepatitis, blood disorders, hypotension, thyroid disease, respiratory disorders, or cardiovascular disease

13. Presence of sleep apnea, moderate to severe restless leg syndrome, major circadian rhythm changes, or narcolepsy

14. Significant disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) such as brain tumor, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, cranial arteritis, or clinically significant stroke

15. Diagnosis of major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other major psychiatric disorder as defined by DSM-V criteria

16. Diseases associated with dementia such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, normal pressure hydrocephalus or Parkinson's disease

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Oregon Health and Science University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Alex Speers, ND

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Alex Speers, ND

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Oregon Health and Science University

Locations

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

KL2TR002370

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

STUDY00026055

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id