Ashwagandha as a Unique Cause of Thyrotoxicosis Presenting With Supraventricular Tachycardia

Kamal, Hawra I; Patel, Kunjal; Brdak, Alexandra; Heffernan, Jeremy; Ahmad, Naseer

doi:10.7759/cureus.23494

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Summing up, thanks to the above studies, it can be concluded that the effect of Ashwagandha is promising not only due to the benefits of Ashwagandha supplementation on the thyroid gland, but also the relative safety of use [40]. However, it should be noted that cases of thyrotoxicosis have been described that may be associated with excessive use of W. somnifera derivatives [59,60], like a 62 y.o. patient who developed thyrotoxicosis by supplementing 1950 mg of Ashwagandha root extract a day for approximately two months [59].…”

Section: Ashwagandha and Thyroid Gland Dysfunctionsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Can Ashwagandha Benefit the Endocrine System?—A Review

Wiciński,

Fajkiel-Madajczyk,

Kurant

et al. 2023

IJMS

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Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Due to the wide range of its activities, there has been interest in its possible beneficial effects on the human body. It is proved that, among others, Ashwagandha has anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, and hypolipidemic properties. Particularly interesting are its properties reported in the field of psychiatry and neurology: in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, bipolar disorder, insomnia, anxiety disorders and many others. The aim of this review is to find and summarize the effect that Ashwagandha root extract has on the endocrine system and hormones. The multitude of active substances and the wide hormonal problems faced by modern society sparked our interest in the topic of Ashwagandha’s impact on this system. In this work, we also attempted to draw conclusions as to whether W. somnifera can help normalize the functions of the human endocrine system in the future. The search mainly included research published in the years 2010–2023. The results of the research show that Ashwagandha can have a positive effect on the functioning of the endocrine system, including improving the secretory function of the thyroid gland, normalizing adrenal activity, and multidirectional improvement on functioning of the reproductive system. The main mechanism of action in the latter appears to be based on the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, as a decrease in cortisol levels and an increase in hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in men were found, which results in stress level reduction and improvement in fertility. In turn, other studies prove that active substances from W. somnifera, acting on the body, cause an increase in the secretion of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) by the thyroid gland and a subsequent decrease in the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in accordance with the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis. In light of these findings, it is clear that Ashwagandha holds significant promise as a natural remedy for various health concerns, especially those related to the endocrine system. Future research may provide new insights into its mechanisms of action and expand its applications in both traditional and modern medicine. The safety and toxicity of Ashwagandha also remain important issues, which may affect its potential use in specific patient groups.

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Section: Ashwagandha and Thyroid Gland Dysfunctionsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Can Ashwagandha Benefit the Endocrine System?—A Review

Wiciński,

Fajkiel-Madajczyk,

Kurant

et al. 2023

IJMS

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“…Regarding the unfavorable effect of Ashwagandha on thyroid function in humans, as far as we know, there are three reports of thyrotoxicosis [ 13 - 15 ]. Of three reports, thyrotoxicosis is noted in two previously healthy people and one hypothyroidism patient [ 13 - 15 ]. One healthy case had an enlargement of the thyroid gland and pain on thyroid palpation or by swallowing [ 14 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because this article is not English literature, we could not read it in detail. In one hypothyroidism case, there was no evidence of thyroid enlargement, thyroid nodules, or tenderness of the thyroid gland [ 13 ]. This case was positive for thyroid microsomal antibody, representing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding the unfavorable effect of Ashwagandha on thyroid function in humans, as far as we know, there are three reports of thyrotoxicosis [13][14][15]. Of three reports, thyrotoxicosis is noted in two previously healthy people and one hypothyroidism patient [13][14][15]. One healthy case had an enlargement of the thyroid gland and pain on thyroid palpation or by swallowing [14].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Painless Thyroiditis by Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

Hayashi,

Hamada,

Azuma

et al. 2024

Cureus

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The Withania somnifera , also called Ashwagandha, is available everywhere in the world. We present a rare case of thyrotoxicosis following Ashwagandha administration, specifically painless thyroiditis (PT) in this report. The patient was a 47-year-old previously healthy Japanese man, who started taking Ashwagandha two months before his first visit to our hospital. He visited our hospital for typical thyrotoxicosis symptoms like a sense of fatigue, fever at night, and weight loss followed by diarrhea and headache. Blood tests disclosed thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid ultrasonography showed internal echo heterogeneity and no increase in blood flow. Thyroid scintigraphy revealed a deficiency in thyroid uptake. Based on these findings, he was diagnosed as PT. After stopping the administration of Ashwagandha, both his symptoms and serum thyroid markers were improved. This report may spark important debate about whether ashwagandha is safe among healthy people, especially in thyroid toxicity.

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“…However, other, less common, side effects have been reported, including dizziness, hallucinations, coughing, decreased appetite, nausea, and weight gain [reviewed in ref [43]. In addition, hepatotoxicity [55,56] and thyrotoxicosis in hypothyroidism [57] related to WS supplementation have been reported in humans. Moreover, a decrease in cortisol levels can be interpreted both as a positive and an adverse effect of WS supplementation, depending on its consequences on adrenal function.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Withania somnifera on Cortisol Levels in Stressed Human Subjects: A Systematic Review

Della Porta,

Maier,

Cazzola

2023

Nutrients

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Background: Withania somnifera (WS), a popular medicinal plant of the Solanaceae family, contains active ingredients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-stress activities. However, its precise mechanisms of action and optimal use as a supplement are not yet fully understood. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of WS supplementation on cortisol levels in stressed humans by analyzing clinical trials conducted prior to May 2023. Methods: The assessment was carried out following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) by exploring the databases of EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, CENTRAL, and Scopus. Results: Of the 4788 articles identified, only 9 studies met the selection criteria. The selected studies varied in terms of design, results, formulations, dosages, and treatment duration (30–112 days), and involved subjects with varying degrees of stress. WS supplementation decreases cortisol secretion with no significant adverse effects. Nonetheless, none of the studies evaluated the potential impact of cortisol reduction on adrenal function and long-term effects. Conclusions: Brief-term supplementation with WS appears to have a stress-reducing effect in stressed individuals. However, since the long-term effects of WS supplementation are not yet fully understood, WS supplements should be used under medical supervision.

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Ashwagandha as a Unique Cause of Thyrotoxicosis Presenting With Supraventricular Tachycardia

Cited by 6 publications

References 6 publications

Can Ashwagandha Benefit the Endocrine System?—A Review

Can Ashwagandha Benefit the Endocrine System?—A Review

Painless Thyroiditis by Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha)

Effects of Withania somnifera on Cortisol Levels in Stressed Human Subjects: A Systematic Review

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