Sharma Ashok Kumar, Basu Indraneel, Singh Siddarth
Consultant Physician, Sudbhawana Hospital , Varanasi, India .
J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Mar;24(3):243-248. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0183. Epub 2017 Aug 22.
Subclinical hypothyroidism, a thyroid disorder without obvious symptoms of thyroid deficiency, occurs in 3%-8% of the global population. Ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal], a traditional medicine in Ayurveda, is often prescribed for thyroid dysfunctions.
This pilot study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in subclinical hypothyroid patients.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center placebo-controlled study was performed at Sudbhawana Hospital, Varanasi, India between May 2016 and September 2016. Fifty subjects with elevated serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (4.5-10 μIU/L) aged between 18 and 50 were randomized in either treatment (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25) groups for an 8-week treatment period.
Ashwagandha root extract (600 mg daily) or starch as placebo. Efficacy Variables: Serum TSH, serum triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) levels.
A total of four subjects (two from each group) withdrew their consent before the second visit. Eight weeks of treatment with ashwagandha improved serum TSH (p < 0.001), T3 (p = 0.0031), and T4 (p = 0.0096) levels significantly compared to placebo. Ashwagandha treatment effectively normalized the serum thyroid indices during the 8-week treatment period in a significant manner (time-effects: TSH [p < 0.001], T3 [p < 0.001], and T4 [p < 0.001]). Four subjects (8%) (ashwagandha: 1[4%]; Placebo: 3[12%]) out of 50 reported few mild and temporary adverse effects during this study.
Treatment with ashwagandha may be beneficial for normalizing thyroid indices in subclinical hypothyroid patients.
亚临床甲状腺功能减退是一种无明显甲状腺功能减退症状的甲状腺疾病，全球3%-8%的人口受其影响。印度人参（Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal）是阿育吠陀医学中的一种传统药物，常用于治疗甲状腺功能障碍。
本初步研究旨在评估印度人参根提取物对亚临床甲状腺功能减退患者的疗效和安全性。
设计、地点和参与者：2016年5月至2016年9月在印度瓦拉纳西的Sudbhawana医院进行了一项前瞻性、随机、双盲、单中心安慰剂对照研究。50名年龄在18至50岁之间、血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）水平升高（4.5-10 μIU/L）的受试者被随机分为治疗组（n = 25）或安慰剂组（n = 25），进行为期8周的治疗。
印度人参根提取物（每日600毫克）或淀粉作为安慰剂。疗效变量：血清TSH、血清三碘甲状腺原氨酸（T3）和甲状腺素（T4）水平。
共有4名受试者（每组2名）在第二次就诊前撤回了同意书。与安慰剂相比，印度人参治疗8周后血清TSH（p < 0.001）、T3（p = 0.0031）和T4（p = 0.0096）水平显著改善。在8周治疗期内，印度人参治疗有效地使血清甲状腺指标显著恢复正常（时间效应：TSH [p < 0.001]、T3 [p < 0.001]和T4 [p < 0.001]）。50名受试者中有4名（8%）（印度人参组：1名[4%]；安慰剂组：3名[12%]）在本研究期间报告了一些轻微和短暂 的不良反应。
印度人参治疗可能有助于使亚临床甲状腺功能减退患者的甲状腺指标恢复正常。
