LOS ANGELES—A clinical trial examined the effect of supplementation by KSM-66 Ashwagandha (by Ixoreal Biomed) in adult males and demonstrated significant improvement in testosterone level and other metrics related to male sexual function (Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:571420). The study found that KSM-66 supplementation increased testosterone levels by 17%, semen volume by 53%, sperm concentration by 167%, luteinizing hormone by 34%and sperm motility by 57%.
The double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial looked at 46 males between the ages of 22 and 44. All participants were healthy, but had oligospermia, a condition that causes low sperm count. Based on the study, Health Canada has approved KSM-66 for the claim “helps promote healthy testosterone production in males."
“From the scientific literature, we know that the ashwagandha root promotes balance in the body and increases or decreases key hormone levels to bring them to appropriate levels. It is not surprising therefore, that KSM-66 supplementation increases testosterone levels for many males," said Kartikeya Baldwa, director of Ixoreal Biomed. “We should however not expect KSM-66 to produce similar testosterone increases in males with already very high testosterone levels or in females, because such increases would be counter to the natural state of balance in such individuals. Indeed, pilot data for another clinical study in progress indicate that KSM-66's effect on testosterone in females is not substantial."
KSM-66 is an advanced form of ashwagandha, an Indian herb used for centuries in ayurvedic medicine. KSM-66 is extracted from the root of the plant and is manufactured using a profrietary process yielding high purity. It is manufactured using GMP (good manufacturing practices) standards and is GRAS (generally recognized as safe), organic, Kosher, vegetarian and Halal certified.