The Quest for the Best Natural Anti-Aging Supplement - Ashwagandha

September is Healthy Aging Month. Do you feel like you’re getting old or aging too fast?

If so, put the brakes on aging with a natural herbal supplement that has been used safely for centuries. Continue reading to learn more!

What is Aging? What is Healthy Aging?

Aging is the process of getting older, and there are different types of aging. One type is chronological aging, which is a measure of time since birth. Your age is your chronological age. There is a second type of aging called biological aging.¹

While chronological aging cannot be adjusted - all 43-year-olds are the same age - some 43-year-olds look like they are in their 20s, while others look much older! This phenomenon can be caused by differences in biological aging.

It is impossible to determine someone’s biological age or health status based on looks, though, and there is yet to be a scientific consensus regarding how to determine biological age. It is challenging to even find a consistent definition of normal or healthy aging since there are so many factors involved.¹

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “healthy aging is more than just the absence of disease; it is the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.”²

Your cells are continuously exposed to stressors, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), toxic environmental substances, and UV radiation. Gradually, damage caused by these stressors accumulates during the lifetime of each cell.¹

While your cells have protective repair mechanisms to counteract the damage, the mechanisms can eventually become exhausted and unable to repair your cells. The accumulated damage to cells throughout your body causes biological aging.¹

There are several other causes of biological aging, which include:

• Telomere attrition (shortening)
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Cellular senescence
• Metabolic dysfunction
• Deregulated nutrient sensing
• Stem cell exhaustion
• Changes in the maintenance of proteostasis (balanced protein turnover)
• Inflammation
• Epigenetic and genomic alterations (DNA damage)^1,3

While chronological aging cannot be altered, it is possible to improve your rate of biological aging when the underlying causes of biological aging are addressed. Engaging in healthy interventions to slow biological aging promotes healthy aging and a good quality of life each year.

How Do You Slow Down or Reverse Aging - An Anti-Aging Cream or Serum?

While most “anti-aging” products focus on improving skin health, aging can also include a decline in sleep quality, general well-being, telomere length, mental alertness, and muscle strength & mass.^4,5

Previously, aging was considered an unavoidable process determined by genetics. Now, scientists suspect the speed of biological aging is modifiable by interventions.¹ Therefore, yes, one intervention to consider is a topical cream or serum with research-backed ingredients that support youthful and optimal cellular health.⁶ But, this intervention is only “skin-deep.”

Research suggests certain supplements, such as Ashwagandha, and lifestyle changes may offer systemic anti-aging benefits.*

The Anti-Aging Benefits of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Supplementation

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has been sought out for centuries. Ancient texts and Ayurvedic treatment protocols confirm Ashwagandha enriches vitality and rejuvenation.⁴

Modern research shows Ashwagandha root extract supports healthy aging via:

• Robust antioxidant activity
• Boosting sleep quality
• Promoting mental alertness
• Fostering overall well-being and stress resilience
• Enhancing cardiorespiratory endurance
• Improving muscle strength
• Hastening muscle recovery
• Bodyweight management
• Increasing sexual function in both men and women⁴
• Enhancing telomerase activity by ~ 45% in human cell lines
• Inhibiting DNA damage
• Regulating the insulin signaling pathways
• Modulating neural activity⁷
• Exerting anti-cancer effects⁸
• Maintaining bone health^9,10
• Reducing inflammation
• Supporting healthy joints¹¹
• Regulating mitochondrial function
• Promoting optimal metabolism¹²

Ashwagandha is so supportive of healthy aging that one animal study demonstrated a 20% increase in lifespan with supplemental Ashwagandha.⁴ Another animal study showed withanolide (one of the bioactive components of Ashwagandha) induced a 29.7% extension in the mean lifespan.⁷ A recent clinical study with elderly participants showed Ashwagandha was supportive of sleep, mental alertness on rising, and general well-being in the study population.⁴

There is also evidence the direct application of Ashwagandha root extract to the skin supports skin health. Data from a clinical study suggests topically applied Ashwagandha root extract supports healthy skin by boosting skin hydration, improving skin elasticity, reducing transepidermal water loss, and minimizing wrinkles.^13,14

InterPlexus Supplements that Support Healthy Aging*

Flavo PlexC supplement includes the bioflavonoids hesperidin and grape seed extract (95% proanthocyanidins), which work synergistically with vitamin C and organic Ashwagandha root extract to support antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, and healthy anti-aging pathways.*

Adapt supplement is formulated with organic Ashwagandha root extract, organic citrus bioflavonoid complex, B vitamins, and  minerals to support healthy aging, optimal adrenal function, and a balanced response to stress.*

B-KalmPlexus is a physician-formulated supplement that offers B vitamins, magnesium, organic Ashwagandha root extract, and phosphatidylserine to support an optimal stress response and healthy aging.* 

Always consult with a healthcare professional before beginning a new supplement regimen, especially if you take medications or have underlying health conditions.

References:

1. Behr LC, Simm A, Kluttig A, Grosskopf Großkopf A. 60 years of healthy aging: On definitions, biomarkers, scores and challenges. Ageing Res Rev. 2023;88:101934. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2023.101934
2. Michel JP, Sadana R. "Healthy Aging" Concepts and Measures. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017;18(6):460-464. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2017.03.008
3. Li Y, Tian X, Luo J, et al. Molecular mechanisms of aging and anti-aging strategies. Cell Commun Signal. 2024;22(1):285. doi:10.1186/s12964-024-01663-1
4. Kelgane SB, Salve J, Sampara P, Debnath K. Efficacy and Tolerability of Ashwagandha Root Extract in the Elderly for Improvement of General Well-being and Sleep: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study. Cureus. 2020;12(2):e7083. doi:10.7759/cureus.7083
5. Marzetti E. Musculoskeletal Aging and Sarcopenia in the Elderly. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(5):2808. doi:10.3390/ijms23052808
6. Bungau S, Vesa CM, Abid A, et al. Withaferin A-A Promising Phytochemical Compound with Multiple Results in Dermatological Diseases. Molecules. 2021;26(9):2407. doi:10.3390/molecules26092407
7. Sharma R, Martins N. Telomeres, DNA Damage and Ageing: Potential Leads from Ayurvedic Rasayana (Anti-Ageing) Drugs. J Clin Med. 2020;9(8):2544. doi:10.3390/jcm9082544
8. Yu Y, Katiyar SP, Sundar D, et al. Withaferin-A kills cancer cells with and without telomerase: chemical, computational and experimental evidences. Cell Death Dis. 2017;8(4):e2755. doi:10.1038/cddis.2017.33
9. Singh P, Gupta A, Qayoom I, et al. Orthobiologics with phytobioactive cues: A paradigm in bone regeneration. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;130:110754. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110754
10. Mirakzehi MT, Kermanshahi H, Golian A, Raji AR. The effects of dietary 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and hydroalcoholic extract of Withania somnifera root on bone mineralisation, strength and histological characteristics in broiler chickens. Br Poult Sci. 2013;54(6):789-800. doi:10.1080/00071668.2013.850469
11. Saha P, Ajgaonkar S, Maniar D, et al. Current insights into transcriptional role(s) for the nutraceutical Withania somnifera in inflammation and aging. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1370951. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1370951
12. Mikulska P, Malinowska M, Ignacyk M, et al. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)-Current Research on the Health-Promoting Activities: A Narrative Review. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(4):1057. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15041057
13. Bungau S, Vesa CM, Abid A, et al. Withaferin A-A Promising Phytochemical Compound with Multiple Results in Dermatological Diseases. Molecules. 2021;26(9):2407. doi:10.3390/molecules26092407
14. Narra K, Naik SK, Ghatge AS. A Study of Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Lotion on Facial Skin in Photoaged Healthy Adults. Cureus. 2023;15(3):e36168. doi:10.7759/cureus.36168