Whey Protein and Adaptogenic Supplementation in Physically Active Females

NCT07594444 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ASH-WHEY-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether whey protein or plant protein supplements, with or without an adaptogenic herb blend, can improve strength, recovery, stress, and wellbeing in active females. The adaptogenic blend contains ashwagandha root extract and shatavari root extract. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Do whey protein and plant protein supplements improve muscle strength and recovery in physically active females? Does adding ashwagandha and shatavari improve stress, recovery, sleep, and wellbeing compared with protein alone? Are there differences between whey protein and plant protein when combined with the adaptogenic blend? Researchers will compare four supplement groups: Whey protein Whey protein with ashwagandha and shatavari Plant protein Plant protein with ashwagandha and shatavari Participants will: Take their assigned supplement daily for 6 weeks Attend testing sessions before and after the intervention Complete questionnaires about recovery, sleep, stress, soreness, and digestive health Provide saliva samples to measure stress, hormone, immune, and inflammation markers Complete muscle strength tests, including handgrip strength and push-up testing Complete a 24-hour dietary recall The study includes physically active females aged 18 to 45 years who regularly participate in structured training.

Conditions

Recovery; Muscle Strength Recovery; Muscle Strength; Supplements; Sports Nutritional Sciences

Keywords

Whey Protein; Plant protein; Ashwagandha; Shatavari; Adaptogens; Sports; Exercise; Active females; physically active females

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Salivary Cortisol Concentration

  Change in salivary cortisol concentration from baseline to post-intervention following 6 weeks of whey protein or plant protein supplementation with or without an adaptogenic herb blend containing ashwagandha KSM-66® and shatavari SRI-81™.

  Baseline and Week 6

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Handgrip Strength

  Baseline and Week 6

• Upper Body Muscular Endurance

  Baseline and Week 6

• Perceived Recovery and Wellbeing

  Baseline and Week 6

• Salivary Biomarkers of Stress, Hormonal Status, Immunity, and Inflammation

  Baseline and Week 6

• Perceived Gastrointestinal Health

  Baseline and Week 6

Study Arms (4)

Whey protein

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a whey protein supplement daily for 6 weeks. Assessments of muscle strength, recovery, stress, wellbeing, dietary intake, and salivary biomarkers will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention.

Dietary Supplement: Whey protein

Whey Protein + Adaptogenic Blend

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a whey protein supplement containing ashwagandha KSM-66® (250 mg) and shatavari SRI-81™ (300 mg) daily for 6 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention.

Dietary Supplement: Whey Protein With Adaptogenic Blend

Plant protein

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a plant-based protein supplement daily for 6 weeks. Assessments of muscle strength, recovery, stress, wellbeing, dietary intake, and salivary biomarkers will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention.

Dietary Supplement: Plant Protein Supplement

Plant Protein + Adaptogenic Blend

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will consume a plant-based protein supplement containing ashwagandha KSM-66® (250 mg) and shatavari SRI-81™ (300 mg) daily for 6 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention.

Dietary Supplement: Plant Protein With Adaptogenic Blend

Interventions

Whey protein DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume a whey protein supplement daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be provided in identical blank sachets. Participants will be instructed to maintain their usual diet and training habits throughout the intervention period.

Also known as: Grass-Fed Whey Protein, Whey Protein Powder

Whey protein

Whey Protein With Adaptogenic Blend DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume a whey protein supplement containing ashwagandha KSM-66® root extract (250 mg) and shatavari SRI-81™ root extract (300 mg) daily for 6 weeks. Supplements will be provided in identical blank sachets. Participants will maintain usual diet and training habits during the study.

Also known as: Ashwagandha and Shatavari Whey Protein, Whey Protein Plus Adaptogens

Whey Protein + Adaptogenic Blend

Plant Protein Supplement DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume a plant-based protein supplement daily for 6 weeks. The supplement will be provided in identical blank sachets. Participants will be instructed to maintain their usual diet and training habits throughout the intervention period.

Also known as: Plant-Based Protein, Vegan Protein Supplement

Plant protein

Plant Protein With Adaptogenic Blend DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume a plant-based protein supplement containing ashwagandha KSM-66® root extract (250 mg) and shatavari SRI-81™ root extract (300 mg) daily for 6 weeks. Supplements will be provided in identical blank sachets. Participants will maintain usual diet and training habits during the study.

Also known as: Plant Protein Plus Adaptogens, Ashwagandha and Shatavari Plant Protein

Plant Protein + Adaptogenic Blend

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female, aged 18-45 years Currently participating in regular structured athletic or physical training (≥3 sessions per week) Free from musculoskeletal injury that would prevent testing Willing to maintain usual diet and training habits during the study Not currently using protein supplements or adaptogenic supplements

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy during the study period Known allergy or sensitivity to dairy, pea protein, pumpkin seed, chia seed, ashwagandha, shatavari, or nightshades Current use of prescribed medication that may interact with the supplements Thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions, hormone-sensitive conditions, or other medical conditions that may be affected by supplementation Diagnosed eating disorder or condition affecting protein metabolism Current musculoskeletal injury preventing participation in testing Current use of other protein supplements or adaptogens

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sports Performance and Applied Research in Trials and Analysis: lead

Study Sites (1)

Strength and Nutrition Ltd

Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Interventions

Whey Proteins; Ashwagandha; Plant Proteins

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Milk Proteins; Animal Proteins, Dietary; Dietary Proteins; Proteins; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Whey; Milk; Dairy Products; Food; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Food and Beverages

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Participants and outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation. Supplements will be provided in identical blank sachets to minimise identification of the assigned intervention. Group allocation codes will be concealed until completion of data collection and primary analyses.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: NETWORK
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Scientist

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 4 parallel intervention groups: whey protein, whey protein with adaptogenic blend, plant protein, or plant protein with adaptogenic blend. Participants will remain in their assigned group for the full 6-week intervention period. Baseline and post-intervention assessments will be conducted to compare changes between groups and over time.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 12, 2026
• First Posted: May 18, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 12, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 20, 2026
• Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)