Perimenopause is marked by hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and disrupted sleep. For many women, it begins in their forties and can last for years. Hormone therapy is still the clinical gold standard, but it carries its own risks and limitations. The supplement industry is developing alternatives to meet women’s demands for natural solutions. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), a plant known as the “queen of Ayurveda,” has been validated in a recent clinical trial.
A new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study tested Xeya Modern Shatavari, a branded extract from NXT USA standardized to 15% shatavarins. The unusually high standardization allowed the researchers to work with relatively low doses — 50 mg and 100 mg daily. The results suggest that the extract can deliver measurable relief across a range of perimenopausal symptoms.
“Women’s concerns have been neglected for too long,” says Eric Anderson, the managing director of NXT USA. “This study shows real benefits for women dealing with perimenopausal symptoms, dramatically improving quality of life for the participants.”
“This is the NXT standard of comprehensive clinical evidence — incorporating our comprehensive ‘four pillars of validation’ in study design that measures patient reporting, physician assessment, biomarkers and physical tests. This is the most comprehensive study on shatavari published to date.”
What the numbers show
Published in Functional Foods in Health and Disease, the trial followed 75 early perimenopausal women, aged 40–50, over 120 days at Lifeline Hospital & Research Center in India. All had mild-to-moderate vasomotor symptoms at baseline.
Women taking 100 mg of Xeya reported a 77.3% improvement in somatic symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, alongside a 74.5% improvement in psychological symptoms including mood swings, anxiety, and brain fog. On the Menopause Rating Scale, scores dropped by 51.4% in the 50 mg group and 72.9% in the 100 mg group, compared with 22.8% for participants taking a placebo.
Participants reported that the menstrual health also improved. On the Menstrual Symptoms Questionnaire, scores rose by 166.7% in the 50 mg group and 178.8% in the 100 mg group, while placebo showed a 35.9% increase. Weekly Weighted Hot Flash Scores dropped by 27.6% and 39.8% in the treatment groups, In contrast, the placebo group reported that their hot flashes increased by 7.7%.
The researchers also tracked hormone levels and ovarian function. Follicle counts rose by 34.4% in the 50 mg group and 51.9% in the 100 mg group, with no change in placebo. Dose-dependent shifts were observed in four hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone , and 17β-estradiol. Participants also reported better skin and hair quality. The intervention was well tolerated.
“These findings extend beyond traditional anecdotal or preclinical evidence, offering robust clinical support for shatavari as a natural, multi-targeted therapeutic option to promote women’s health,” the researchers comment. “These findings align with a growing body of evidence supporting the adaptogenic and hormone-balancing effects of A. racemosus in women’s health.”
Tradition meets market demand
Shatavari has a long history in Ayurveda as a women’s tonic, traditionally credited with balancing hormones and supporting fertility. In the modern supplement market, that heritage has become a marketing hook. What studies like this add is not so much novelty as legitimacy — the translation of tradition into placebo-controlled trials.
NXT USA highlights that Xeya Modern Shatavari is produced with water and alcohol extraction and tested for consistency across batches. Previous research with the same extract showed benefits for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), support for menstrual regularity and ovarian function.
Taken together, the evidence points to broader possibilities. Shatavari is no longer positioned only as a menopause aid but as part of a larger “hormone health” category. From menstrual cycles to fertility to menopause, the ingredient is being framed as a botanical that can carry women across the entire arc of reproductive life.
Though the study was modest in size — 75 women in one location over four months, the researchers point out that the improvements reported are still striking, However, they note that replication and longer-term data will matter. For now, the results will give marketers plenty to work with.
“Xeya was developed with the world class team at Laila Nutra. Their team has achieved impressive results via careful sourcing to science and validation, to bring Xeya Modern Shatavari to market,” Anderson concludes. “Having this study published on perimenopause is ideal timing because shatavari is emerging as the partner to ashwagandha — known as the king of Ayurveda — which has exploded in popularity the last few years.”
“We expect shatavari to really take off this year to support women’s wellness across all age groups. This study provides supplement brands with the confidence to offer differentiated products that serve women of various age groups and demographics.”
