The research, published in the journal Advances in Complementary & Alternative Medicine, evaluated the effects of the Sleeproot-branded sleep support ingredient developed by OmniActive Health Technologies.
Improved sleep time after a single dose is a significant finding as the extract is “optimized to contain the highest concentration of total valerenic acid (2%) reported to date,” wrote the researchers from BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences, OmniActive Health Technologies, Leads Clinical Research and Bio Services Pvt in India.
“Valerian root has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to promote sleep and reduce anxiety,” said Kratika Gupta, vice president of marketing at OmniActive Health Technologies, which funded the research. “Modern studies confirm its ability to improve sleep quality, reduce sleep latency and support deep sleep through increased GABA activity.”
Managing sleep
Poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation are ongoing health issues globally. Metabolic and cognitive health are impacted by a lack of sleep, and lifestyle changes such as diet and workload can influence the quality of sleep an individual gets.
While supplements like melatonin or over the counter sleep aids are often used, consumers are increasingly looking for other natural alternatives, such as ashwagandha, chamomile, magnesium and lemon balm. Valeriana officinalis has also been consumed worldwide to manage sleep.
“Root extract of V. officinalis is known to have sedative and anxiolytic effects and improves overall sleep quality after oral intake,” the researchers wrote. “In experimental sleep models in mice, [V. officinalis] extract enhanced sleep quality by increasing serum levels of serotonin, melatonin and dopamine as well as increased expression of GABA receptors. Further human clinical studies have demonstrated that valerian extract reduced sleep latency and improved sleep quality in healthy subjects as well as those suffering from sleep disorders.”
In a previous eight week-long study conducted by the scientists, supplementing with the V. officinalis Extract [VE] over three days decreased sleep latency among participants.
Study details
The present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial examined the acute effects of VE on sleep in 72 adults with mild insomnia problems. Participants were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to consume either 200 mg of VE or a placebo one hour prior to sleep each night for 56 days.
The researchers used wrist actigraphy, a non-invasive technique that uses a wearable device to measure movement and activity to determine sleep habits and patterns.
“Based on the between group analysis, VE group showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in the actual sleep time as compared to placebo from baseline on day 1 (22.84 minutes for VE vs. -39 minutes for placebo),” the researchers reported.
Gupta said Sleeproot sets a new benchmark for plant-based sleep aids, showing that botanicals can be a viable option to synthetics such as melatonin.
“It also demonstrates the opportunity to include an efficacious dose of valerian in consumer-preferred formats like gummies and beverages, which has been hampered in the past due to valerian’s malodor,” she added. “This research encourages a shift toward botanical, non-hormonal solutions for better sleep.”
Source: Advances in Complementary and Alternative Medicine
doi: 10.31031/ACAM.2024.08.000688
“Single Dose Administration of Valeriana officinalis Extract Improves Actual Sleep Time: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study”
Authors: Harshith Chandra Shekhar et al.
