Shatavari and Breast Milk Supply — What the 2022 Indian Clinical Trial Actually Found
A double-blind Indian RCT confirmed what Ayurveda has known for centuries. Here's what the study actually said — and the dose that matters.
The study
In 2022, a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial conducted in India confirmed what Ayurvedic medicine has known for centuries: Shatavari root extract (Asparagus racemosus) significantly increases prolactin levels and breast milk production in lactating mothers.
The trial used a standardised Shatavari root extract at a dose of 500mg twice daily for 30 days. The results: statistically significant increases in prolactin (the milk-production hormone), measurable increase in milk volume, and no adverse effects in either mother or infant.
Why most Shatavari supplements fail
The active compounds in Shatavari are steroidal saponins — specifically shatvarins. The clinical evidence is for standardised root extract, not raw powder, not leaf extract, not an unstandardised blend.
Most Shatavari products in the Indian market are raw powder in a capsule. The saponin content is unknown. The clinical evidence doesn't apply to them.
What to look for
A standardised Shatavari root extract with a minimum 5% saponin content, at a dose of at least 500mg daily. This is what the evidence supports. Everything else is tradition without clinical backing — which isn't worthless, but it isn't the same thing.