<b>Shatavari </b><b><i>(Asparagus racemosu</i></b><b>s </b>Willd<b>) Root Extract Improves Post-Partum Lactation in a Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study</b>

Background: Inadequate milk production during the immediate postpartum period is a common problem. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), a revered herb in Ayurveda, is traditionally used as a galactagogue. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Shatavari root extract on lactation in post-partum women. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, enrolled 120 (Intent-to-treat) post-partum women (≥ 37 weeks’ gestation, aged 20–40 years) with uncomplicated vaginal or cesarean deliveries who intended to breastfeed. Participants received either Shatavari root extract (SHT; 300 mg) or placebo (PL) capsules twice daily for 72 hours postpartum. The primary outcomes were time to evident breast fullness after the last feeding and the total milk volume expressed at 72 hours. The secondary outcomes were maternal and investigator-rated satisfaction (e.g., noticeable breast fullness, maternal/infant wellbeing), assessed by a five-point Likert scale. The safety parameter was evaluated by reporting adverse events. Independent t-tests were used for primary outcomes, chi-square tests for subjective ratings, and analysis of covariance to assess the impact of covariates (age, body mass index, delivery type, and milk expression method). Results: Seven participants (3 SHT, 4 PL) did not complete the study, yielding a per-protocol dataset of 113 women (57 SHT and 56 PL). The baseline characteristics were comparable across groups. The time to evident breast fullness after the last feeding was significantly shorter in the SHT group (p = 0.002), and milk volume at 72 hours was significantly higher (p < 0.001). The maternal satisfaction with lactation was higher in the SHT group, with 52.63% reporting satisfaction versus 25.00% in the PL group (p = 0.008). The satisfaction regarding infant well-being and lactation was also higher among SHT participants. Investigators rated maternal and infant well-being more in the case of SHT group vs the placebo group (80.70% vs. 64.29%). No significant adverse events were reported, and treatment compliance was high. Conclusion: Shatavari root extract significantly enhanced lactation outcomes in postpartum women by increasing milk volume and maternal satisfaction, indicating its potential as a safe, effective galactagogue.