Combined effects of Rhodiola rosea and caffeine supplementation on aerobic endurance and muscle explosiveness: a synergistic approach

Abstract

This study examined the synergistic effects of combining Rhodiola rosea (RHO) and caffeine (CAF) supplementation on muscle endurance and explosiveness in SD rats and human subjects, encompassing individuals without prior exercise training experience and seasoned aerobic athletes. Male SD rats and healthy human volunteers were randomly divided into four groups: CAF, RHO, CAF + RHO, and a control group (CTR). Nutritional supplements were administered throughout the training period, and pre-and post-measurement data were collected. In both the rat model and human subjects, the RHO+CAF group demonstrated significantly greater effects compared to the use of RHO or CAF supplements individually. Rats in the RHO+CAF group demonstrated extended running and swimming times and an increase in erythropoietin (EPO) mRNA expression in comparison to the CTR. Blood parameters, such as serum EPO levels, were enhanced in the CAF + RHO group, while blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactate (LA) levels significantly decreased in both the RHO and CAF + RHO groups. Hepatic and muscle glycogen contents were also higher in these groups. The gene expression analysis in rats demonstrated an elevation in the mRNA levels of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), Monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT-1), and Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in both the RHO and RHO+CAF groups. For individuals without prior aerobic training experience, the RHO+CAF group showed significant improvements compared to the CTR group in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), 5 km run, countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump, and 30 m sprint. For individuals with years of aerobic training experience, the RHO+CAF group exhibited enhanced performance in the 5 km run, CMJ, and standing long jump compared to the CTR group. In conclusion, the continuous 30 days supplementation of RHO, combined with a single dose of CAF, demonstrated superior effects on muscle endurance and explosiveness in both animal and human studies when compared to the use of RHO or CAF individually.

State-of-the-Art Review on Botanical Hybrid Preparations in Phytomedicine and Phytotherapy Research: Background and Perspectives

“…This implies that the BHP exhibits quite different pharmacological activities when the ingredients are combined. These findings are essential for understanding the unpredictable results of clinical studies of multi-component drugs and dietary supplements [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ].…”

“…Recently, the effects of ADAPT-232 on the recovery of patients with long COVID symptoms (fatigue, headache, respiratory insufficiency, cognitive performance, mood disorders, loss of smell, taste, and hair, sweatiness, cough, and pain in joints, muscles, and chest) were studied [ 59 ]. One hundred patients confirmed positive with the SARS-CoV-2 test, who were discharged from the intensive care unit and experienced at least three of nine long COVID symptoms in the 30 days before randomization, were included in the study.…”

“…In two recent studies, the stimulating effects of caffeine, Rhodiola rosea , and their concomitant supplementation were compared in healthy human subjects and rats, suggesting the superimposed effects of the two supplements due to their different application mechanisms [ 58 , 59 ]. The impact of caffeine (400 mg/daily), Rhodiola rosea , (2.4 g/daily), and their combination for 30 days on muscle strength and muscular endurance physical performance of resistance exercise-untrained volunteers, as well as resistance exercise-trained subjects was assessed in four groups (12 participants in each group) of resistance exercise-trained subjects and two groups of resistance exercise-untrained volunteers, as shown in Table 2 [ 58 ].…”

“…Eighteen clinical studies were conducted on the fixed combinations of R. rosea with green tea [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ], Eleutherococcus, and Schisandra [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ], Eleutherococcus, Schisandra, and Leuzea [ 56 ], caffeine [ 58 , 59 ], Cordyceps [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ], Ginkgo [ 64 ], black cohosh [ 65 ], Saffron [ 66 ], L-carnosine [ 67 ], Eleutherococcus, and Glycyrrhiza [ 68 ].…”

“…This narrative state-of-the-art review provides the results of recent clinical [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ] and network pharmacology studies of the BHP of R. rosea with other plants [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. The studies aim to reveal the molecular interactions in situ of host cells in response to the intervention of BHP and justify the benefits of implementing BHP in clinical practice.…”