Rhodiola/Cordyceps-Based Herbal Supplement Promotes Endurance Training-Improved Body Composition But Not Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Biomarkers: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Rhodiola crenulata (R) and Cordyceps sinensis (C) are commonly used herbs that promote health in traditional Chinese medicine. These two herbs have also been shown to exhibit anti-inflammation and antioxidant functions. Regular endurance training reveals potent endurance capacity, body composition improvement, and metabolic-related biomarker benefits. However, it is not known whether the combination of Rhodiola crenulata and Cordyceps sinensis (RC) supplementation during endurance training provides additive health benefits. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8-week endurance training plus RC supplementation on body composition, oxidative stress, and metabolic biomarkers in young sedentary adults. Methods: Fourteen young sedentary adults (8M/6F) participated in this double-blind randomized controlled study. Participants were assigned to exercise training with placebo groups (PLA, n = 7, 4M/3F; age: 21.4 ± 0.4 years) and exercise training with the RC group (RC, 20 mg/kg/day; n = 7, 4M/3F; age: 21.7 ± 0.4 years). Both groups received identical exercise training for eight weeks. The body composition, circulating oxidative stress, and blood metabolic biomarkers were measured before and after the 8-week intervention. Results: Improvement in body composition profiles were significantly greater in the RC group (body weight: p = 0.044, BMI: p = 0.003, upper extremity fat mass: p = 0.032, lower extremity muscle mass: p = 0.029, trunk fat mass: p = 0.011) compared to the PLA group after training. The blood lipid profile and systemic oxidative stress makers (thiobarbituric reactive substanceand total antioxidant capacity) did not differ between groups. Although endurance training markedly improved endurance capacity and glycemic control ability (i.e., fast blood glucose, insulin, and HOMA index), there were no differences in these variables between treatments. Conclusions: In this preliminary investigation, we demonstrated that an 8-week RC supplementation (20 mg/kg/day) faintly enhanced endurance training-induced positive adaptations in body composition in young sedentary individuals, whereas the blood lipid profile and systemic oxidative stress states were not altered after such intervention.

Application of traditional Chinese therapy in sports medicine

“… 140 In addition, supplementation of Rhodiola during endurance exercise training also effectively improved lower extremity muscle strength. 141 Therefore, Chinese herbal medicine still has potential application in sports medicine, especially for improving sports performance.…”

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

“…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 ].…”

Application of UHPLC Fingerprints Combined with Chemical Pattern Recognition Analysis in the Differentiation of Six Rhodiola Species

“…Many species of Rhodiola have been used as traditional medicines or dietary supplements in Asia, Europe, and the United States to improve overall health. Rhodiola crenulate is the only official species recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, its root and rhizome are widely used in Tibetan medicine and traditional Chinese medicine for its observable effects, such as acute mountain sickness and fatigue resistance [2,3]. Rhodiola rosea is a commonly used species in western countries and is present in the market as a dietary supplement with antifatigue, antistress, and antidepressant properties [4,5].…”