From: Rhodiola rosea for physical and mental fatigue: a systematic review
PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE | ||||
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R. rosea single ingredient versus placebo | ||||
Study ID | Design | Population | Intervention/Control | Outcome(s) |
Abidov 2004 | DB RCT | 36 male and female non-smokers between 21–24 y.o.a. | Int: 340 mg RR extract containing 30 mg active RR (including rosavin) | CRP blood-levels 5 h and 5 days after exercise were less than placebo and control. |
(Russia) | ||||
Con(1): placebo | ||||
Con(2): no intervention; | CK levels in blood same across groups after 5 hours, but reduced after 5 days in only R. rosea group. | |||
Regimen: for 30 days before and 6 days after exhausting physical exercise. | ||||
Walker 2007 | DB CO RCT | 12 resistance-trained males (19–39 y.o.a.) | Int: 1500 mg/day RR for 3 days before exercise test + 1000 mg on day of test Con: placebo; | No significant differences between groups in measures of ATP kinetics and exhaustion. |
(US) | ||||
Regimen: RR followed by 7–14 days washout and same dosing regimen of placebo OR treatment in reverse order | ||||
R. rosea Plus starch versus placebo | ||||
De Bock 2004a | DB CO RCT | 24 healthy physically active male (21.8 ±0.3 y.o.a) and female (20.2 ± 0.3 y.o.a.) students | Int: 100 mg RR +250 mg starch | RR ‘significantly’ delayed time to exhaustion, peak O2 uptake and CO2 output. |
(Belgium) | ||||
Con: 350 mg starch | ||||
Regimen: 2 days of RR, 5 days washout, 2 days placebo | ||||
De Bock 2004b | DB CCT | Int: 100 mg RR +250 mg starch | significantly higher blood lactate levels after 4-wk intake. | |
(Belgium) | ||||
Con: 350 mg starch | ||||
Regimen: RR or placebo twice/day over 4 weeks | Overall, no change in muscle strength, speed of limb movement, reaction time, sustained attention. | |||
R. rosea plus Cordyceps versus Placebo | ||||
Earnest 2004 (US) | DB RCT | 17 male competitive cyclists | Int: loading dose of 6 capsules/day for 4 days (every three capsules contain 1000 mg Cordyceps sinensis + 300 mg RR) then maintenance dose of 3 capusles/day for 11 days | No significant difference between or within Tx groups in peak and subpeak exercise variables. |
int: 31.6 ± 2.8 (SE) y.o.a. | ||||
con: 30.5 ± 2.2 y.o.a. | ||||
Con: identical placebo | ||||
Colson 2005 (US) | DB RCT | 8 males between 18–34 y.o.a. | Int: loading dose of 6 capsules/day for 6 days (every three capsules contain 1000 mg Cordyceps sinensis + 300 mg RR) then maintenance dose of 3 capsules/day for 7 days | After pre-post endurance test no significant difference between intervention and placebo in muscle tissue oxygen saturation |
Con: identical placebo | ||||
MENTAL PERFORMANCE | ||||
Study ID | Design | Population | Intervention/Control | Outcome(s) |
Olsson 2008 | DB RCT | 60 male and female (20–55 y.o.a) with fatigue syndrome | Int: 4 Verum tablets/day for 28 days (each tablet contain 144 mg Rhodiola extract SHR-5) | Significant improvement in fatigue scores (measured by Pines burnout scale), and significant improvement in two of five CCPT II indices |
Con: identical placebo | ||||
int: 41.0 ± 7.9 y.o.a | ||||
con: 42.1 ± 8.5 y.o.a. | ||||
Darbinyan 2000 | DB CO RCT | 56 male and female physicians on night duty | Group A: Standardized extract of 170 mg RR for 2 weeks; 2 week Washout; 2 weeks identical placebo. Group B: treatment in reverse order | Significant improvement in total fatigue score after two weeks on RR; |
(Armenia) | ||||
Group A: 25.5 ± 3.8 y.o.a. | ||||
Group B: 27.3 ± 2.9 y.o.a. | ||||
Shevstov 2003 | DB RCT | 121 male military cadets 19–21 y.o.a. | Int: 41 subjects – 2 capsules (185 mg each) RR. | Total antifatigue index scores significantly lower in both RR groups than placebo (p < 0.0001). |
(Russia) | ||||
20 subjects – 3 capsules RR | ||||
“statistically significant beneficial physiological effect in the RR groups versus the placebo group” | ||||
Con: 40 subjects – identical placebo | ||||
20 subjects – untreated control | ||||
Spasov 2000 | DB RCT (pilot study) | 40 Male students from India 17–19 y.o.a. | Int: 2 x 50 mg RR tablets twice/day for 20 days | Non-significant improvement in physical work and mental capacity. Significant improvement in general well-being (p < 0.05), mental fatigue (p < 0.01). |
(Russia) | ||||
Con: identical placebo | ||||
Spasov 2000 translated (Russia) | RCT | 60 male students from India (17–18 y.o.a.) | Int: 660 mg/day for 20 days RR; Con(1): placebo; Con(2): nothing | Measures of subjective self-evaluation, psychological fatigue, situational anxiety, motivation, precision of motor function, process of excitement and need for rest are significantly different within RR group (<0.05). Mean changes in mental work capacity and neuromotor function are not significantly different between groups. |