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Rhodiola
enhances fitness and well-being under stressful conditions
A placebo-controlled, Russian clinical study showed that an extract
of Rhodiola rosea enhanced physical fitness, improved neuro-motor
test responses, reduced mental fatigue, and improved general well
being in a group of healthy foreign medical students undergoing
a stressful exam period. The 40 study participants, all Indian
men between the ages of 17 and 19, were randomly assigned to take
either placebo or Rhodiola extract at a dose of 50 mg twice
daily. The most significant differences between groups were seen
in physical fitness, mental fatigue, neuro-motor tests, and well
being; no significant differences were observed in results of
correction tests or tapping speed tests. No adverse events were
reported. As the dose of Rhodiola employed in this study
was lower than that used in previous studies, the researchers
concluded, "...the study drug gave significant results compared
to the placebo group but that the dose level probably was suboptimal."
According to the authors, the majority of earlier studies on the
anti-fatigue and performance-enhancing effects of Rhodiola
utilized single doses more than three times higher than the dose
used in their study. When used in psychiatric practice for the
treatment of asthenic syndromes (weakness and debility), doses
15 times as high are used for periods of one to two months. Spasov
AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled
pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola
rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress
during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen.
Phytomedicine 2000; 7(2): 85-89.
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