Dose-Response Effects of Short-Term Rhodiola rosea (Golden Root Extract) Supplementation on Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function in Resistance-Trained Athletes: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized double-blind crossover trial
PubMed 41374026 · doi:10.3390/nu17233736
What was done
In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial with four conditions—no-capsule control (CON), placebo (PL), low-dose Rhodiola rosea (LDRR), and high-dose Rhodiola rosea (HDRR)—27 resistance-trained adults completed 7 days per condition. Day-7 testing assessed bench press and leg press 1-repetition maximum (1RM), repetitions and volume to failure on set 3 at 60% 1RM, barbell mean and peak power, a 30-second Wingate anaerobic test, and executive function via the Stroop Color-Word Test. Secondary outcomes included rating of perceived exertion (RPE), readiness to perform, and hemodynamics.
What was found
Compared to CON, LDRR increased bench press 1RM (+5.59 kg; p = 0.003), set-3 repetitions (+4.30; p < 0.001), set-3 volume (+168.6 kg; p < 0.001), and mean power (+29.7 W; p = 0.026). HDRR increased set-3 repetitions (+2.78; p = 0.005) and peak power (+34.2 W; p = 0.026), with a trend for set-3 volume (p = 0.086). Leg press 1RM increased above CON with both LDRR (+35.7 kg; p < 0.001) and HDRR (+47.7 kg; p < 0.001), and contrasts vs. PL were statistically significant. Wingate outcomes showed no consistent effects. Stroop performance improved versus CON across all sections: Word (+10.5 to +17.4 counts; p < 0.05), Color (+6.1 to +12.0; p <= 0.03), and Color-Word (+10.2 to +18.9; p < 0.001).
Why it matters
This study provides controlled dose-response data showing that short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation can modestly enhance resistance strength performance and executive cognitive function in trained individuals, though benefits did not extend to high-intensity anaerobic cycling.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 27) and restricted to resistance-trained individuals. Exact milligram doses for low- and high-dose conditions are not stated in the abstract. Repeated Stroop and 1RM testing across four crossover arms carries potential learning or test-retest habituation effects, and no clear benefits were seen on Wingate anaerobic power or RPE.
Cited by
- supports Rhodiola rosea supplementation has been shown in research to enhance muscular endurance in terms of the number of repetitions completed.