Dietary supplement with a combination of Rhodiola crenulata and Ginkgo biloba enhances the endurance performance in healthy volunteers.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the ingestion of a herbal supplement called Rhodiola-Gingko Capsule (RGC) would enhance the endurance performance of healthy volunteers and change relevant hormones in a favorable manner. METHODS: Seventy healthy male volunteers (age ranges from 18 to 22 years old) were randomly assigned to RGC group (35 cases, each capsule containing 270 mg herbal extracts, 4 capsules per day) or placebo group (35 cases, equivalent placebo preparation) for 7 weeks using computer produced digital random method. The endurance performance, serum testosterone and cortisol levels were measured at the baseline and the endpoint. RESULTS: Sixty-seven subjects (34 in the RGC group and 33 in the placebo group) completed a 7-week treatment. The RGC group displayed a significantly greater baseline-to endpoint increase in maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) than placebo group in both absolute (P=0.020) and relative values (P=0.023). At the endpoint, the serum cortisol level was unchanged in the RGC group compared with the baseline, but it was significantly elevated in the placebo group (P<0.05). The endpoint ratio of testosterone to cortisol, a surrogate for overtraining and fatigue in endurance exercises, was also indifferent compared with the baseline in the RGC group, but significantly decreased in the placebo group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined herbal supplement of Rhodiola and Gingko could improve the endurance performance by increasing oxygen consumption and protecting against fatigue.

Author information

Author/s: Zhang, Zhang-jin (ZJ); Tong, Yao (Y); Zou, Jun (J); Chen, Pei-jie (PJ); Yu, Ding-hai (DH);

Affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Chinese journal of integrative medicine (Chin J Integr Med), published in China. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 15 (issue 3) : pp 177-83

Dates: Created 2009/07/01; Completed 2009/07/31;

PMID: 19568709, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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