Effects of Rhodiola rosea Supplementation on Aerobic Performance

The purpose of this study was designed to explore the differential effects of a single supplementation of Rhodiola rosea with different doses on aerobic performance, delaying lactate production and lactate clearance in hokey players during exercise. In this double-blind cross-over designed study, fourteen hokey players from Taipei Physical Education College were participated as subjects. All subjects performed exercise after a single oral dose of either R. rosea or placebo. The treadmill exercise with increasing intensity to failure was employed in this study. During exercise, the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), oxygen pulse (O2 pulse) and lactate concentrations were measured. We found that single oral intake of low and high doses R. rosea enhances athlete's maximum oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse. In particular, low dose of R. rosea trial presents with a higher maximal oxygen uptake and oxygen pulse compared to high dose trial. Estimated lactate concentration was significantly lower in both trials. These findings conclude that a single low dose of R. rosea supplementation was more capable than high dose to improve the efficiency to carry oxygen from heart to peripheral tissues and to enhance aerobic capacity. Furthermore, R. rosea intake can reduce the production of lactate during exercise.