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Aim. Rhodiola Rosea, is an adaptogen plant which has been reported to promote fatty acids utilisation, to ameliorate antioxidant function, and to improve body resistance to physical strenuous efforts. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects on physical performance as well as on the redox status of a chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation in a group of competitive athletes during endurance exercise.
Methods. Following a chronic supplementation with Rhodiola Rosea for 4 weeks, 14 trained male athletes underwent a cardio-pulmonary exhaustion test and blood samples to evaluate their antioxidant status and other biochemical parameters. These data were compared with those coming from the same athletes after an intake of placebo.
Results. The evaluation of physical performance parameters showed that HR Max, Borg Scale level, ... max and duration of the test were essentially unaffected by Rhodiola Rosea assumption. On the contrary, Rhodiola Rosea intake reduced, in a statistically significative manner, plasma free fatty acids levels. No effect on blood glucose was found. Blood antioxidant status and inflammatory parameters resulted unaffected by Rhodiola Rosea supplementation. Blood lactate and plasma creatine kinase levels were found significantly lower (P<0.05) in Rhodiola Rosea treated subjects when compared to the placebo treated group.
Conclusion. Chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation is able to reduce both lactate levels and parameters of skeletal muscle damage after an exhaustive exercise session. Moreover this supplementation seems to ameliorate fatty acid consumption. Taken together those observation confirm that Rhodiola Rosea may increase the adaptogen ability to physical exercise.
KEY WORDS: Rhodiola - Motor activity - Creatine kinase - Fatty acids, nonesterified.
(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)
The administration of dietary supplement rich in vitamins and minerals is the most common nutritional supplement 1 used by athletes, trainers and people who practise fitness assiduously, in order to receive an appropriate micronutrient intake for improving their performance during training sessions.25 However, researches carried out in the last 40 years did not explain clearly if the use of supplements might improve the performance or the endurance of healthy and well-feed people.2, 6 Rodhiola Rosea (RR) belongs to Crassulaceae family that grows peculiarly throughout the mountainous regions in the higher latitudes and elevations of the Northern hemisphere. Recent studies,7, 8 suggested that RR may exert adaptogen activity....