CORDYCEPS SINENSIS- AND RHODIOLA ROSEA-BASED SUPPLEMENTATION IN MALE CYCLISTS AND ITS EFFECT ON MUSCLE TISSUE OXYGEN SATURATION.

(Cs) and Rhodiola rosea (Rr) are herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a multitude of ailments as well as to enhance performance. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of a formula containing Cs and Rr (Cs-Rr) on circulatory dynamics, specifically muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), in male subjects during maximal exercise. This study followed a double blind, randomized, placebo-treatment, pre-post test design. Capsules were administered to 8 subjects who were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. The treatment group received Cs-Rr, and the control group received a placebo. All subjects performed 2 exercise stress tests to volitional fatigue on a cycle load ergometer. There were no significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in StO2 slope, StO2 threshold (StO2T), VO2max, ventilatory threshold (VT), or time to exhaustion (TE) between or within the treatment or control group. In conclusion, Cs-Rr did not significantly enhance StO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]