Effects of Short-Term Golden Root Extract (Rhodiola rosea) Supplementation on Resistance Exercise Performance.

Tyler D Williams,Christopher G Ballmann,Rebecca R Rogers,Haley N Langley,Caleb C Roberson

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136953

Tyler D Williams, Christopher G Ballmann + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136953

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short-term Golden Root Extract (GRE; Rhodiola rosea) supplementation on blood lactate, catecholamines, and performance during repeated bench press exercise. Resistance-trained males (n = 10) participated in this study. In a double-blinded, crossover, counterbalanced study design, participants supplemented with either 1500 mg/day of GRE or placebo (PL; gluten-free cornstarch) for 3 days prior to experimentation. An additional 500 mg dose was ingested 30 min prior to exercise testing. During each exercise trial, participants completed 2 repetitions of bench press at 75% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) as explosively as possible. A linear position transducer was used to measure mean concentric velocity. After 5 min of rest, participants completed 3 sets × repetitions to failure (RTF) at 75% 1RM separated by 2 min of rest between each set. A capillary blood sample was obtained pre- (PRE) and immediately post- (POST) exercise to measure blood concentrations lactate (LA), epinephrine (EPI), and norepinephrine (NE). Mean concentric velocity was significantly higher with GRE when compared to PL (p = 0.046). However, total RTF were significantly lower with GRE versus PL (p < 0.001). Regardless of treatment, LA was significantly higher Post versus Pre (p < 0.001), but GRE resulted in greater Post values compared to PL (p = 0.049). EPI and NE increased in both conditions Pre to Post (p < 0.001). However, Pre NE was significantly higher with GRE versus PL (p = 0.008). Findings indicate that short-term GRE supplementation increases mean bench press velocity but decreases bench press repetition volume. Furthermore, GRE resulted in higher NE levels and blood lactate following exercise. Thus, supplementing with GRE may enhance explosive resistance training performance but may also impair upper body strength-endurance.

Highlights

Rhodiola rosea (Golden Root Extract; GRE) is a high-altitude plant which is native to Europe and parts of Asia [1]
Phenolic glycosides contained in GRE, namely salidroside and rosavin, have been identified as the primary active constituents which exert adaptive organismal responses classifying it as an “adaptogen” [1]
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of short-term GRE supplementation on blood lactate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and performance during repeated bench press exercise

Summary

Introduction

Rhodiola rosea (Golden Root Extract; GRE) is a high-altitude plant which is native to Europe and parts of Asia [1]. Primary GRE consumption was through chewing or making tea from leaves of the plant in efforts to combat altitude sickness, fatigue, and mood disturbances [2]. Nutritional enrichment with GRE has been linked to hormonal modulation, increased activity of the central nervous system (CNS), and improvements in cellular energy production [3,4]. These physiological responses have been shown to aid in attenuation of various types of stress including mental, metabolic, oxidative, and physical/exercise induced stress [4,5,6]. Many of the purposed benefits of GRE are unsubstantiated or findings are equivocal especially regarding physical exercise

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