Increased Time to Fatigue Following Twenty-Eight Days of Mushroom Blend Supplementation

Abstract

PURPOSE: There is evidence to suggest a commercially available, Cordyceps militaris-containing mushroom blend supplement (Peak O2, Compound Solutions, USA) improves tolerance to high-intensity exercise. However, the optimal dosing strategy remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of Peak O2 on indices of maximal and submaximal aerobic performance following 28 days of low-dose (1.0 g/day) supplementation in apparently healthy young adults. METHODS: Twenty-one individuals (Mean ± standard deviation, Age = 23.0 ± 3.2 yrs, Height = 169.7 ± 6.4 cm, Body Mass = 70.3 ± 12.9 kg) participated in this randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study. The treatment group (T, n=11) was given 1.0 g/day mushroom blend while the control group (C, n=11) received 1.0 g/day of color-matched wheat flour as placebo for 28 days. A graded maximal cycle ergometer test was used to evaluate maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), time to fatigue (TTF), two-minute heart rate recovery following exhaustion (HRr), submaximal oxygen consumption (VO2) and blood lactate (BL) following 28 days of supplementation. RESULTS: Dependent measures t-tests were used to evaluate changes within groups. TTF increased by 56.7 ± 80.4 sec (p = 0.04) in T while there was no change in C (-2.1 ± 31.3 sec, p = 0.42). VO2max increased in both groups (M, 1.9 ± 2.6 ml⋅kg-1⋅min-1, p < 0.05; C, 1.0 ± 1.6 ml⋅kg-1⋅min-1, p < 0.05). HRr, VO2 and BL at submaximal workload showed no change in either group from pre to post. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-eight days of supplementation with a mushroom blend (1.0 g/day) may increase TTF in young, recreationally active adults.