Rhodiola Rosea Improves Endurance Training and Performance

Attention athletes! This large, new study concludes that the herb Rhodiola rosea can improve endurance training and performance.

A new meta-analysis of Rhodiola rosea and endurance performance included 26 double-blind studies of 668 people. Half the studies were on trained athletes and half were on untrained athletes. 15 of the studies were on males, 3 were on females and 8 included both.

The results showed that rhodiola significantly improves endurance performance compared to controls. The herb significantly improved maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), which, as a measure of how much oxygen your body can absorb to power itself when you are pushing it to the limit during a workout, may be the best measure of fitness. It also significantly improved time to exhaustion and time trial performance.

Rhodiola also significantly improved training’s effect on muscle damage, significantly decreasing creatine kinase, increasing antioxidant activity and decreasing oxidative damage. Lactic acid levels also significantly decreased after exercise.

This meta-analysis suggests that supplementing Rhodiola rosea benefits endurance training and performance while reducing oxidative stress and muscle damage.

Front Nutr. September 25, 2025;12:1645346.

For the latest research to keep you and your family healthy, get The Natural Path delivered to your inbox each month for only $29.99 a year: Subscribe!

For comprehensive natural help with your health, including exercising for health, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for in person and virtual appointments.

The Natural Path is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner for a comprehensive program.

Ask your health food store for The Natural Path Newsletter