Sport MedicineRhodiola RoseaNCT06853600
Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Mental Fatigue, Visuo-cognitive Processing, and Strength Performance
A study testing Rhodiola Rosea Capsules in people with Sport Medicine, run by Universidad de Granada at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
This document aims to provide information to request authorization to collect data on the effects of supplementation administered 30 minutes before resistance training on the number of repetitions, execution speed, and perceived effort for the bench press and bench pull exercises. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sport Medicine
- What is being tested?
- Rhodiola Rosea Capsules
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 25 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 25 May 2024to 15 Sep 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 40 years
- At least one year of resistance training experience
- Ability to execute the bench press and bench pull exercises at maximal intentional velocity with proper technique
Who cannot join
- Any medical condition that could impede proper engagement in resistance training
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Optimización Del Rendimiento Durante el Entrenamiento de Fuerza a través de implementación Aguda de suplementación Nutricional
This document aims to provide information to request authorization to collect data on the effects of supplementation administered 30 minutes before resistance training on the number of repetitions, execution speed, and perceived effort for the bench press and bench pull exercises. To grant authorization, an informed consent form must be signed for the use of the information.
If authorization is granted, personalized information will be provided by the professional requesting the consent. It is recommended to read this document beforehand and ask any questions necessary to understand the details. If desired, the document can be taken for consultation with others, allowing ample time to make a decision.
Read more
The decision is entirely voluntary. It is possible to decline authorization for the use of personal and/or health data without affecting the relationship with the professional requesting the consent or healthcare services.
PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST Participation involves attending a total of 5 sessions. The study begins with a familiarization session, which includes measurements of weight, height, and the determination of the 20-repetition maximum load (i.e., the maximum load that can be lifted between 18-22 times), which will be used in the rest of the experimental sessions. In the experimental sessions, a supplement capsule will be administered 30 minutes before starting the resistance training. The composition of the capsule will not be disclosed to ensure a triple-blind approach for participants and evaluators.
The resistance training will consist of 4 supersets (each superset consisting of two exercises: bench press and bench pull). There will be 5-minute breaks between each superset and 1.5-minute breaks between the two exercises within the same superset. During the supersets, the maximum number of repetitions will be performed until reaching muscle failure. Heart rate and blood pressure will be measured during the training, and perceived effort will be recorded. No physiological samples will be collected. This study aims to provide a clearer understanding of which supplement may have the most beneficial effects when training with light loads and repetitions to failure in a superset, a topic that has not been explored before.
REQUEST DETAILS The professional attending to this study is Amador García Ramos. By signing this document, authorization is given to complete questionnaires about perceived effort.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND RISKS No specific benefits or risks are expected. Participation will contribute to increasing scientific knowledge.
No compensation will be provided for authorizing the use of health data. Additionally, the researchers involved in this project will not receive specific compensation for their participation in the study.
Read the detailed description
The current study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind (participants, researchers, and data analysts), and crossover experimental trial. Participants visit the laboratory on five occasions separated by seven days: one preliminary testing session and four experimental sessions. During the preliminary testing session, participants are introduced to the Stroop and MOT tests, followed by the determination of 1RM loads for the bench press and bench pull exercises.
The four experimental sessions follow the same protocol, differing only in the supplement (Rhodiola Rosea [RR] or placebo) and mental task conditions (Stroop test or control video). Participants are counterbalanced and assigned to each experimental session condition using the Research Randomizer online software (www.randomizer.org): (I) RR and Stroop test, (II) RR and control video, (III) placebo and Stroop test, and (IV) placebo and control video.
The assessment order in each experimental session is as follows: (I) mental task condition (Stroop test or control video), (II) MOT pre-training, (III) strength training, and (IV) MOT post-training. All sessions are conducted on the same day of the week and at consistent times (±1 hour) for each participant. Participants are instructed to avoid stimulants on the testing day and refrain from resistance exercise 24 hours before the visit.
- Conditions
- Sport Medicine
- Being tested
- Rhodiola Rosea Capsules
- Keywords
- Adaptogens, Fatigue, Sports supplementation, Strength training, Rhodiola Rosea, Visuo-cognitive Processing, Triple-Blinded Randomized Placebo Crossover Study
- Medical subject headings
- Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Rhodiola Rosea CapsulesDietary supplement
One of the most practical and accessible options for mitigating the occurrence of mental fatigue is the strategic use of nutritional supplements. Several nutritional supplements have been shown to reduce behavioural or subjective markers of mental fatigue, including caffeine, creatine, panax ginseng, and various vitamins or minerals. Among these, Rhodiola Rosea (RR), a supplement with purported adaptogenic and ergogenic properties, has gained attention. Several randomized controlled trials have reported reductions in mental fatigue after RR supplementation without adverse effects. The main objective of this study was to explore the effects of four days of Golden Root Extract (RR) supplementation on mental fatigue, visuo-cognitive processing, strength performance, and perceived exertion in young, healthy individuals.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodiola Rosea and mental fatigue | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
| Rhodiola Rosea and no fatigue | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
| Placebo and mental fatigue | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
| Placebo and no fatigue | Experimental | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Strength training
The general warm-up mirrored that of the 1RM assessment. Thereafter, the specific warm-up included for each exercise 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 30% and 50% of 1RM, and a final set of 2 repetitions at 70% of 1RM. The training regimen consisted of 8 alternating sets (4 sets each) of bench press and bench pull, with a 2-minute rest period between sets, performed at 70% of the 1RM load established during the preliminary testing session. Sets were terminated when 2 consecutive repetitions were performed at a MV below 0.35 m·s-1 for the bench press and 0.60 m·s-1 for the bench pull. Participants were encouraged to perform all repetitions at maximal intent, and they received real-time MV feedback (GymAware RS; Kinetic Performance Technologies, Canberra, Australia). Strength performance was assessed by recording the number of repetitions completed (Nrep) and the velocity of the fastest repetition (MVfastest) in each set.
The OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES) of perceived exertion was
Measured: During training
Secondary outcomes (2)
MOT test
In line with the method used by Vera et al. [26] for the MOT test, eight identical black balls (each with a diameter of 1.8 cm) were displayed on a white square background (32.5 cm, luminance of 107 cd/m²) subtending a visual angle of 36°. The stimuli were presented on a 27-inch television monitor (LS27C330GAUXEN) positioned 50 cm away from the participant. At the beginning of each trial, three of the balls were randomly illuminated in green for 2 seconds, after which they reverted to their original black colour. Participants were instructed to track the selected balls for a duration of 10 seconds. No specific strategy was suggested for completing the task, and participants were allowed to use natural eye movements, mirroring real-world scenarios [27,28]. None of the participants had prior experience with the MOT task. The balls moved along linear paths at a constant speed, changing direction only when colliding with each other or the walls.
After the 10-second tracking period, all t
Measured: Baseline (before training) and immediately after training
Cognitively demanding and control tasks
A 30-minutes incongruent Stroop task was used to induce mental fatigue, which requires response inhibition and sustained attention [24] and has demonstrated to be a valid intervention for inducing mental fatigue and impairing physical performance [1,25]. In the incongruent Stroop colour word task, participants were shown lists of colour words (e.g., "blue", "red", "yellow", or "green") on the screen, where the ink colour of the letters did not match the word itself (for example, the word "blue" might be displayed in green ink). For each word, participants were instructed to select the ink colour rather than reading the word. After each response, a new word was presented. The control condition consisted of watching an emotionally neutral documentary during 30 minutes in the same screen (LS27C330GAUXEN, 27", Samsung, Seoul, Korea) used for the Stroop task. Participants remained seated in the same room and in the same position for both interventions (50 cm from the screen).
Measured: Baseline (before training)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Mar 2025
- Study start25 May 2024
- Primary completion30 Aug 2024
- Study completion15 Sep 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sport MedicineStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de Granada
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Amador García Ramos, Universidad de Granada
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06853600
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SICEIA-2024-000283
- Acronym
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 20 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Shevtsov VA, Zholus BI, Shervarly VI, Vol'skij VB, Korovin YP, Khristich MP, Roslyakova NA, Wikman G. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):95-105. doi: 10.1078/094471103321659780.
PubMed 12725561Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9. doi: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80078-1.
PubMed 10839209
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Optimización Del Rendimiento Durante el Entrenamiento de Fuerza a través de implementación Aguda de suplementación Nutricional
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06853600
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Rhodiola Rosea / SICEIA-2024-000283
- Conditions
- Sport Medicine
- Keywords
- Adaptogens, Fatigue, Sports supplementation, Strength training, Rhodiola Rosea, Visuo-cognitive Processing, Triple-Blinded Randomized Placebo Crossover Study
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 25 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidad de GranadaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Sep 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This document aims to provide information to request authorization to collect data on the effects of supplementation administered 30 minutes before resistance training on the number of repetitions, execution speed, and perceived effort for the bench press and bench pull exercises. To grant authorization, an informed consent form must be signed for the use of the information.
If authorization is granted, personalized information will be provided by the professional requesting the consent. It is recommended to read this document beforehand and ask any questions necessary to understand the details. If desired, the document can be taken for consultation with others, allowing ample time to make a decision.
The decision is entirely voluntary. It is possible to decline authorization for the use of personal and/or health data without affecting the relationship with the professional requesting the consent or healthcare services.
PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST Participation involves attending a total of 5 sessions. The study begins with a familiarization session, which includes measurements of weight, height, and the determination of the 20-repetition maximum load (i.e., the maximum load that can be lifted between 18-22 times), which will be used in the rest of the experimental sessions. In the experimental sessions, a supplement capsule will be administered 30 minutes before starting the resistance training. The composition of the capsule will not be disclosed to ensure a triple-blind approach for participants and evaluators.
The resistance training will consist of 4 supersets (each superset consisting of two exercises: bench press and bench pull). There will be 5-minute breaks between each superset and 1.5-minute breaks between the two exercises within the same superset. During the supersets, the maximum number of repetitions will be performed until reaching muscle failure. Heart rate and blood pressure will be measured during the training, and perceived effort will be recorded. No physiological samples will be collected. This study aims to provide a clearer understanding of which supplement may have the most beneficial effects when training with light loads and repetitions to failure in a superset, a topic that has not been explored before.
REQUEST DETAILS The professional attending to this study is Amador García Ramos. By signing this document, authorization is given to complete questionnaires about perceived effort.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND RISKS No specific benefits or risks are expected. Participation will contribute to increasing scientific knowledge.
No compensation will be provided for authorizing the use of health data. Additionally, the researchers involved in this project will not receive specific compensation for their participation in the study.
Detailed description
The current study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind (participants, researchers, and data analysts), and crossover experimental trial. Participants visit the laboratory on five occasions separated by seven days: one preliminary testing session and four experimental sessions. During the preliminary testing session, participants are introduced to the Stroop and MOT tests, followed by the determination of 1RM loads for the bench press and bench pull exercises.
The four experimental sessions follow the same protocol, differing only in the supplement (Rhodiola Rosea [RR] or placebo) and mental task conditions (Stroop test or control video). Participants are counterbalanced and assigned to each experimental session condition using the Research Randomizer online software (www.randomizer.org): (I) RR and Stroop test, (II) RR and control video, (III) placebo and Stroop test, and (IV) placebo and control video.
The assessment order in each experimental session is as follows: (I) mental task condition (Stroop test or control video), (II) MOT pre-training, (III) strength training, and (IV) MOT post-training. All sessions are conducted on the same day of the week and at consistent times (±1 hour) for each participant. Participants are instructed to avoid stimulants on the testing day and refrain from resistance exercise 24 hours before the visit.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodiola Rosea and mental fatigue | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
| Rhodiola Rosea and no fatigue | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
| Placebo and mental fatigue | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
| Placebo and no fatigue | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18 and 40 years
- At least one year of resistance training experience
- Ability to execute the bench press and bench pull exercises at maximal intentional velocity with proper technique
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Any medical condition that could impede proper engagement in resistance training
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodiola Rosea CapsulesOne of the most practical and accessible options for mitigating the occurrence of mental fatigue is the strategic use of nutritional supplements. Several nutritional supplements have been shown to reduce behavioural or subjective markers of mental fatigue, including caffeine, creatine, panax ginseng, and various vitamins or minerals. Among these, Rhodiola Rosea (RR), a supplement with purported adaptogenic and ergogenic properties, has gained attention. Several randomized controlled trials have reported reductions in mental fatigue after RR supplementation without adverse effects. The main objective of this study was to explore the effects of four days of Golden Root Extract (RR) supplementation on mental fatigue, visuo-cognitive processing, strength performance, and perceived exertion in young, healthy individuals. | Dietary supplement | Placebo and mental fatigue, Placebo and no fatigue, Rhodiola Rosea and mental fatigue, Rhodiola Rosea and no fatigue |
Primary outcome
Strength training
Time frame: During training
The general warm-up mirrored that of the 1RM assessment. Thereafter, the specific warm-up included for each exercise 2 sets of 3 repetitions at 30% and 50% of 1RM, and a final set of 2 repetitions at 70% of 1RM. The training regimen consisted of 8 alternating sets (4 sets each) of bench press and bench pull, with a 2-minute rest period between sets, performed at 70% of the 1RM load established during the preliminary testing session. Sets were terminated when 2 consecutive repetitions were performed at a MV below 0.35 m·s-1 for the bench press and 0.60 m·s-1 for the bench pull. Participants were encouraged to perform all repetitions at maximal intent, and they received real-time MV feedback (GymAware RS; Kinetic Performance Technologies, Canberra, Australia). Strength performance was assessed by recording the number of repetitions completed (Nrep) and the velocity of the fastest repetition (MVfastest) in each set. The OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES) of perceived exertion was
2 secondary outcomes
MOT test
Time frame: Baseline (before training) and immediately after training
Cognitively demanding and control tasks
Time frame: Baseline (before training)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Mar 2025.
- Results publication: PubMed 12725561Shevtsov VA, Zholus BI, Shervarly VI, Vol'skij VB, Korovin YP, Khristich MP, Roslyakova NA, Wikman G. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):95-105. doi: 10.1078/094471103321659780.
- Results publication: PubMed 10839209Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9. doi: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80078-1.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Rhodiola Rosea Capsules in people with Sport Medicine, run by Universidad de Granada at 1 site in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Strength training (time frame: During training). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06853600, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Mar 2025.