Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Exercise and Sport: A Systematic Review

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09

Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Exercise and Sport: A Systematic Review

Lu et al., 2022 | Front Nutr | Systematic Review

Citation

Lu Yao, Deng Bin, ... Lin Fengxia. Effects of Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Exercise and Sport: A Systematic Review. Front Nutr. 2022;9:856287. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.856287

Abstract

Rhodiola rosea (Golden Root Extract; RR) is an herbaceous perennial, which is native to high altitude areas, such as East Asia, Central Asia, Siberia, and North America. It has been studied for its positive pharmacological effects on health. However, only a handful of studies have evaluated the effects of RR as an exercise supplement for sport and physical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Rhodiola can be used as a supplement to improve human exercise ability. Studies were reviewed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and conducted between August and November, 2021. Databases searched included Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed and East View Universal Database. Related terms were combined with keywords and MeSH subject headings using the corresponding Boolean operators: Rhodiola rosea, arctic root, roseroot, golden root, hongjingtian, and sports and exercise. A total of 10 papers were reviewed. Most of the studies reported that RR supplementation has a positive effect on athletic ability and sports performance, and no obvious adverse reactions were reported. Subjects taking RR showed a reduction in pain and muscle damage after exercise training, improved skeletal muscle damage, enhanced antioxidant capacity thereby reducing oxidative stress, reduced RPE scores, and improved athletic explosive power, but did not reduce the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores. RR appears to act as a safe and effective supplementation for sport and exercise.

Key Findings

RR appears to act as a safe and effective supplementation for sport and exercise.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition stress

MeSH Terms

  • No MeSH terms indexed

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: rhodiola

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09