Dose-Response Effects of Short-Term Rhodiola rosea (Golden Root Extract) Supplementation on Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Cognitive Function in Resistance-Trained Athletes: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Study.

Low-dose Rhodiola rosea (LDRR) significantly increased bench press 1-repetition maximum compared to no-capsule control.

• LDRR increased BP 1RM by +5.59 kg versus CON (p = 0.003)
• Study used a randomized, double-blind, crossover design with four conditions: no-capsule control (CON), placebo (PL), low-dose RR (LDRR), and high-dose RR (HDRR)
• Twenty-seven resistance-trained adults completed all conditions
• Day-7 testing was used to assess 1-repetition maximum outcomes

Low-dose Rhodiola rosea significantly increased bench press set-3 repetitions, set-3 volume, and mean power versus no-capsule control.

• LDRR increased set-3 repetitions by +4.30 versus CON (p < 0.001)
• LDRR increased set-3 volume by +168.6 kg versus CON (p < 0.001)
• LDRR increased mean power by +29.7 W versus CON (p = 0.026)
• The third set was performed to failure at 60% of 1RM

High-dose Rhodiola rosea significantly increased bench press set-3 repetitions and peak power versus no-capsule control, with a trend for set-3 volume.

• HDRR increased set-3 repetitions by +2.78 versus CON (p = 0.005)
• HDRR increased peak power by +34.2 W versus CON (p = 0.026)
• HDRR showed a trend for set-3 volume (p = 0.086) that did not reach statistical significance

Both low-dose and high-dose Rhodiola rosea significantly increased leg press 1-repetition maximum versus no-capsule control, with contrasts versus placebo also significant.

• LDRR increased LP 1RM by +35.7 kg versus CON (p < 0.001)
• HDRR increased LP 1RM by +47.7 kg versus CON (p < 0.001)
• Contrasts versus placebo (PL) were also statistically significant for both doses
• The higher dose produced a numerically greater improvement in LP 1RM than the lower dose

Rhodiola rosea supplementation significantly improved Stroop Color-Word Test performance across all sections compared to no-capsule control.

• Word section improved by +10.5 to +17.4 counts (p < 0.05) across RR conditions versus CON
• Color section improved by +6.1 to +12.0 counts (p ≤ 0.03) versus CON
• Color-Word section improved by +10.2 to +18.9 counts (p < 0.001) versus CON
• Cognitive improvements were observed regardless of dose

Wingate anaerobic cycling outcomes showed no consistent effects with Rhodiola rosea supplementation.

• A 30-second Wingate test was included as an outcome measure
• Neither LDRR nor HDRR produced consistent significant improvements in Wingate outcomes
• This contrasts with the significant improvements seen in resistance exercise performance measures

Rhodiola rosea supplementation produced minimal changes in Rating of Perceived Exertion and no consistent acute hemodynamic effects.

• RPE showed minimal changes across RR conditions
• Hemodynamic measures showed no consistent acute effects with either dose of RR
• Readiness to perform was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) as a secondary endpoint

The study used a short-term supplementation protocol with a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled design including a capsule-free baseline condition.

• Twenty-seven resistance-trained adults participated
• Four conditions were tested: no-capsule control (CON), placebo (PL), low-dose RR (LDRR), and high-dose RR (HDRR)
• Day-7 testing included BP and LP 1RM, a third set to failure at 60% 1RM, Tendo mean/peak power, a 30 s Wingate, and the Stroop Color-Word Test
• The inclusion of both a no-capsule control and a placebo condition allowed differentiation between placebo and supplement effects
• The crossover design allowed within-subject comparisons across all four conditions

The effects of Rhodiola rosea on resistance performance and cognition were observed regardless of dose or gender.

• Both LDRR and HDRR produced improvements in key resistance performance and cognitive outcomes
• The authors explicitly stated improvements occurred 'regardless of dose or gender'
• Some differential dose-response patterns were observed (e.g., LDRR but not HDRR significantly increased BP 1RM and mean power, while HDRR increased peak power)