Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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03.09.2015 |
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Fit athletes derive more benefit from testosterone boosters Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum
Extracts from the mushrooms Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum boost athletes' testosterone levels. And they lower cortisol levels too. The fitter athletes are, the stronger the positive effect of the extracts, researchers at the University of Pavia in Italy discovered when they gave Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum to seven cyclists.
Study
Previous studies had shown that Cordyceps sinensis supplementation, using 3 g extract, had no effect on oxygen uptake or the cyclists' endurance capacity [Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Apr;14(2):236-42.], but it did increase the endurance capacity of over 50 year olds.
Results
Supplementation with Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum boosted the level of testosterone concentration in the saliva of the well-trained cyclists, as the figure below shows.
In the five remaining cyclists, the race done under placebo conditions lowered their testosterone concentration a little and led to a rise in cortisol, which would suggest these cyclists were close to over-training. The figure above shows that supplementation with Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum boosted the cyclists' testosterone concentration before and after the race, and inhibited the post-race rise in cortisol.
The mushroom extract supplementation improved the testosterone-cortisol ratio in both the well-trained cyclists [first figure below] and in the less well-trained cyclists [second figure below].
![]() ![]() Conclusion
"An interesting future development of this research would be to analyze inflammatory parameters in order to understand the role fungal supplementation plays on the immune system. The study should continue to select standardized fungal dietary supplements, but it should be expanded to include a larger number of endurance athletes, due to the variability in their athletic condition."
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