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Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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22.12.2012 |
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Rhodiola rosea boosts heart muscle capacity in animal study
The Taiwanese researchers already knew from other animal studies that supplementation with Rhodiola rosea protects the heart muscle from stress. [Eksp Klin Farmakol. 1994 Nov-Dec; 57(6): 61-3.] They had discovered themselves that diabetes can cause heart failure as a result of reduced PPAR-delta activity. That's why the researchers wanted to know whether they could help the heart function of rats with diabetes by using Rhodiola rosea – and if this was possible, whether the effect had anything to do with PPAR-delta.
The researchers gave diabetic rats [STZ] 75 mg ethanol extract of Rhodiola rosea every day for three weeks. They observed that the ability of the heart muscle to pump blood [Cardiac Output] was maintained, while this ability in untreated STZ rats was lower than in healthy animals [Contrl].
The researchers discovered that the heart cells of the STZ rats produced less PPAR-delta than the heart cells of healthy animals. They also noticed that supplementation with Rhodiola rosea boosted the concentration of PPAR delta to a more or less normal level.
"Increased cardiac expression of PPAR-delta is involved in Rhodiola–ethanol extract-induced increase of cardiac output in STZ-diabetic rats", the researchers write in summary. "This finding provides a new mechanism of action for Rhodiola."
If Rhodiola does indeed boost the production of PPAR-delta in healthy endurance athletes, then a whole range of new performance-enhancing possibilities opens up. For example, fish fatty acids are PPAR agonists, and Artemisia iwayomogi is a PPAR-delta-agonist.
To name but a few ideas.
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