Acute Effects of Rhodiola Rosea and Caffeine on Mean Propulsive Velocity Loss in Resistance Training (Rhocaf2)

November 4, 2026 updated by: MARINA MEDINA CORRALES

The Acute Effects of 1,000 mg of Rhodiola Rosea and 3 mg/kg of Caffeine on Mean Propulsive Velocity Loss in Advanced Resistance-Trained Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate if combined acute supplementation with Rhodiola rosea and caffeine is superior to single-ingredient intake or placebo in attenuating neuromuscular fatigue in advanced resistance-trained subjects.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does combined supplementation attenuate mean propulsive velocity loss during heavy resistance exercise? Does combined supplementation reduce ratings of perceived exertion and increase repetitions performed to failure?

Researchers will compare four experimental conditions (placebo, caffeine alone, Rhodiola rosea alone, and combined supplementation) in a randomized crossover design to see if co-ingestion provides superior anti-fatigue benefits.

Participants will:

Complete a familiarization session to establish individual strength baselines. Attend 4 testing visits separated by a 72-hour washout period. Ingest the assigned treatment before testing. Perform a back squat fatigue protocol (3 sets at 70% 1RM) and complete perceptual evaluations.The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate if combined acute supplementation with Rhodiola rosea and caffeine is superior to single-ingredient intake or placebo in attenuating neuromuscular fatigue in advanced resistance-trained subjects.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does combined supplementation attenuate mean propulsive velocity loss during heavy resistance exercise? Does combined supplementation reduce ratings of perceived exertion and increase repetitions performed to failure?

Researchers will compare four experimental conditions (placebo, caffeine alone, Rhodiola rosea alone, and combined supplementation) in a randomized crossover design to see if co-ingestion provides superior anti-fatigue benefits.

Participants will:

Complete a familiarization session to establish individual strength baselines. Attend 4 testing visits separated by a 72-hour washout period. Ingest the assigned treatment before testing. Perform a back squat fatigue protocol (3 sets at 70% 1RM) and complete perceptual evaluations.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-arm crossover trial designed to investigate the acute neuromuscular and ergogenic effects of single and combined supplementation with Rhodiola rosea (1,000 mg) and caffeine (3 mg/kg) in advanced resistance-trained subjects.

Neuromuscular fatigue during heavy resistance training impairs movement velocity, power output, and overall volume performance. While caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that enhances motor unit recruitment and reduces perceived exertion, Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogen proposed to modulate central monoamines and attenuate fatigue during high-intensity effort. This protocol evaluates whether co-ingestion provides a synergistic advantage over isolated administration or placebo in maintaining movement execution quality and accelerating acute recovery.

Study Procedures:

Familiarization Session: Prior to the experimental trials, participants complete a familiarization session to establish baseline measurements and estimate 1-repetition maximum (1RM) in the barbell back squat using a two-point load-velocity method (using loads corresponding to ~1.0 m/s and ~0.5 m/s) with a linear position transducer.

Experimental Trials (4 Visits): Participants complete four experimental testing visits in a randomized, counterbalanced order, separated by a 72-hour washout period.

During each of the 4 experimental visits, participants complete the following sequence:

Supplement Ingestion: Double-blind administration of the assigned treatment:

Rhodiola placebo consists of opaque cornstarch capsules. Caffeine placebo consists of a 60 mL liquid solution containing sweetener, 3 g of sugar, and 1 g of citric acid.

Active conditions consist of 1,000 mg of Rhodiola rosea and/or 3 mg/kg of caffeine.

Pre-Exercise Evaluation: Completion of baseline perceptual questionnaires. Velocity Determination: Identification of the exact load corresponding to a Mean Propulsive Velocity (MPV) of 1.0 ± 0.03 m/s in the back squat.

Acute Fatigue Protocol: Execution of 3 sets at 70% estimated 1RM in the back squat performed to muscular failure, recording total repetitions and velocity loss across sets.

Post-Fatigue Velocity Recovery: Re-assessment of MPV using the pre-determined 1.0 m/s load at exactly 1 minute and 2 minutes post-fatigue protocol to evaluate acute neuromuscular fatigue and velocity recovery.

Perceptual Evaluation: Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) recorded post-exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Mexico
    • Nuevo León
      • San Nicolás, Nuevo León, Mexico, 66455
        • Faculty of Sports Organization, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy males and females.
  • Advanced resistance training experience (as defined by Santos et al., 2021): 1 to 3 years of consistent resistance training experience, demonstrating proper barbell back squat technique.
  • Relative maximum strength (estimated 1RM back squat): Minimum of 150% of body mass for men, and 130% of body mass for women.
  • Habitual caffeine consumers (e.g., daily intake via coffee, tea, sports gels, or energy drinks).
  • Commitment to maintaining current nutritional habits and training routines throughout the study period.
  • Ensured stable consumption of dietary supplements with cumulative effects (e.g., creatine, beta-alanine, nitrates, citrulline, betaine) for at least one month prior to and throughout the experimental protocol, with a commitment to not alter the dosage. Intake will be recorded and standardized.
  • Availability to attend all scheduled evaluations.
  • Provision of written informed consent validating full understanding of the study protocols.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., arterial hypertension, arrhythmias) or metabolic disorders (e.g., type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus).
  • At least one affirmative response on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+).
  • History of anabolic steroid use (less than 4 years) or use of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited performance-enhancing substances.
  • Consumption of supplements with acute ergogenic effects (e.g., coffee, energy drinks, pre-workout supplements) within 12 hours prior to testing sessions, or failure to comply with a minimum 4-hour fasting period prior to the experimental session. (Note: Subjects violating these criteria will have their session rescheduled).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo

Placebo condition consisting of opaque cornstarch capsules and a 60 mL placebo liquid solution.
Other: Rhodiola Placebo

Opaque cornstarch capsules matching the active Rhodiola capsules.

Other: Caffeine Placebo

60 mL liquid solution containing sweetener, 3 g of sugar, and 1 g of citric acid.
Experimental: Caffeine

Single administration of caffeine alongside placebo capsules.
Other: Rhodiola Placebo

Opaque cornstarch capsules matching the active Rhodiola capsules.

Dietary supplement: Caffeine

3 mg/kg of caffeine administered in a 60 mL liquid solution.
Experimental: Rhodiola rosea

Single administration of Rhodiola rosea alongside placebo liquid solution.
Other: Caffeine Placebo

60 mL liquid solution containing sweetener, 3 g of sugar, and 1 g of citric acid.

Dietary supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules

1,000 mg of Rhodiola rosea administered in opaque capsules.
Experimental: Rhodiola rosea + Caffeine

Combined administration of Rhodiola rosea and caffeine.
Dietary supplement: Caffeine

3 mg/kg of caffeine administered in a 60 mL liquid solution.

Dietary supplement: Rhodiola Rosea Capsules

1,000 mg of Rhodiola rosea administered in opaque capsules.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage Loss in Mean Propulsive Velocity (MPV)
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-fatigue), 1 minute, and 2 minutes post-fatiguing exercise protocol, up to 2 weeks.

Percentage loss in mean propulsive velocity (MPV) following the fatiguing protocol. MPV is assessed during the barbell back squat using an individualized load corresponding to an initial velocity of 1.0 ± 0.03 m/s, recorded via a linear position transducer. Percentage loss is calculated relative to pre-fatigue baseline as: [(baseline MPV - post-fatigue MPV) / baseline MPV] × 100. The fatiguing protocol consists of 3 sets to failure at 70% 1RM.
Baseline (pre-fatigue), 1 minute, and 2 minutes post-fatiguing exercise protocol, up to 2 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Number of Repetitions to Failure
Time Frame: Immediately upon completion of the fatiguing exercise protocol, up to 2 weeks

Cumulative number of successful repetitions completed across 3 sets at 70% 1RM performed to momentary muscular failure during the fatiguing protocol. Data are reported as the total number of repetitions completed per experimental condition.
Immediately upon completion of the fatiguing exercise protocol, up to 2 weeks
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Time Frame: Immediately, 1 minute, and 2 minutes post-fatiguing exercise protocol, up to 2 weeks

Subjective perception of effort assessed using a standardized RPE scale immediately following the fatiguing protocol to quantify internal load.
Immediately, 1 minute, and 2 minutes post-fatiguing exercise protocol, up to 2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
MARINA MEDINA CORRALES

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: José Raúl Hoyos Flores, PhD, Faculty of Sports Organization, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
  • Study Director: Marina Medina Corrales, PhD, Faculty of Sports Organization, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
  • Study Chair: Myriam Zaraí García Dávila, PhD, Faculty of Sports Organization, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 12, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 6, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CEIFOD 0125028

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Data will become available after publication of the main manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal and will remain accessible indefinitely.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data and supporting materials will be publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework (OSF) repository to any researcher interested in secondary or meta-analysis.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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