Short-Term Rhodiola Rosea: Effects on Hoops Players' Game Time, Fatigue & Performance

The Effect of Short-term Rhodiola Rosea Supplementation on Simulated Game Time, Perceived Fatigue, and Performance in Basketball Players

This study aims to evaluate the effects of short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation on simulated game performance, perceived fatigue, and aerobic capacity in basketball players. The participants will include 48 professional male basketball players aged 18-25 years, all from Beijing Sport University and holding at least a national level-2 athlete certification.

The key research questions are as follows:

Does Rhodiola rosea supplementation improve the total completion time of simulated games? Does it reduce post-simulation heart rate and perceived fatigue while enhancing aerobic capacity (e.g., maximal oxygen uptake) and antioxidant indicators?

To address these questions, researchers will compare the Rhodiola rosea supplementation group (RHO group) with the control group (CTR group). Participants will be required to:

Consume Rhodiola rosea supplements or placebos (empty capsules) daily for 28 consecutive days on an empty stomach.

Complete simulated game tests-including sprints, defensive slides, and layups-with total completion time and heart rate recovery recorded.

Provide blood samples for the measurement of biochemical indicators such as total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase activity, and creatine kinase.

Complete a series of physical fitness tests, including the countermovement jump (CMJ) test, 5-km run, YO-YO Intermittent Recovery Test, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) test.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Rhodiola rosea, L; Other: Placebo Comparator

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial aimed at evaluating the effects of short-term Rhodiola rosea supplementation on simulated game performance, perceived fatigue, physical fitness indicators, and biochemical parameters in professional basketball players. The study participants included 48 male basketball players from Beijing Sport University, all of whom were national level 2 athletes or above, ensuring a consistent training background and sports experience. The experimental design employed a strict randomization method, dividing participants into a Rhodiola rosea supplementation group (RHO group) and a control group (CTR group), with double-blind measures implemented to minimize potential bias. For example, the RHO group received a daily dose of 2.4 g of Rhodiola rosea extract (containing 0.5 g of salidroside per 100 g of raw material), while the CTR group consumed identical-looking empty capsules. All supplements were administered in a fasted state, twice daily, 30 minutes before breakfast and lunch, accompanied by an equal volume of water to control for placebo effects. Additionally, participants' daily dietary intake, including total calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, was recorded throughout the study period to exclude nutritional factors as potential confounders.

In terms of experimental procedures, participants first completed baseline health assessments and physical measurements, followed by a 28-day supplementation period. Key testing sessions included simulated game testing, physical fitness tests, and blood sample collection. The simulated game test record the total time taken by participants to complete the simulated game, which includes common on-court movements such as sprints, defensive slides, and step-backs. Physical fitness tests covered multiple dimensions: the vertical jump test (CMJ) ; the YO-YO intermittent recovery test; the maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) test; the 5 km running test; heart rate monitoring used Polar HR monitors, with data recorded before and after tests to assess fatigue recovery.

Blood sample collection was conducted before the simulated game, with participants fasting for 8-12 hours. Venous blood samples were collected uniformly between 8:00 and 8:30 AM, followed by centrifugation to separate plasma and red blood cells, which were stored at -80°C for subsequent analysis. Biochemical indicators included plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and creatine kinase (CK) activity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 26) and GraphPad Prism (version 9.0), with continuous variables presented as mean ± standard deviation. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and a 2×2 mixed-design ANOVA [group (CTR vs. RHO) × time (pre-test vs. post-test)] was employed to evaluate intervention effects.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing Municipality
    • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100084
      • Beijing Sport University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male basketball players aged 18 years or older
• National Level 2 athletes or above with training experience
• Voluntarily participating and providing written informed consent
• Healthy, without chronic diseases, neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes
• Not using other nutritional supplements or alcohol-containing products during the study, and non-smokers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to Rhodiola or study-related substances
• Recent major surgery or injury affecting athletic performance
• Use of antidepressants or stimulant drugs
• Unable to comply with training or intervention requirements during the study
• Any other condition that may compromise safety or data reliability

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rhodiola Supplementation Group; Participants in this arm will receive daily Rhodiola capsules for 28 days. They will undergo simulated basketball game tests and physical fitness assessments (sprint, endurance, jump tests) before and after the supplementation period.	Dietary supplement: Rhodiola rosea, L; Participants in this arm will receive daily capsules containing Rhodiola Rosea for 28 days. The capsules are identical in appearance to placebo capsules. The intervention aims to evaluate the effects of Rhodiola supplementation on basketball players' simulated game performance, sprint times, perceived fatigue, aerobic capacity, and antioxidant markers. Participants will undergo baseline and post-intervention physical fitness assessments, including sprint tests, endurance tests, Countermovement Jump (CMJ), heart rate recovery, and simulated game tasks.; Other Names: Golden Root, Arctic Root, R. rosea
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Control Group; Participants in this arm will receive daily placebo capsules (empty capsules identical in appearance to Rhodiola) for 28 days. They will undergo the same simulated basketball game tests and physical fitness assessments (sprint, endurance, jump tests) before and after the intervention period, without knowing their group assignment.	Other: Placebo Comparator; Participants in this arm will receive daily placebo capsules (identical in appearance to Rhodiola capsules) for 28 days. This group serves as a control to compare the effects of Rhodiola supplementation on basketball players' simulated game performance, sprint times, perceived fatigue, aerobic capacity, and antioxidant markers. Participants will complete the same baseline and post-intervention physical fitness assessments as the experimental group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Total completion time of the simulated game	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Heart rate recovery	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Total distance in the YO-YO intermittent recovery test	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Countermovement jump (CMJ) height	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max)	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
5 km running time	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC)	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
Creatine kinase (CK) activity	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation
BMI(kg/m^2)	Baseline and after 28 days of supplementation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beijing Sport University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 22, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 20, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 20, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 16, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Fatigue; Physical Performance; Rhodiola; Exercise Physiology; Sports Performance; Basketball Players
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Fatigue
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024219H

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) from this study will be made available to other researchers for academic purposes upon reasonable request, following publication of the study results. Data sharing will comply with privacy regulations and institutional guidelines.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) and supporting documentation will be available after publication of the study results, expected around 6 months after study completion.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) and supporting information will be available to qualified researchers upon request by contacting the corresponding author. All shared data will be de-identified to protect participant privacy, and requests will be reviewed to ensure appropriate use for academic and scientific purposes.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No