SupplementModerate evidenceEnergy

Cordyceps

Traditional TCM remedy for fatigue and vitality.

Why

Traditional TCM remedy for fatigue and vitality. Modern RCT evidence for VO₂ max and exercise capacity, particularly in older adults.

How it works

Polysaccharides and cordycepin modulate ATP synthesis and exercise oxygen utilisation; RCT evidence concentrates in athletic and elderly cohorts.

Expected onset · Aerobic-capacity effects emerged at 12 weeks in the RCT

How to take

Dosage

1 g/day of fermented Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) extract (333 mg three times daily), as used in the Chen 2010 trial in older adults.

Timing

Daily with food

Safety

Mild antiplatelet effect, so use caution with anticoagulants. Theoretical immunostimulant effect; avoid in autoimmune disease and post-transplant immunosuppression. Limited safety data in pregnancy.

Check interactions with my medications

Evidence

At a glance

Chen 2010 J Altern Complement Med RCT (n=20 healthy older adults): 1 g/day Cs-4 (fermented Cordyceps sinensis) for 12 weeks improved exercise performance and metabolic ventilatory threshold vs placebo. Trial is small but cleanly designed; broader RCT base is thin and effect sizes vary widely across small athletic-cohort trials.

Where to get it

Shop Cordyceps on Amazon

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