CordyMax Enhances Aerobic Capability, Endurance Performance, and Exercise Metabolism in Healthy, Mid-Age to Elderly Sedentary Humans

Authors: Jia-Shi Zhu, M.D., Ph.D. and James M. Rippe, M.D.

Journal: The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Poster Presentation)

Study Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Participants: 131 healthy, sedentary adults (age 40-70 years)

Intervention: The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups:

• CordyMax group (n=61): Received 3g/day of CordyMax for 12 weeks
• Placebo group (n=70): Received 3g/day of a placebo for 12 weeks

Outcome Measures:

• Peak VO2
• Respiratory exchange ratio (RER)
• Time to complete a 1-mile walk (TMW)
• Work output (WO) by Jeukendrup bike test
• Diastolic blood pressure
• Body weight

Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of CordyMax, a proprietary mycelial fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis, on endurance parameters in healthy, sedentary adults. The results showed that CordyMax supplementation significantly increased peak VO2 (by 5.5%), exercise time to VO2peak (by 4.1%), work output (by 3.1%), and decreased time to complete a 1-mile walk (by 29 seconds) and RER (by 2.1%). Additionally, CordyMax supplementation led to a decrease in diastolic blood pressure (by 5.2%) and body weight (by 1.5%). The placebo group did not experience any significant changes in these parameters. The study concluded that CordyMax supplementation improves aerobic capability, exercise metabolism, and endurance performance in healthy, mid-age to elderly sedentary humans.