Effect of Cordyceps Supplementation Timing on Physiological Responses and Aerobic Adaptation in Athletes

NCT07664345 | Active Not Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: B/41816/UN38.16/TU.00.02/202UNESA-S3IK-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Athletes frequently perform high-intensity exercise to improve physical performance and aerobic capacity. However, such training can induce exercise-induced muscle damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses that may delay recovery and compromise subsequent training adaptations. Optimizing recovery strategies is therefore essential to maintain performance, reduce injury risk, and support long-term athletic development. Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom that contains several bioactive compounds, including cordycepin and polysaccharides, which have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Although previous studies have reported beneficial effects of Cordyceps supplementation on exercise performance and physiological function, limited evidence exists regarding the optimal timing of supplementation relative to exercise. This study aims to investigate the effects of different Cordyceps supplementation timing strategies on physiological responses and aerobic adaptation following acute and chronic exercise training. Participants will be assigned to receive Cordyceps supplementation before exercise, after exercise, or placebo. The study will evaluate biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6), oxidative stress (MDA), muscle damage (CK), aerobic capacity (VO2max), and neuromuscular performance assessed using countermovement jump (CMJ) testing. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding nutritional recovery strategies and supplementation timing to optimize recovery and training adaptation in athletes and physically active individuals.

Conditions

Exercise Recovery; Exercise-induced Muscle Damage; Oxidative Stress; Sports Performance; Aerobic Capacity

Keywords

Cordyceps; Cordyceps Supplementation; Supplement Timing; Exercise Recovery; Athletic Performance; Sports Nutrition; Oxidative Stress; Inflammation; Creatine Kinase; Interleukin-6; Malondialdehyde; VO2max; Countermovement Jump; VALD ForceDecks; Exercise Adaptation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

  Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration measured as a biomarker of exercise-induced inflammatory response following acute and chronic exercise training.

  Baseline, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following acute exercise; baseline and after 4 weeks of chronic exercise training with measurements obtained at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following the final training session.

• Creatine Kinase (CK)

  Serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration measured as a biomarker of exercise-induced muscle damage following acute and chronic exercise training.

  Baseline, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following acute exercise; baseline and after 4 weeks of chronic exercise training with measurements obtained at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following the final training session.

• Malondialdehyde (MDA)

  Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration measured as a biomarker of oxidative stress following acute and chronic exercise training.

  Baseline, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following acute exercise; baseline and after 4 weeks of chronic exercise training with measurements obtained at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following the final training session.

• Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2max)

  Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) assessed as an indicator of aerobic capacity and chronic training adaptation.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks of chronic exercise training.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Countermovement Jump (CMJ) Performance

  Baseline, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following acute exercise; baseline and after 4 weeks of chronic exercise training with measurements obtained at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours following the final training session.

Study Arms (3)

Pre-Exercise Cordyceps

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive Cordyceps supplementation twice prior to exercise sessions, with administration occurring approximately 11 hours and 1 hour before exercise. This intervention is designed to evaluate the effects of pre-exercise supplementation timing on inflammatory response, oxidative stress, muscle damage, neuromuscular performance, and aerobic adaptation following acute and chronic exercise training.

Dietary Supplement: Pre-Exercise Cordyceps militaris

Post-Exercise Cordyceps

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive Cordyceps supplementation immediately after completion of each exercise session. This intervention is designed to evaluate the effects of post-exercise supplementation timing on physiological recovery, neuromuscular performance, and aerobic adaptation following acute and chronic exercise training.

Dietary Supplement: Post-Exercise Cordyceps militaris

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants receive placebo capsules matched in appearance and administration schedule to the Cordyceps supplementation groups. The placebo group serves as the control condition for comparison of physiological and performance outcomes.

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Pre-Exercise Cordyceps militaris DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants receive 2,000 mg of Cordyceps militaris (two capsules per administration) approximately 11 hours and 1 hour before each exercise session, three times per week for 4 weeks. The intervention is designed to evaluate the effects of pre-exercise supplementation timing on inflammatory response (IL-6), oxidative stress (MDA), muscle damage (CK), countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, and aerobic adaptation (VO2max).

Also known as: cordyceps

Pre-Exercise Cordyceps

Post-Exercise Cordyceps militaris DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants receive 2,000 mg of Cordyceps militaris (two capsules per administration) immediately after each exercise session, three times per week for 4 weeks. The intervention is designed to evaluate the effects of post-exercise supplementation timing on inflammatory response (IL-6), oxidative stress (MDA), muscle damage (CK), countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, and aerobic adaptation (VO2max).

Also known as: Cordyceps

Post-Exercise Cordyceps

Placebo OTHER

Participants receive placebo capsules matched in appearance, packaging, and administration procedures to the Cordyceps militaris supplement. Placebo is administered before each exercise session, three times per week for 4 weeks, and serves as the control condition for comparison of physiological and performance outcomes.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 21 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male or female participants aged 19-21 years.
• Students enrolled in the Sport Coaching Education Program (Pendidikan Kepelatihan Olahraga).
• Apparently healthy and free from known cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, neuromuscular, or musculoskeletal disorders that could affect participation in exercise training.
• Regularly participate in physical exercise at least three times per week during the previous three months.
• Willing to comply with all study procedures, exercise protocols, supplementation schedules, and assessment sessions.
• Provide written informed consent before participation.

You may not qualify if:

• Current injury or musculoskeletal condition that limits participation in exercise training.
• History of cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease, or other medical conditions that may increase exercise-related risk.
• Use of antioxidant supplements, herbal supplements, ergogenic aids, or anti-inflammatory medications within four weeks prior to study enrollment.
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Cordyceps or any component of the study supplements.
• Smoking or excessive alcohol consumption during the study period.
• Failure to comply with supplementation or exercise protocols.
• Participation in another research study during the study period.
• Participants presenting acute infection, fever, or inflammatory conditions within two weeks prior to baseline assessment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Surabaya State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

Surabaya, Jawa Timur - East Java, 60213, Indonesia

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Peake, J. M. (2019). ScienceDirect Recovery after exercise : what is the current state of play ? Current Opinion in Psychology, 10, 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2019.03.007

  BACKGROUND

• Choi E, Oh J, Sung GH. Beneficial Effect of Cordyceps militaris on Exercise Performance via Promoting Cellular Energy Production. Mycobiology. 2020 Nov 9;48(6):512-517. doi: 10.1080/12298093.2020.1831135.

  PMID: 33312018 BACKGROUND

• Dewi L, Liao YC, Jean WH, Huang KC, Huang CY, Chen LK, Nicholls A, Lai LF, Kuo CH. Cordyceps sinensis accelerates stem cell recruitment to human skeletal muscle after exercise. Food Funct. 2024 Apr 22;15(8):4010-4020. doi: 10.1039/d3fo03770c.

  PMID: 38501161 BACKGROUND

• Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. J Diet Suppl. 2017 Jan 2;14(1):42-53. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386. Epub 2016 Jul 13.

  PMID: 27408987 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Study Sponsor

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Inflammation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Nining W Kusnanik, Dr.

  Surabaya State University

  STUDY CHAIR

• Agus Hariyanto, Dr.

  Surabaya State University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants, investigators, and outcome assessors will be blinded to group allocation. Cordyceps and placebo capsules will be identical in appearance, packaging, and administration procedures. Allocation codes will be maintained by an independent researcher and will not be disclosed until completion of data collection and primary analyses.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctoral Candidate

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three parallel groups: (1) pre-exercise Cordyceps supplementation, (2) post-exercise Cordyceps supplementation, or (3) placebo. Participants will remain in their assigned group throughout the study period. The study will evaluate the effects of supplementation timing on inflammatory response, oxidative stress, muscle damage, neuromuscular performance, and aerobic adaptation following acute and chronic exercise training.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2026
• First Posted: June 24, 2026
• Study Start: June 9, 2026
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 10, 2026
• Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: Individual participant data (IPD), study protocol, and statistical analysis plan will be available beginning after publication of the primary and secondary study results and will remain available for 5 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: De-identified individual participant data (IPD), study protocol, and statistical analysis plan will be available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Access requests must include a scientifically sound research proposal and the intended use of the data. Requests will be reviewed by the principal investigator to ensure compliance with ethical, legal, and institutional requirements. Approved researchers will be granted access to the relevant data and supporting documents through direct communication with the principal investigator and, when appropriate, under a data-sharing agreement.

Locations

ID (1)