In traditional Chinese medicine, cordyceps is the mushroom for convalescents and exhausted individuals. Modern research has begun to verify this reputation, with results more nuanced than the legend suggests: in 20 adults aged 50 to 75, 12 weeks of fermented Cs-4 mycelium raised by 10.5% the threshold beyond which lactate accumulates during exertion, without changing their VO2max, whereas six trials in active or athletic adults, most often with blends, performed no better than placebo.
This guide compiles what studies identified via PubMed show about cordyceps and fatigue, during exertion, in daily life, and during illness, specifying for each trial the species, preparation, dose, and population, and separating human data from animal data. It also reviews the causes of fatigue to check first, ginseng and rhodiola, then precautions.
: we identified no controlled trial that measured, with a validated scale, the effect of cordyceps alone on daily fatigue in healthy adults. Regarding exertion fatigue, trials are mixed: favorable signals in seniors (Cs-4 mycelium, 1 g per day, 12 weeks) and in young adults (blend containing Cordyceps militaris, 3 weeks), no effect in trained cyclists or in 96 sports students. In patients, Chinese meta-analyses report benefits, with low certainty. Elsewhere
: in animals, cordyceps extracts and cordycepin extend swimming time to exhaustion, without direct transposition to humans. Faced with persistent fatigue, the priority is to find its cause: sleep, depression, and stress dominate, and low ferritin can be corrected with iron. Ginseng has the most human evidence, with a small effect. Medical information.
- In animals: forced swimming, glycogen, and lactate
- Exertion fatigue: the favorable trials
- Trials with no effect
- Daily fatigue, sleep, and mood
- Fatigue related to illness: cancer, dialysis, lungs
- The table of trials and their level of evidence
- Causes of fatigue to check first
- Ginseng and rhodiola: what the trials show
- If you want to try cordyceps
- Safety, interactions, and contraindications
- Frequently asked questions
- Quick answer
Fatigue and cordyceps: what are we talking about?
According to a review published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt, fatigue accounts for 10 to 20% of consultations in general medicine. Studies do not all measure the same: fatigue on exertion (time to exhaustion, thresholds), fatigue felt daily (validated questionnaires), and disease-related fatigue, with its own scales. A result obtained on one does not apply to the others.
The word cordyceps also covers multiple realities (see our complete cordyceps guide). WildOphiocordyceps sinensis, harvested from Himalayan highlands, is rare and expensive; human trials cited in this guide, when they specify the form, used cultivated forms. Fermented mycelium, cultivated in tanks from strains isolated from wild fungi, such as the Cs-4 strain or Hirsutella sinensis, is the form used in most trials. Cordyceps militaris, another species, is easily cultivated and provides its fruiting body, the fungus itself, or its mycelium. Added to these are blends, with rhodiola, reishi, or other ingredients.
A result obtained with Cs-4 fermented mycelium in seniors says nothing about a Cordyceps militaris fruiting body in an active adult, and vice versa: this is also why trials sometimes contradict each other.
In animals: forced swimming, glycogen, and lactate
Most research has been conducted in mice and rats, using forced swimming to exhaustion and fatigue markers: lactate, blood urea, glycogen, ATP, the molecule that stores cellular energy.
In rats, 15 days of cultivated mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis at 200 mg per kilogram per day multiplied swimming endurance by 1.79 compared to placebo, and by 2.9 when the fungus was combined with training, with activation of muscle metabolism regulators. In mice, two weeks of Cordyceps militaris fruiting body extract delayed fatigue in three tests, with more ATP and less lactate. The cordycepin Cordycepin alone, the characteristic nucleoside of Cordyceps militaris, extended loaded swimming at 20 and 40 mg per kilogram for 28 days, by increasing liver and muscle glycogen.
In mice, 7 days of a fermented Cs-4 mycelium aqueous extract, at 200 or 400 mg per kilogram per day, increased liver ATP by 12.3% and 18.4% compared to placebo, measured by magnetic resonance. Seven days after stopping, these values returned to their baseline level: the effect lasted only during treatment.
Dai G, Bao T, Xu C, et al. J Altern Complement Med 2001;7(3):231-240. DOI : 10.1089/107555301300328106
These results are consistent, but the doses relative to body weight are high, forced swimming does not measure the fatigue experienced by an adult, and several studies involved commercial preparations. They provide hypotheses, not evidence in humans.
Exertion fatigue: the favorable trials
The most cited trial, conducted in double-blind, is a small pilot study, but it measures a parameter related to exertion fatigue: the point at which lactate begins to accumulate.
In 20 healthy adults aged 50 to 75 years, 333 mg of fermented Cs-4 mycelium three times daily, or 1 g per day for 12 weeks, raised the metabolic threshold by 10.5%, from 0.83 to 0.93 L/min, and the ventilatory threshold by 8.5%, from 1.25 to 1.36 L/min. Nothing of the sort under placebo. VO2max, meanwhile, did not change in either group.
Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, et al. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(5):585-590. DOI : 10.1089/acm.2009.0226
This result needs to be confirmed on larger sample sizes.
In young adults, the most favorable trial uses a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris, at 4 g per day. After one week, no significant difference from placebo in 28 participants: neither VO2max, nor time to exhaustion, nor power decline during a maximal 3-minute bike test. In the 10 volunteers who continued for 3 weeks, VO2max increased by 4.8 mL/kg/min, versus 0.9 under placebo, and time to exhaustion by 69.8 seconds; a result on 10 people, with a blend. Our article on cordyceps and sports performance details these endurance measures.
In 12 young active men, 1 g of a standardized Cordyceps militaris extract taken 30 minutes before a bike test to exhaustion gave, after exercise, faster reaction times on the Stroop test, which measures attention, than placebo, 964 versus 1,034 milliseconds, a difference deemed large (0.88). Resting VO2 was higher, maximal VO2 unchanged, and the interaction between the product and effort was not significant.
Farzan H, Koushkie Jahromi M. PLoS One 2026;21(7):e0351725. DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0351725
At 2,200 meters altitude, 18 men underwent two weeks of training with 1,400 mg of rhodiola crenulata and 600 mg of Cordyceps sinensis per day, or placebo: running time to exhaustion increased by 5.7%, versus 2.2%. In 22 Japanese distance runners, 1,800 mg per day of a Cordyceps militaris mycelium extract for 16 weeks of preparation limited the drop in ferritin, maintained hemoglobin at 8 weeks, and reduced creatine kinase, a marker of muscle damage, at 16 weeks; the trial did not measure perceived fatigue, and two co-authors were affiliated with companies.
These 1,800 mg do not correspond to the 1,800 mg of our Cordyceps: mycelium extract on one side, 4:1 fruiting body extract on the other, two non-comparable preparations.
The trials without effect
Trials without effect are at least as numerous. In 22 trained cyclists, 3 g per day of Cs-4 mycelium for 5 weeks changed neither peak VO2, which went from 59.1 to 57.1 mL/kg/min, versus 59.9 to 60.1 under placebo, nor the time trial, 62.1 minutes versus 61.4. In 17 amateur cyclists, two weeks of a formula combining 1,000 mg of Cs-4 and 300 mg of rhodiola rosea modified neither peak VO2, 4.14 versus 4.10 L/min, nor time to exhaustion. A study on 8 men found no difference in muscle oxygenation.
In 96 students of physical education, 43 women and 53 men, 28 to 33 days of a supplement combining Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum, at low or high dose, modified neither VO2max, nor maximum and average power on the Wingate test, nor the fatigue index of this 30-second test.
Tsuk S, Lev YH, Rotstein A, et al. Int J Med Mushrooms 2018;20(4):359-367. DOI : 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018025989
As a single dose, tablets combining a Cordyceps sinensis extract, yohimbine, and calcium pyruvate improved neither strength nor muscle endurance in 24 men. In 21 active men followed for 14 weeks, a supplement containing rhodiola and cordyceps performed no better than placebo on body fat or strength.
A 2026 review on Cordyceps militaris draws the same conclusion: 5 trials, 321 participants aged 16 to 35 years, 1 to 12 g per day for 1 to 16 weeks, inconsistent results, small sample sizes, few registered protocols, and often combinations.
| Trial | Preparation and duration | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 22 trained cyclists, 2004 | Cs-4 Mycelium, 3 g per day, 5 weeks | No effect on peak VO2 or time trial performance |
| 17 amateur cyclists, 2004 | Cs-4 and rhodiola, 2 weeks | No effect on peak VO2 or time to exhaustion |
| 8 men, 2005 | Cordyceps sinensis and rhodiola | No effect on muscle oxygenation or endurance |
| 96 sports students, 2018 | Sinensis and reishi, 28 to 33 days | No effect on VO2max or fatigue index |
| 24 men, 2008 | Blend with sinensis extract, single dose | No effect on muscle strength or endurance |
| 21 active men, 2021 | Blend with rhodiola and cordyceps, 14 weeks | No better than placebo on body composition and strength |
The favorable trials involved seniors or untrained adults, over 3 to 12 weeks; the null trials were mostly on trained athletes or short-term intake. The preparations also differed from one trial to another.
Daily fatigue, sleep and mood
This is the main gap: we identified no controlled trial in PubMed controlled trial measuring, with a validated questionnaire, the effect of cordyceps alone on daily fatigue in healthy adults. Trials in non-athletic adults measure immunity or sleep.
In 79 healthy Korean men, 1.5 g per day of an ethanolic extract of Cordyceps militaris for 4 weeks increased natural killer cell activity compared to placebo, with no notable adverse effects, but fatigue was not measured (see our file on mycotherapy).
In 59 adults with depression and insomnia, treated with duloxetine, 3 g per day of Cordyceps militaris for 6 weeks did not improve insomnia: the insomnia score actually decreased more under placebo, including for the ability to function during the day. Depression scores did not differ, and adverse effects were comparable in both groups.
Zhou J, Chen X, Xiao L, et al. Front Psychiatry 2021;12:754921. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.754921
This negative result counts for fatigue: in depressed individuals, daytime fatigue often follows sleep quality, and Cordyceps militaris did not help on this point in this trial. If your fatigue mainly comes from short or restless nights, nothing in the trials suggests that cordyceps is the right approach; our guides on mental fatigue and on cortisol and stress detail better-studied approaches.
Trying cordyceps for daytime fatigue is therefore a matter of personal trial, guided by tradition and effort data, not by a clinical trial on this criterion. Our Cordyceps provides 1,800 mg of 4:1 extract of Cordyceps militaris fruiting body per two capsules; none of the trials cited in this guide tested this formulation.
Fatigue related to disease: cancer, dialysis, lungs
In China, cordyceps is mainly studied as a complement to treatments, most often in the form of capsules of fermented mycelium from Cordyceps sinensis, compared to usual treatment alone.
Dialysis. A meta-analysis of 35 trials and 2,914 dialyzed patients reports, according to its authors, an improvement in albumin and hemoglobin with Ophiocordyceps sinensis preparations, with low certainty.
Lung cancer. In a meta-analysis of 12 trials and 928 patients, Cordyceps sinensis added to treatments improved the Karnofsky index, which measures the ability to lead an independent life, by an average of 8.2 points, but the proportion of improved patients was not significantly different (relative risk 1.47, interval 0.98 to 2.20). The 2024 recommendations of an American learned society of oncology, based on 113 trials, retain exercise, cognitive and behavioral therapies, mindfulness and, during treatment, American ginseng; other supplements did not improve cancer-related fatigue, and cordyceps is not among the retained approaches.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A meta-analysis of 27 trials on fermented mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis added to treatment reports improved respiratory function, greater walking distance in 6 minutes, and fewer exacerbations.
In 200 people recovering from COVID-19, two weeks of fermented cordyceps mycelium capsules improved shortness of breath in 78.95% of participants, compared to 46.15% under placebo, and palpitations in 82.50%, compared to 64.56%, with no serious adverse effects. Fatigue was not part of the measured symptoms.
Yuehong Z, Dandan D, Youqin Y, et al. J Tradit Chin Med 2023;43(1):134-139. DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.01.012
In a patient with cancer, kidney disease, or a transplant recipient, cordyceps is not an innocuous supplement: in a Chinese trial in kidney transplant recipients, it was associated with lower cyclosporine doses and blood levels, suggesting an interaction with immunosuppressive treatment. Any use should be decided with the team following you, never alone.
The table of trials and their level of evidence
The level of evidence below is an assessment by the editorial team, based on the trial design, sample size, duration, and measured criterion.
| Population and preparation | Result on fatigue or effort | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 20 seniors, Cs-4 mycelium, 1 g per day, 12 weeks | Metabolic threshold +10.5%, VO2max unchanged | Moderate to low: double-blind, very small sample size |
| 28 then 10 young adults, blend with militaris, 4 g per day | Null at 1 week, VO2max +4.8 at 3 weeks | Low: blend, 10 people at 3 weeks |
| 12 active men, militaris extract, 1 g in single dose | Faster reaction time after exercise | Weak: single dose, 12 people |
| 18 men at altitude, rhodiola and sinensis, 2 weeks | Running to exhaustion +5.7% vs +2.2% | Weak: combination, effect of cordyceps alone unknown |
| 22 distance runners, militaris mycelium, 16 weeks | Ferritin and hemoglobin better maintained | Weak: blood markers, not fatigue |
| Cyclists, students and active men, Cs-4 or blends | No better than placebo in six trials | Moderate for absence of effect in trained athletes |
| 59 depressed adults, militaris, 3 g per day, 6 weeks | Insomnia less improved than under placebo | Moderate to weak: single trial, small sample size |
| Dialysis patients, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fermented mycelium | Hemoglobin, general condition and lung capacity improved | Weak to very weak: certainty judged weak when it was evaluated |
| Healthy adults, everyday fatigue | No controlled trial identified by the editorial staff | Non-existent |
The balance is thin but not nil: the signals concern exercise tolerance in elderly or untrained individuals, over several weeks. For everyday fatigue, science has not reached a conclusion.
Causes of fatigue to check first
Before seeking a supplement, it is useful to know where the fatigue comes from. The review in Deutsches Ärzteblatt, which relies on recommendations from German general practitioners, is clear: the most frequent causes of persistent fatigue are sleep disorders, including sleep-related breathing disorders such as apnea, and depression, responsible in 18.5% of cases, and excessive psychosocial stress . An undiagnosed cancer is rare, 0.6% of cases, as are anemia and other organic causes combined, 4.3%. A clinical examination and simple blood test are most often sufficient; more extensive testing is only justified in the presence of other symptoms.
In 198 women aged 18 to 53, non-anemic but fatigued with ferritin below 50 µg/L, recruited by 44 general practitioners in France, 80 mg of elemental iron per day for 12 weeks reduced the fatigue score by 47.7%, compared to 28.8% under placebo, with no effect on quality of life, depression or anxiety.
Vaucher P, Druais PL, Waldvogel S, Favrat B. CMAJ 2012;184(11):1247-1254. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.110950
The thyroid is also checked, but mild abnormality does not always explain fatigue: in 737 adults aged 65 and older with subclinical hypothyroidism, one year of levothyroxine performed no better than placebo for fatigue, with a difference of 0.4 points out of 100. Other deficiencies should be discussed with your doctor, such as those in vitamin B12 or vitamin D.
In athletes, fatigue that persists despite rest may indicate excessive training load (see fatigue or overtraining). Finally, intense and prolonged fatigue may be due to myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue syndrome: according to a review of 35 trials, supplements and complementary medicine remain inconclusive for this condition.
Consult if fatigue lasts longer than four weeks without obvious cause, or sooner if it is accompanied by involuntary weight loss, fever or night sweats, shortness of breath or chest pain, bleeding, marked pallor, snoring with breathing pauses and daytime sleepiness, unusual thirst or frequent urination, or sadness and loss of interest lasting longer than two weeks. In case of dark thoughts, call emergency services (15) or the suicide prevention line (3114) immediately.
Ginseng and rhodiola: what the trials show
<<<17>>> Ginseng ginseng has been studied far more extensively for fatigue itself. A Korean meta-analysis of 12 placebo-controlled trials found a small effect on fatigue (0.34, from 4 trials), but no effect on physical performance (−0.01, from 8 trials), and its authors concluded that evidence remains insufficient. A more recent meta-analysis of 19 trials found no significant effect when pooling all types of fatigue (−0.36, interval −0.82 to 0.11), but a small to moderate effect on general fatigue unrelated to disease (−0.48) and small effect on chronic fatigue (−0.30); the authors consider these effects modest. Reading reminder: by convention, 0.2 corresponds to a small effect, 0.5 to a medium effect, and 0.8 to a large effect.
In 90 adults suffering from chronic fatigue with no identified cause, 4 weeks of ethanolic extract of Panax ginseng root, at 1 or 2 g per day, did not significantly reduce the total fatigue score compared to placebo. The mental fatigue score improved at both doses, and at 2 g per day the visual fatigue scale improved from 7.3 to 4.4, compared to 7.1 to 5.8 under placebo.
Kim HG, Cho JH, Yoo SR, et al. PLoS One 2013;8(4):e61271. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061271
For cancer-related fatigue, the reference trial involved American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), another species: in 364 patients, 2,000 mg per day for 8 weeks improved the fatigue score by 20 points compared to 10.3 under placebo, the difference not being significant at 4 weeks. This is the only plant retained in 2024 recommendations during cancer treatment. Our article ginseng and fatigue details these trials, and our complete ginseng guide compares the species.
Red Ginseng provides 200 mg of root extract per day, a preparation different from those cited in the trials (1 to 2 g of Panax ginseng extract, 2,000 mg of American ginseng): their results cannot be transposed to it. It is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and with antidiabetic medications. See also our article on <<<38>>> red ginseng ginseng rouge.
<<<40>>> rhodiola rhodiola leaves a contrasting picture: in a review of 11 trials, 2 out of 6 found an effect on physical fatigue and 3 out of 5 on mental fatigue, all with a high or uncertain risk of bias.
In 48 nursing students and trainees working in shift hours, 364 mg of rhodiola rosea per day, with one possible additional capsule, over 42 days produced worse results than placebo: the vitality score declined by 17.3 points more, and the visual fatigue scale increased by 1.9 points more. The authors call for caution.
Punja S, Shamseer L, Olson K, Vohra S. PLoS One 2014;9(9):e108416. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108416
Our Rhodiola provides 640 mg of extract per day, at 1% salidrosides, a formulation and dose different from those in this trial. See our guide to rhodiola and our rhodiola vs. ashwagandha comparison.
If you want to try cordyceps
The favorable trials used 1 g per day of Cs-4 mycelium for 12 weeks, 4 g per day of a blend containing Cordyceps militaris for 3 weeks, or 1 g of Cordyceps militaris extract in a single dose. These doses apply to specific formulations and do not apply to another product; results mainly appeared after several weeks.
Our Cordyceps is taken at two capsules per day, or 1,800 mg of 4:1 extract of Cordyceps militaris fruiting body, in the morning or 30 to 60 minutes before exertion according to our usage instructions, in a course of at least 30 days. The product information does not specify its cordycepin or polysaccharide content. The practical tips below are based on common sense, not trial results.
If you are subject to testing, verify the composition of any supplement with your federation before taking it, as our guide on doping and banned substances.
Safety, interactions, and contraindications
In the trials of a few weeks cited here, in Korean men, depressed adults, or 84 diabetic people, adverse effects were no more frequent than under placebo. These durations remain short, and several situations call for caution.
Immunosuppressants and transplant. In 202 kidney transplant recipients, 1 g of Cordyceps sinensis three times daily added to treatment was accompanied by lower cyclosporine doses from the second to sixth month, and lower blood levels from the third to sixth month. This result suggests an interaction with this treatment: if taking immunosuppressants, after a transplant, or in case of autoimmune disease, it should only be taken on medical advice.
Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. In animals, an extract of Cordyceps militaris enriched in cordycepin slowed platelet aggregation and clot formation, without modifying coagulation time. Without human data, this signal warrants medical advice if taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents and before surgery.
Antidiabetic agents. In healthy rats, Cs-4 mycelium lowered fasting blood glucose by 24 to 27% compared to baseline in 17 days, in a study whose first author was affiliated with the preparation's manufacturer. In 84 diabetic individuals, 16 weeks of reishi combined or not with Cordyceps sinensis modified neither glycated hemoglobin nor blood glucose. Medical advice remains preferable when taking antidiabetic agents.
In Taiwan, two patients developed lead poisoning after taking cordyceps powder containing up to 20,000 ppm of lead, with blood lead levels of 130 and 46 µg/dL; these returned to normal after stopping, and chelation therapy for one of them.
Wu TN, Yang KC, Wang CM, et al. Sci Total Environ 1996;182(1-3):193-195. DOI: 10.1016/0048-9697(96)05054-1
Ginseng. Its precautions are added in case of combination: in 20 volunteers, American ginseng reduced the anticoagulant effect of warfarin (maximum INR 0.19 lower). Beware of cumulative effects: our Male Libido already contains tribulus and ginseng.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding : cordyceps and ginseng not recommended, due to lack of data. Children : reserved for adults. Anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, antidiabetic agents, immunosuppressants : medical advice before any use. Autoimmune disease, transplant, kidney disease, cancer : only with the healthcare team. Mushroom allergy : caution advised. Unexplained fatigue that persists : consultation before any supplement.
A 4:1 concentrated extract of Cordyceps militaris, derived from the fruiting body, in vegetable capsules. Two capsules daily provide 1,800 mg of extract, in the morning or 30 to 60 minutes before exertion, in a course of at least 30 days. Vegan, in a bottle of 60 capsules for one month.
See CordycepsGinseng is the most studied plant for fatigue; discover our Red Ginseng, a preparation different from those used in trials.
Frequently asked questions
Is cordyceps effective against fatigue?
Human evidence remains limited. Trials show improved exercise tolerance in seniors after 12 weeks of Cs-4 mycelium and in young adults after 3 weeks of a blend containing Cordyceps militaris, but several trials in athletes find no effect, and we identified no trial of cordyceps alone on everyday fatigue.
Does cordyceps give you energy?
In mice, it increases ATP, glycogen and swimming time. In humans, the metabolic threshold increased by 10.5% in 20 seniors, with no effect in trained cyclists. A daily energy boost has not been demonstrated.
Cordyceps and chronic fatigue: what do studies say?
We identified no controlled trial of cordyceps in chronic fatigue. In chronic fatigue syndrome, a review of 35 trials judges supplements and complementary medicines inconclusive. Persistent fatigue first warrants consultation.
Which mushroom for fatigue?
Cordyceps is most associated with energy, with human evidence limited to exertion. Among plants, ginseng has the most trials on fatigue, with a small effect, and rhodiola shows contradictory results.
How long to feel the effects of cordyceps?
In trials on exertion, one week made no significant difference versus placebo; effects appeared after 3 weeks with a blend containing Cordyceps militaris and after 12 weeks with Cs-4 mycelium in seniors.
What dose of cordyceps for fatigue?
No dose has been validated for everyday fatigue. Studies on exercise performance used 1 g per day of Cs-4 mycelium or 4 g per day of a blend, doses specific to these preparations. Follow the dose indicated on the product you choose.
Should cordyceps be taken in the morning or evening?
No study has compared timing of intake. In trials, it was taken multiple times throughout the day or 30 minutes before exercise; morning or before exercise is a practical choice.
Cordyceps militaris or sinensis for fatigue?
Favorable trials in seniors involved Cs-4 mycelium, derived from a sinensis strain, while those in young adults involved Cordyceps militaris. No trial has compared the two species for fatigue.
Does cordyceps help with cancer-related fatigue?
A Chinese meta-analysis reports improved autonomy index by 8.2 points in lung cancer patients, based on limited-quality trials. The 2024 recommendations on cancer-related fatigue do not include cordyceps; discuss this with your medical team.
Is cordyceps dangerous?
It was well tolerated in trials lasting a few weeks, but it may interact with immunosuppressants. It is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and medical advice is necessary if taking anticoagulants, antidiabetics, or immunosuppressants.
What tests should be done for persistent fatigue?
The doctor chooses based on examination, often including blood count, ferritin, thyroid, and blood glucose. In non-anemic women with ferritin below 50 µg/L, 80 mg of iron daily for 12 weeks reduced fatigue by 47.7%, compared to 28.8% with placebo.
Sources
The studies cited below were identified via PubMed.
- Maisel P, Baum E, Donner-Banzhoff N. Fatigue as a chief complaint: epidemiology, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 2021;118(33-34):566-576. DOI
- Kumar R, Negi PS, Singh B, et al. Cordyceps sinensis improves exercise endurance in rats by activating metabolic regulators of skeletal muscle. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011;136(1):260-266. DOI
- Song J, Wang Y, Teng M, et al. Studies of anti-fatigue activities of a Cordyceps militaris fruiting body extract in mice. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015;2015:174616. DOI
- Chai X, Pan M, Wang J, et al. Cordycepin exerts an anti-fatigue effect by activating the TIGAR/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2022;637:127-135. DOI
- Dai G, Bao T, Xu C, et al. [Fermented mycelium] Cs-4 improves the bioenergetic status of mouse liver. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2001;7(3):231-240. DOI
- Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, et al. Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy elderly subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010;16(5):585-590. DOI
- Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, et al. Cordyceps militaris improves high-intensity exercise tolerance after acute and chronic supplementation. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2017;14(1):42-53. DOI
- Farzan H, Koushkie Jahromi M. Cordyceps militaris acute intake, resting oxygen consumption and reaction time: a randomized crossover trial. PLoS One, 2026;21(7):e0351725. DOI
- Chen CY, Hou CW, Bernard JR, et al. A supplement of Rhodiola crenulata and Cordyceps sinensis improves aerobic performance after altitude training. High Altitude Medicine and Biology, 2014;15(3):371-379. DOI
- Nakamura A, Shinozaki E, Suzuki Y, et al. Effect of a Cordyceps militaris mycelium extract on blood markers of anemia in distance runners. Nutrients, 2024;16(12):1835. DOI
- Parcell AC, Smith JM, Schulthies SS, et al. Cordyceps sinensis supplementation ([fermented mycelium] Cs-4) does not enhance endurance performance. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 2004;14(2):236-242. DOI
- Earnest CP, Morss GM, Wyatt F, et al. Effects of a commercial herbal formula on cycling performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2004;36(3):504-509. DOI
- Colson SN, Wyatt FB, Johnston DL, et al. Cordyceps sinensis and Rhodiola rosea supplementation in cyclists and muscle oxygen saturation. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2005;19(2):358-363. DOI
- Tsuk S, Lev YH, Rotstein A, et al. Effects of an Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum supplement on maximal exercise response in young adults. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2018;20(4):359-367. DOI
- Herda TJ, Ryan ED, Stout JR, Cramer JT. Effects of a supplement designed to increase ATP on muscle strength, power and endurance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2008;5:3. DOI
- Kreipke VC, Moffatt RJ, Tanner CJ, Ormsbee MJ. Combined training and supplement containing Rhodiola rosea and Cordyceps sinensis in active men. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2021;18(6):597-613. DOI
- Jędrejko M, Jędrejko K, Granda D, et al. Ergogenic and recovery effects of Cordyceps militaris in humans: a narrative review. Nutrients, 2026;18(5):781. DOI
- Kang HJ, Baik HW, Kim SJ, et al. Cordyceps militaris enhances cell-mediated immunity in healthy Korean men. Journal of Medicinal Food, 2015;18(10):1164-1172. DOI
- Zhou J, Chen X, Xiao L, et al. Cordyceps militaris as adjunct to duloxetine in insomnia of depressed patients: a 6-week placebo-controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021;12:754921. DOI
- Liu M, Cui C, Chang T, et al. Effects and safety of Ophiocordyceps sinensis preparations as adjunctive treatment in dialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024;15:1360997. DOI
- Wang C, Wang J, Qi Y. Adjunctive treatment with Cordyceps sinensis for lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2024;327:118044. DOI
- Bower JE, Lacchetti C, Alici Y, et al. Management of cancer-related fatigue in adults: updated recommendations. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2024;42(20):2456-2487. DOI
- Ma G, Jin Y. [Fermented mycelium capsules of Cordyceps sinensis] in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis. Pharmaceutical Biology, 2024;62(1):803-817. DOI
- Yuehong Z, Dandan D, Youqin Y, et al. [Fermented cordyceps mycelium capsules] and residual symptoms in COVID-19 convalescents: a placebo-controlled pilot trial. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2023;43(1):134-139. DOI
- Li Y, Xue WJ, Tian PX, et al. Clinical application of Cordyceps sinensis in immunosuppressive therapy for renal transplantation. Transplantation Proceedings, 2009;41(5):1565-1569. DOI
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