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This study investigates whether four weeks of Rhodiola rosea supplementation can improve physical fitness, neuromuscular performance, and decision-making ability in competitive male football players. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either Rhodiola rosea or a placebo while continuing their regular football training. Before and after the four-week intervention, all participants complete a series of tests, including aerobic fitness, repeated sprint ability, jumping performance, reaction time, and soccer-specific decision-making tasks. Blood samples are also collected to assess fatigue and recovery-related markers. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Rhodiola rosea supplementation can enhance performance and cognitive function under high-intensity training and competition conditions.
This study is a prospective, double-blind supplementation study conducted in competitive male football players to examine the effects of short-term Rhodiola rosea intake on physical and cognitive performance under regular training conditions.
Participants continue their habitual football training while receiving either Rhodiola rosea supplementation or a placebo for four weeks. Performance assessments are conducted before and after the intervention period under standardized conditions.
The study aims to explore whether Rhodiola rosea supplementation may support adaptations related to high-intensity exercise performance, neuromuscular function, and decision-making ability in competitive football players.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodiola rosea Group | Experimental | Participants received Rhodiola rosea supplementation for 4 weeks in addition to their regular football training. |
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| Placebo | Placebo Comparator | Participants consumed placebo capsules identical in appearance to Rhodiola rosea for 4 weeks. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodiola rosea extract | Dietary Supplement | Participants assigned to this intervention will receive Rhodiola rosea extract for 4 weeks in addition to their regular football training. The supplement will be administered orally in capsule form at a dose of 2,400 mg per day, given twice daily. The extract is standardized to salidroside, providing a total of 12 mg salidroside per daily dose. The capsules contain starch as excipient and gelatin as the capsule shell. All supplements are sourced from the same production batch to ensure consistency throughout the intervention period. Adherence will be monitored by capsule count and compliance logs. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) distance | The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) will be used to assess high-intensity intermittent endurance capacity. The total distance completed during the test will be recorded at baseline and after 4 weeks of Rhodiola rosea or placebo supplementation. | Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Best sprint time during repeated sprint test | Best sprint time (seconds) recorded during a 6 × 30 m repeated sprint test. | Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4 |
| Mean sprint time during repeated sprint test |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dingmeng Ren, PhD | Beijing Sport University | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Football Institute, Beijing Sport University | Beijing | Beijing Municipality | 100084 | China |
Individual participant data will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and institutional data protection policies.
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Participants were randomly assigned to either Rhodiola rosea supplementation or placebo in a parallel two-arm design.
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Both participants and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Supplements and placebo were identical in appearance and packaging.
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| Placebo | Other | Participants assigned to this intervention will receive placebo capsules identical in appearance, taste, and packaging to the Rhodiola rosea capsules for 4 weeks in addition to their regular football training. The placebo contains inert ingredients and is administered orally following the same dosing schedule as the Rhodiola rosea group. |
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Mean sprint time (seconds) calculated across all sprints during a 6 × 30 m repeated sprint test.
| Baseline and Week 4 |
| Countermovement jump (CMJ) height | Vertical jump height will be measured using a countermovement jump test to evaluate lower-limb neuromuscular performance before and after the intervention. | Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4 |
| Decision-making reaction time | Reaction time (milliseconds) measured during a computer-based soccer-specific decision-making task. Lower values indicate faster responses. | Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4 |
| Blood lactate concentration immediately post-repeated sprint exercise | Capillary blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) measured immediately following a repeated sprint exercise to assess acute metabolic stress. | Baseline and Week 4 (immediately post-repeated sprint exercise) |
| Decision-making response accuracy | Response accuracy (%) measured during a computer-based soccer-specific decision-making task. Higher values indicate better performance. | Baseline and Week 4 |
| Blood lactate concentration 3 minutes post-repeated sprint exercise | Capillary blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) measured 3 minutes following a repeated sprint exercise to assess early recovery. | Baseline and Week 4 (3 minutes post-repeated sprint exercise) |
| Blood lactate concentration 5 minutes post-repeated sprint exercise | Capillary blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) measured 5 minutes following a repeated sprint exercise to assess late recovery. | Baseline and Week 4 (5 minutes post-repeated sprint exercise) |
| Hemoglobin concentration | Resting hemoglobin concentration (g/L) measured to assess oxygen-carrying capacity. | Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4 |
| Hematocrit | Resting hematocrit (%) measured to assess oxygen-carrying capacity. | Baseline and Week 4 |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D005221 | Fatigue |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
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