Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea is studied for fatigue, stress, and exercise performance. Extract standardization matters.
Overview
What is rhodiola?
Rhodiola rosea is a plant used to reduce stress, mainly due to its bioactive compounds rosavin and salidroside. Some people use rhodiola to improve strength, cognitive function, and energy.
Dosage
A typical dose of rhodiola is 200–600 mg per day.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
17 conditions for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Database Snapshot
Most rhodiola research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Athletic performance accounts for 15 of 58 studies (26%).
- Fatigue accounts for 9 of 58 studies (16%).
- Mental resilience accounts for 6 of 58 studies (10%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Metabolic health, Anxiety, Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Safety
Oral rhodiola is safe and well tolerated at a dose of up to 600 mg per day (split into two doses) for up to 12 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources44 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Anxiety
1 reference1.SupplementDEX Database: Anxiety — The Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. Extract on Anxiety, Stress, Cognition and Other Mood Symptoms2015
In 101 stressed adults, Rhodiola rosea WS 1375 200 mg twice daily for 4 weeks improved stress, fatigue, and disability scores in an open-label trial.
SupplementDEX Database · Athletic performance
15 references2.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Effects of the Combined Supplementation of Caffeine and Rhodiola Rosea with Resistance Training on Lower Limb Explosive Power in Male Volleyball Players2025
A systematic review found limited RCT evidence that herbs including Rhodiola raise testosterone in men, with most trials small and heterogeneous.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — The Impact of Rhodiola Rosea Extract on Strength Performance in Alternative Bench-Press and Bench-Pull Exercises Under Resting and Mental Fatigue Conditions: A Randomized, Triple-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial2025
In 139 acne patients, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Perenterol) was rated very good/good in 74.3% versus 21.7% on placebo over up to 5 months.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Combined effects of Rhodiola rosea and caffeine supplementation on aerobic endurance and muscle explosiveness: a synergistic approach2024
A meta-analysis of 17 outpatient RCTs found probiotics reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea incidence (RR 0.54) versus placebo or no treatment.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Synergistic Effect of Rhodiola rosea and Caffeine Supplementation on the Improvement of Muscle Strength and Muscular Endurance: A Pilot Study for Rats, Resistance Exercise-Untrained and -Trained Volunteers2023
In 368 hospitalized adults on antibiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii did not significantly reduce antibiotic-associated or C. difficile diarrhea versus placebo.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Effects of Short-Term Golden Root Extract (Rhodiola rosea) Supplementation on Resistance Exercise Performance2021
A meta-analysis found Saccharomyces boulardii reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea risk versus control, with moderate-quality evidence in adults and children.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — The Acute Effects of a Multi-Ingredient Herbal Supplement on Performance Fatigability: A Double-Blind, Randomized, and Placebo-Controlled Trial2021
A meta-analysis found probiotics, including S. boulardii, reduced pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea versus placebo, though strain effects varied.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Effects of Rhodiola rosea supplementation on mental performance, physical capacity, and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy men2019
In hospitalized patients on antibiotics, S. boulardii reduced AAD incidence versus placebo in a single-center randomized trial.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Effects of short-term Rhodiola Rosea (Golden Root Extract) supplementation on anaerobic exercise performance2019
A meta-analysis found probiotics reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea odds by about 42% versus placebo across double-blind RCTs.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — The Effect of Acute Rhodiola rosea Ingestion on Exercise Heart Rate, Substrate Utilisation, Mood State, and Perceptions of Exertion, Arousal, and Pleasure/Displeasure in Active Men2014
A systematic review found probiotics reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea risk, with Saccharomyces boulardii among the better-supported strains.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — The effects of an acute dose of Rhodiola rosea on endurance exercise performance2013
A meta-analysis found probiotics reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea and possibly C. difficile disease, with S. boulardii showing consistent benefit.
12.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Effects of chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation on sport performance and antioxidant capacity in trained male: preliminary results2010
In military patients on antibiotics, prophylactic S. boulardii reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea versus placebo.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Failure of Rhodiola rosea to alter skeletal muscle phosphate kinetics in trained men2007
A meta-analysis confirmed S. boulardii reduces antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children and adults versus placebo.
14.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Cordyceps sinensis- and Rhodiola rosea-based supplementation in male cyclists and its effect on muscle tissue oxygen saturation2005
In 269 children on broad-spectrum antibiotics, S. boulardii 250 mg twice daily reduced diarrhea incidence versus placebo.
15.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance2004
In 466 pediatric antibiotic recipients, S. boulardii reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea versus placebo, especially with longer baseline sleep latency.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen2000
A meta-analysis of 9 probiotic trials found S. boulardii and lactobacilli reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Cognitive performance
2 references17.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work2003
In 180 hospitalized patients, S. boulardii reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea to 9.5% versus 22% on placebo.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue--a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty2000
Updated IDSA/SHEA guidelines recommend probiotics only selectively for C. difficile prevention; S. boulardii evidence was noted but not strongly endorsed.
SupplementDEX Database · Fatigue
7 references19.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — Multicenter, open-label, exploratory clinical trial with Rhodiola rosea extract in patients suffering from burnout symptoms2017
An open-label burnout trial found Rhodiola rosea improved stress resistance and burnout symptoms, supporting larger randomized follow-up studies.
20.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5), Part I: a proprietary root extract of Rhodiola rosea is found to be effective in the treatment of stress-related fatigue2014
Part I of the SHR-5 program found proprietary Rhodiola rosea extract effective for stress-related fatigue versus placebo.
21.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial2014
In 48 nursing students, Rhodiola rosea did not significantly reduce shift-work fatigue versus placebo in this randomized trial.
22.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study of single dose effects of ADAPT-232 on cognitive functions2010
In 40 stressed women, a single 270 mg ADAPT-232 dose significantly improved attention, speed, and accuracy on the d2 test within 2 hours versus placebo.
23.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — The influence of adaptogens on ultraweak biophoton emission: a pilot-experiment2009
In 30 adults, Rhodiola rosea or ADAPT-232 altered ultra-weak photon emission versus placebo in a pilot adaptogen study.
24.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue2009
In 60 adults with stress-related fatigue, SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea improved fatigue, concentration, and stress symptoms versus placebo.
25.SupplementDEX Database: Fatigue — [The effect of the preparation rodakson on the psychophysiological and physical adaptation of students to an academic load]2000
In foreign students, rodakson (Rhodiola-based adaptogen) improved physical work capacity and reduced anxiety versus baseline.
SupplementDEX Database · Stress
2 references26.SupplementDEX Database: Stress — Effect of a Combination of Magnesium, B Vitamins, Rhodiola, and Green Tea (L-Theanine) on Chronically Stressed Healthy Individuals-A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study2022
In chronically stressed adults, magnesium-B-vitamin-rhodiola-green tea reduced DASS stress scores versus placebo over 28 days.
27.SupplementDEX Database: Stress — Therapeutic effects and safety of Rhodiola rosea extract WS® 1375 in subjects with life-stress symptoms--results of an open-label study2012
In 101 adults with life-stress symptoms, Rhodiola WS 1375 200 mg twice daily for 4 weeks improved stress and fatigue scores.
SupplementDEX Database · Depression
5 references28.SupplementDEX Database: Depression — Clinician guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders with nutraceuticals and phytoceuticals: The World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) and Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Taskforce2022
WFSBP/CANMAT 2022 guidelines rated acetyl-L-carnitine as not recommended for ADHD based on Grade A evidence from meta-analyses and RCTs.
29.SupplementDEX Database: Depression — Antidepressants effects of Rhodiola capsule combined with sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial2020
A meta-analysis found probiotics reduced C. difficile-associated diarrhea in adults and children, including S. boulardii-containing regimens.
30.SupplementDEX Database: Depression — Rhodiola rosea versus sertraline for major depressive disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled trial2015
Removing routine S. boulardii order sets in hospitalized patients was followed by increased hospital-onset C. difficile rates in this before-after analysis.
31.SupplementDEX Database: Depression — Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5), Part 2: A standardized extract of Rhodiola rosea is shown to be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression2014
Part 2 of the SHR-5 program reported that standardized Rhodiola rosea extract improved mild-to-moderate depression symptoms versus placebo in a clinical trial.
32.SupplementDEX Database: Depression — Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression2007
In 57 adults with mild-to-moderate depression, SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract reduced HAMD and Beck scores versus placebo over 6 weeks.
SupplementDEX Database · Metabolic health
2 references34.SupplementDEX Database: Metabolic health — Lack of effect of Rhodiola or oxygenated water supplementation on hypoxemia and oxidative stress2003
At simulated 4600 m altitude, 7-day Rhodiola did not improve capillary oxygenation versus placebo or oxygenated water.
33.Rhodiola rosea does not reduce in vivo inflammatory activity after continuous endurance exercise. See external sourceExternal source
SupplementDEX Database · Muscle recovery
2 references35.SupplementDEX Database: Muscle recovery — Evaluation of Rhodiola rosea supplementation on skeletal muscle damage and inflammation in runners following a competitive marathon2013
In marathon runners, Rhodiola before racing did not significantly reduce muscle damage, soreness, or inflammatory cytokines versus placebo.
36.SupplementDEX Database: Muscle recovery — Extract of Rhodiola rosea radix reduces the level of C-reactive protein and creatinine kinase in the blood2004
After exhaustive exercise, Rhodiola rosea lowered C-reactive protein and creatine kinase versus control in healthy volunteers.
37.SupplementDEX Database: Chronic fatigue syndrome — Rhodiola rosea in Subjects with Prolonged or Chronic Fatigue Symptoms: Results of an Open-Label Clinical Trial2017
In elderly inpatients on antibiotics, S. boulardii did not significantly prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea versus placebo.
38.SupplementDEX Database: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — Efficacy and safety of three species of Rhodiola L. in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis2003
In beta-lactam antibiotic recipients, S. boulardii 1 g/day reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · COVID-19
1 reference39.SupplementDEX Database: COVID-19 — Efficacy of Adaptogens in Patients with Long COVID-19: A Randomized, Quadruple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial2022
In a prospective study, prophylactic S. boulardii did not significantly lower C. difficile infection rates versus usual care in hospitalized patients.
40.SupplementDEX Database: Generalised anxiety disorder — A pilot study of Rhodiola rosea (Rhodax) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)2008
In 10 adults with generalized anxiety disorder, Rhodiola rosea (Rhodax) reduced anxiety scores in this open-label pilot.
SupplementDEX Database · Menopause
1 reference41.SupplementDEX Database: Menopause — Actaea racemosa L. Is More Effective in Combination with Rhodiola rosea L. for Relief of Menopausal Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study2020
In 220 menopausal women, black cohosh plus Rhodiola reduced menopausal symptom scores more than monotherapy or placebo over 12 weeks.
42.SupplementDEX Database: Premature ejaculation — Rhodiola rosea, folic acid, zinc and biotin (EndEP®) is able to improve ejaculatory control in patients affected by lifelong premature ejaculation: Results from a phase I-II study2016
In men with lifelong premature ejaculation, EndEP (Rhodiola, folic acid, zinc, biotin) improved ejaculatory outcomes versus baseline.
43.SupplementDEX Database: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) — Effects of the PREMEN-CALM® in the Management of the Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study2024
In women with premenstrual syndrome, a phytotherapeutic supplement including GABA and plant extracts reduced symptom scores versus placebo over 3 months.
SupplementDEX Database · Testosterone
1 reference44.SupplementDEX Database: Testosterone — Examining the Effects of Herbs on Testosterone Concentrations in Men: A Systematic Review2021
A systematic review found insufficient high-quality evidence that herbal supplements meaningfully raise testosterone in men.