Cordyceps Benefits

Chinese traditional medicine practitioners have used cordyceps, a type of fungus or mushroom, throughout recorded history. This dietary supplement is gaining popularity in the Western world. Some users claim that taking cordyceps increases energy and aids in weight loss. In the United States, this supplement has not been rigorously tested in scientific trials. However, the Chinese have completed some limited studies that have produced promising results.

Types

• Natural cordyceps grow in only a few places in the world, mainly Australia, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. According to the Iowa State University's extension service, cordyceps is a fungus that grows on a caterpillar species that is native to Tibet. It is also possible to manufacture cordyceps for the production of supplements by sprouting the mushroom spores on soybeans.

Benefits

• Benefit claims include increased lung function, improved kidney and liver function, along with antioxidant properties and decreased fatigue. Health Library reports that the Chinese have also used cordyceps as a treatment for bronchitis, tuberculosis and renal failure. According to the University of Iowa, some Chinese athletes who used cordyceps to increase their speed, endurance and performance broke swimming and running world records. The University of Iowa also reported that consumption of cordyceps by laboratory animals increased the liver's production of adenosine triphosphate, necessary for energy release, by as much as 55 percent. It also increased oxygen utilization in mice by 30 to 50 percent.

Studies

• According to Health Library, most reported benefits of cordyceps have no reliable human studies to support the claims. A review of cordyceps studies at Drugs.com shows that just 2,000 humans have participated in clinical studies as of September 2009. The American College of Sports Medicine conducted human studies in 1999 that appear to support the claim of increased oxygen efficiency. A 2002 Chinese study of cordyceps intervention for lupus nephritis showed promising results. Drugs.com cites evidence reported in the 2003 BP Bulletin by Chinese investigators, Kim, Kim, Koh and Song, that rats that consumed the supplement swam longer than test subjects that did not take cordyceps. However, a National Institutes of Health report published in April 2006 states that the claims of weight loss benefits from cordyceps have no supporting evidence.

Dosage

• You can buy cordyceps supplements from various retail and health food stores. The percentage of cordyceps in each prepared supplement varies by manufacturer. Some products contain a little as 53mg per capsule to as much as 525mg. The University of Iowa recommends a daily dosage of 2 to 4g. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not set a recommended daily dosage for this nutritional supplement.

Warning

• As of September 2009, U.S. law does not require that nutritional supplement makers prove to the FDA that their products are safe or effective. Consult your health care provider about possible drug interactions and side effects before using this supplement. Some users have reported minor side effects including low blood sugar and skin rashes.