Cordyceps: Does a named preparation improve exercise performance?

Why It Matters #

“Cordyceps” is not one uniform intervention. Ophiocordyceps sinensis, historically called Cordyceps sinensis, differs from Cordyceps militaris. Cultured mycelium, fruiting-body material, extracts and blends can differ in composition. Species, manufacturing method and standardization belong beside the dose when comparing results.

What Was Studied #

Human work includes a 12-week Cs-4 pilot in older adults, short exercise trials of a multi-mushroom blend and an acute standardized C. militaris study in young men. Metabolic studies sometimes combine Cordyceps with another mushroom, making attribution difficult.[1][2][3][7]

What Was Found #

The older-adult pilot reported increases in exercise thresholds within the Cs-4 group, but no change in maximal oxygen uptake. A 4 g/day blend study found no clear one-week advantage; an optional three-week extension with only ten participants produced an exploratory oxygen-uptake signal.[1][2]

In a 2026 crossover trial, 1 g of C. militaris was associated with faster reaction time after exercise. However, the overall condition-by-time interaction was not significant, and peak oxygen uptake did not improve. Higher resting oxygen consumption is not itself evidence of greater energy efficiency.[3]

What the Evidence Means #

A change in a threshold, reaction-time task or resting oxygen use is not equivalent to sustained endurance or reduced everyday fatigue. Small samples, multiple outcomes and nonidentical preparations make replication especially important. Human results do not justify assigning the effects of every “Cordyceps” product to one species or compound.

What We Can Learn #

Ask for the exact preparation first. A result from Cs-4 does not validate a C. militaris fruiting-body extract; a blend cannot reveal which ingredient contributed. Compare between-group effects rather than treating a significant change in only the active group as proof that the groups differed.

What Remains Unknown #

The field needs independently replicated trials of defined single preparations, with prespecified functional outcomes and longer safety observation. Current small trials cannot reliably characterize uncommon adverse effects or establish sustained benefit in older people outside the study populations.

Primary Sources and updates

1. Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, Abrazado M, Kim W, Cooper CB. (2010). Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) DOI: 10.1089/acm.2009.0226Methods, participant flow, statistical comparisons and disclosures checked in the original full text on 2026-10-24.
2. Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. (2017). Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. Journal of dietary supplements DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386Original full text and bibliographic record reviewed.
3. Farzan H, Koushkie Jahromi M. (2026). Acute Cordyceps militaris supplementation and elevated resting oxygen uptake with faster reaction times: A randomized crossover trial. PloS one DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351725Original full text and bibliographic record reviewed.
4. Jędrejko M, Jędrejko K, Granda D, Kała K, Pokrywka A, Muszyńska B. (2026). Current Evidence of Ergogenic and Post-Exercise Recovery Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Cordyceps militaris in Humans-A Narrative Review. Nutrients DOI: 10.3390/nu18050781Bibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.
5. Ontawong A, Pengnet S, Thim-Uam A, Munkong N, Narkprasom N, Narkprasom K, Kuntakhut K, Kamkeaw N, Amornlerdpison D. (2024). A randomized controlled clinical trial examining the effects of Cordyceps militaris beverage on the immune response in healthy adults. Scientific reports DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58742-zBibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.
6. Jung SJ, Jung ES, Choi EK, Sin HS, Ha KC, Chae SW. (2019). Immunomodulatory effects of a mycelium extract of Cordyceps (Paecilomyces hepiali; CBG-CS-2): a randomized and double-blind clinical trial. BMC complementary and alternative medicine DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2483-yBibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.
7. Klupp NL, Kiat H, Bensoussan A, Steiner GZ, Chang DH. (2016). A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Scientific reports DOI: 10.1038/srep29540Bibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.
8. Zhao S, Wang Z, Fan X, Shu X, Chen Q, Zhou Y, Fu Y, Yu Z, Grzegorzek M, Huang X, Zheng C, Gan Y, Wen C. (2025). Effectiveness of fermentation broth of Cordyceps sinensis for primary insomnia: a randomized clinical trial with digital health tool. Frontiers in neurology DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1555010Bibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.
9. Liao YH, Chao YC, Sim BY, Lin HM, Chen MT, Chen CY. (2019). Rhodiola/Cordyceps-Based Herbal Supplement Promotes Endurance Training-Improved Body Composition But Not Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Biomarkers: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Study. Nutrients DOI: 10.3390/nu11102357Bibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.
10. Shu MY, Zhang XC, Zuo L, Jiang FL, Liang J, Li F. (2025). Effects of fungal supplementation on endurance, immune function, and hematological profiles in adult athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in nutrition DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1670416Bibliographic record; not a detailed study appraisal.

First published: 2026-09-27 / Version 1.0. Sources reviewed 2026-09-27. Funding and conflicts are recorded separately; an unverified disclosure is not a declaration of no funding or no conflict.