A
Chinese mushroom improves the fitness of middle-aged and elderly
people, research suggests.
Tests
showed people aged between 40 and 70 who lived a sedentary
lifestyle became fitter after taking an extract of the Cordyceps
mushroom.
The research presented to the American Physiological Society
indicated an improvement in the ability to exercise and a
reduction in tiredness.
However, UK experts said scientific proof for the remedy was
lacking.
The mushroom became a Chinese remedy around 1,500 years ago
after herdsmen in the Himalayas noticed a significant increase
in their herds' strength and agility after eating it.
In clinical practice, people taking it feel better, but scientifically
how much, we don't know
Dr Jidong Wu It is now marketed in the West.
The performance of Chinese women athletes in setting several
new records at a tournament in 1993 was due to high-altitude
training and using a tonic derived from the mushroom, their
coach said.
Researchers at Pharmanex in California, which produces a remedy
called CordyMax, tried it out on 131 volunteers.
Some were given the remedy and some a placebo over a 12-week
period.
Researchers measured exercise capacity, endurance performance
and metabolic alterations before, during and after receiving
the remedy or placebo.
Oxygen
Volume of oxygen consumption went up 5.5% in the group given
the remedy, but only 2.2% in the others, suggesting an increase
in aerobic capacity.
The time taken to complete a one-mile walk was reduced by
29 seconds in the CordyMax group but increased slightly in
the others.
And diastolic blood pressure fell by 3.2% among people taking
the remedy.
The researchers said: "This study provides scientific evidence
that CordyMax is effective in enhancing aerobic exercise capability,
endurance exercise performance, and exercise metabolism and
alleviating fatigue in healthy humans."
Dr Jidong Wu, a lecturer at Middlesex University and president
of the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said there
had not been scientific trials to establish the effectiveness
of the mushroom.
He said: "There are not many clinical trials which are accredited
by Westerners, but according to the ancient Chinese literature
it is a tonic herb.
"In clinical practice, people taking it feel better, but scientifically
how much, we don't know."
The mushroom was thought to improve the performance of the
lungs and kidneys, he said.
A
Chinese mushroom improves the fitness of middle-aged and elderly
people, research suggests.
