Cordyceps for Energy and Exercise: What Trials Found
What small human trials of cordyceps found for exercise capacity and "energy", which species and product each tested, why results differ, and what is not known.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Short answer. The human trials we read are small and short, they tested different products, and their results point in different directions. A 2026 review of five trials of Cordyceps militaris called the findings inconsistent and the certainty of the evidence limited. [1] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) likewise says studies of exercise performance in healthy people gave mixed results. [2] This page describes research. It is not advice, and a clinician or pharmacist decides what is right for a person.
Safety note. MSK advises talking with a healthcare provider before taking cordyceps if you use insulin or another blood sugar medicine, or a blood thinner such as warfarin. [2] Tell your surgical or dental team about any cordyceps product. For the full list of cautions see cordyceps side effects and medicine cautions and how interactions work.
Which "cordyceps" was tested?
The word covers more than one fungus. Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr. and Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H.Sung et al. are different accepted species. [3][4] Many older papers and products say Cordyceps sinensis, which GBIF lists as a synonym of O. sinensis. [5] Products sold under that older name are not necessarily made from the wild fungus, and a result for one product does not transfer to another. For the background see cordyceps overview and the species question.Traditional use (not proof)
Traditional use only. MSK says the wild fungus is used in traditional Chinese medicine for a wide range of conditions including fatigue. [2] That describes a tradition. It does not show that a modern supplement works, and it says nothing about any particular product.What trials found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Product, people, length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older adults, exercise thresholds | The metabolic threshold rose 10.5% with the product versus no significant change with placebo; maximal oxygen uptake did not change in either group. [6] | Promising but limited (pilot) | "Cs-4" labeled C. sinensis, 333 mg three times a day, 20 healthy people aged 50 to 75, 12 weeks |
| Trained cyclists, endurance | No change in peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold or time-trial result. [7] | No benefit shown in this trial | "CordyMax Cs-4" tablets, 3 g a day, 22 male cyclists, 5 weeks |
| Young adults, high-intensity cycling | After 1 week there was no significant difference. After 3 weeks the supplement group improved on some measures, but only 10 volunteers continued past week 1. [8] | Limited and hard to interpret | A mushroom blend containing C. militaris, 4 g a day, 28 people |
| One dose before a maximal test | Reaction time after exercise was faster with the extract. Resting oxygen uptake was higher, and peak oxygen uptake and heart rate did not differ. [9] | Preliminary (12 men, one dose) | Standardized C. militaris extract, 1 g, 12 recreationally active men |
| Pooled analysis in athletes | A meta-analysis of fungal supplements reported higher endurance, ventilatory threshold and peak oxygen uptake for products labeled Cordyceps sinensis. [10] | Mixed; the pooled trials were few and small | 8 studies (288 people) in the quantitative analysis, several fungi |
The 2026 review of C. militaris trials points out several reasons for caution: small samples, different exercise tests, unclear randomization, lack of trial registration, products without measured active compounds, and multi-ingredient formulas. [1] That is why a single positive result, such as the 12-week pilot, should not be read as settled.
"Energy" and fatigue
Proper evidence not found for cordyceps improving fatigue or energy in people who are unwell with fatigue. We searched PubMed on 2026-10-23 for cordyceps or Ophiocordyceps with fatigue and randomized or placebo, and the six results were not trials in people with a fatigue condition. Animal and cell findings, such as higher activity of immune cells in laboratory studies, are preclinical and do not show that a person will feel more energetic. [2]Form, amount and what to check
The trials above used capsules, tablets, a blend and an extract, with amounts from 1 g to 4 g a day as each trial reported. Those are study amounts, not recommendations. Labels often do not say which species, which part (fruiting body or mycelium) or which extraction method was used; see how to read a mushroom supplement label.Athletes and anti-doping
Anti-doping status of cordyceps products is not described in the sources we read. Athletes who are tested should read mushrooms for athletes and sports certification and banned-substance contamination, and ask their governing body.Frequently asked questions
Does cordyceps improve athletic performance?
Results are mixed. One pilot in older adults raised a threshold measure, a trial in trained cyclists found no effect, and a review of C. militaris trials called the findings inconsistent. [6][7][1]
Which species is in a cordyceps supplement?
It depends on the product. The wild fungus is Ophiocordyceps sinensis, and many cultivated products use Cordyceps militaris, so check the label for the species name. [4][3]
Can cordyceps affect medicines?
MSK advises talking with a healthcare provider if you take insulin or another blood sugar medicine or a blood thinner such as warfarin. [2] Ask a pharmacist before combining them.
Is cordyceps an adaptogen?
MSK notes that the wild fungus is used in traditional Chinese medicine as an adaptogen or immune stimulant, which is a traditional description. [2] See mushroom supplement claims checked for how such words are used.
Are there large trials?
The trials we read were small, with 12 to 28 people in single studies. [9][8] Larger, well-designed trials using chemically characterized products are called for by the review authors. [1]
References
- Jędrejko M et al. Current Evidence of Ergogenic and Post-Exercise Recovery Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Cordyceps militaris in Humans: A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cordyceps, About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products (last updated 2022-02-10). Read 2026-10-23.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), species match for Cordyceps militaris, usage key 7567077. GBIF species page. Read 2026-10-23 through the GBIF species-match service.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), species match for Ophiocordyceps sinensis, usage key 2560562. GBIF species page. Read 2026-10-23 through the GBIF species-match service.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), species match for Cordyceps sinensis (listed as a synonym of Ophiocordyceps sinensis, accepted key 2560562), usage key 2560564. GBIF species page. Read 2026-10-23 through the GBIF species-match service.
- Chen S et al. Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med 2010. Read 2026-10-23.
- Parcell AC et al. Cordyceps Sinensis (CordyMax Cs-4) supplementation does not improve endurance exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2004. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hirsch KR et al. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. J Diet Suppl 2017. Read 2026-10-23.
- Farzan H, Koushkie Jahromi M. Acute Cordyceps militaris supplementation and elevated resting oxygen uptake with faster reaction times: a randomized crossover trial. PLoS One 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Shu MY et al. Effects of fungal supplementation on endurance, immune function, and hematological profiles in adult athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Nutr 2025. Read 2026-10-23.