Efficacy and Tolerability of a Rhodiola rosea

This study, lasting 12 weeks, aimed to test the effectiveness and safety of a Rhodiola rosea extract combined with vitamins and minerals (known as vigodana(R)). The study involved 120 adults (83 women and 37 men aged between 50 and 89) who were experiencing physical and cognitive deficits.

Participants were divided into two groups, each following a different dosage schedule. Group 1, made up of 60 people, took two capsules in the morning after breakfast. Group 2, also containing 60 participants, took one capsule after breakfast and one after lunch.

The study included three medical checks: one at the start, one after six weeks, and the final one after 12 weeks. The symptoms they looked at were physical issues such as fatigue, reduced motivation, daytime sleepiness, low sex drive, sleep disturbances, and cognitive complaints like problems with concentration, forgetfulness, memory loss, stress sensitivity, and irritability.

The results showed a very significant improvement (P<.001) in both physical and cognitive deficits for the total group, as well as for the two groups evaluated separately. Moreover, the time taken to complete a digit-symbol substitution test significantly decreased in all groups (P<.001). However, the improvements in Group 1 were more pronounced than in Group 2, suggesting that taking two capsules after breakfast is more effective than taking one after breakfast and one after lunch.

In the overall effectiveness rating, 81% of the patients were reported by doctors and 80% by the patients themselves as finding the treatment “very good” or “good”. Furthermore, 99% of patients and doctors rated the safety of the treatment as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. During the study, no side effects were reported.

The results of this drug monitoring study are promising, but they still need to be confirmed by future placebo-controlled clinical trials.

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