Effects of a Commercial Supplement of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum on Physiological Responses to Maximal Exercise in Healthy Young Participants.

Cordyceps sinensis (=Ophiocordyceps sinensis) and Ganoderma lucidum are 2 medicinal mushrooms that have been suggested to have the potential to enhance exercise capacity. We used a commercial supplement combining a traditional Chinese medicine and G. lucidum and tested its effects on human physical, aerobic, and anaerobic capacities. Physical education students (n = 96; 43 women, 53 men; mean ± standard deviation age, 26.3 ± 3.21 years) were randomly divided into 3 groups: low-dose treatment, high-dose treatment, and placebo. Participants received the supplement or the placebo for 28-33 days. Both before and after the intervention, the participants performed a graded maximum oxygen consumption (Vo2max) test on a treadmill and a Wingate anaerobic cycle test (on a different day). The following parameters were measured and recorded during the maximal graded treadmill test: heart rate, oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, and ventilation. The following parameters were calculated from the Wingate anaerobic cycle test: maximal anaerobic power, mean anaerobic power, and fatigue index. The supplements did not affect Vo2max or the physiological responses upon maximal exercise during the graded treadmill test. In a similar way, they had no effect on peak or mean power, or fatigue index, as measured by the Wingate anaerobic test. A borderline interaction indicated a somewhat lower heart rate at rest after treatment; however, post hoc analysis did not reveal any further statistically significant differences (P = 0.047; F = 3.169). The findings indicate that dual supplementation with C. sinensis and G. lucidum had no effect on Vo2max, on physiological responses at peak exercise load during a graded maximal treadmill test, or on the parameters of anaerobic capacity.

The Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ-2) - Translation and Reliability of a Hebrew Version.

INTRODUCTION: The Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire 2 (VMIQ-2) assesses individuals' ability to imagine themselves performing 12 simple motor tasks, from three perspectives: internal visual imagery, external visual imagery and kinesthetic imagery. The purpose of the current study was twofold: (a) to describe the translation process of the VMIQ-2 into a Hebrew version, and (b) to test the reliability of the Hebrew version. METHOD: Eighty-eight physical education students completed the questionnaire twice (test, re-test), with two weeks in-between the tests. RESULTS: Correlational analyses on the scores of the questionnaires given in the two phases - test and re-test - yielded two main findings: (a) there were no differences in mean scores of the questionnaires administered in the test phase and re-test phase; (b) significant moderate correlations between the questionnaires' score in the test and re-test phases were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The Hebrew version of the VMIQ-2 was found to be reliable. A number of implications are discussed concerning the use of the questionnaire in the fields of psychiatry and psychology. Address.

Clinical Effects of a Commercial Supplement of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum on Cognitive Function of Healthy Young Volunteers.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (= Cordyceps sinensis) and Ganoderma lucidum are medicinal mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine. The effects of O. sinensis and G. lucidum on cognitive function have been evaluated through the use of animal models and in vitro studies, which indicated beneficial effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with a commercially available supplement of O. sinensis and G. lucidum on cognitive function in young, healthy human participants. Physical education students (n = 96 [53 men, 43 women]; mean ± standard deviation age, 26.3 ± 3.21 years) were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups: highdose supplement (HD) group, low-dose supplement (LD) group, and a placebo (PL) group. Each group received the treatment, administered by a technician blinded to supplements/placebo, for 30 days. Participants were evaluated for various cognitive functions before and immediately after treatment. Evaluation of cognitive function domains-global cognitive score, memory, executive function, attention, information processing speed, visuospatial ability, verbal function, and motor skills-showed no significant differences between groups. These results indicate that a combination of O. sinensis and G. lucidum supplements for 30 days did not enhance cognitive function domains in young healthy participants.