Cordyceps · Cordyceps militaris/sinensis
Fungal adaptogen with modest performance data.
Short answer
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris/sinensis) is a adaptogen / performance with evidence grade D, meaning it is primarily supported by animal studies. We track 0 produkter containing Cordyceps. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per månad.
What it is
A mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for energy and stamina.
Why people take it
Small trials show mild improvements in VO2max and exercise performance in older adults.
Our verdict
Reasonable performance stack; effect sizes modest.
Structure & class
Cordycepin standardised.
Mechanism & clinical data
Chen 2010 showed modest VO2max improvement.
Pharmacokinetics
Unknown.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
Wild cordyceps sinensis extraordinarily expensive; supplements use cultivated C. militaris.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regelverk status
Timeline
Regelverk events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Cordyceps, most recent first. Every entry links to its primär source.
-
EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in april 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
-
EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
-
EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
-
EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 maj 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Cordyceps militaris improved VO2max after 3 weeks but not after 1 week in a small 2015 trial, showing the exercise benefit needs sustained dosing, not the instant boost implied by marketing.
Verified 2026-06-25. We update this section as new peer-reviewed trials land.
Best-supported claim
Cordyceps' clearest human benefit is improved aerobic capacity with sustained, not acute, dosing. Hirsch et al.'s 2015 randomized, dubbelblind, placebokontrollerad crossover trial in 30 healthy recreationally active adults found a Cordyceps militaris-based supplement significantly improved VO2max after 3 weeks of daily use, while a single week of use produced no significant change (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27134515/). A separate trial in older healthy adults found 12 weeks of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4, marketed as CordyMax) supplementation improved exercise performance markers versus placebo, reinforcing that benefits appear with weeks of consistent use rather than immediately (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37518188/).
Not supported by the evidence base
Cordyceps is marketed as an instant energy and stamina booster, but the human trial data show no effect after just 1 week, directly contradicting quick-fix framing (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27134515/). Marketers also lean on cordyceps' traditional use and cell and animal studies to imply strong anti-cancer or immune-boosting effects in humans, but a 2023 review of cordycepin's bioactive properties notes the antitumor and immune evidence remains largely preclinical, based on cell-culture and rodent models rather than confirmed clinical outcomes in patients (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37518188/). An earlier controlled trial specifically testing Cordyceps sinensis (CordyMax Cs-4) for endurance performance found it did not improve exercise performance versus placebo, undercutting broad stamina claims.
Typical dose
1-3 g/day of Cordyceps militaris or Cordyceps sinensis extract, taken for at least 3 weeks before effects appear
Säkerhet
Cordyceps has shown no significant adverse events in RCTs at doses used for VO2max and exercise performance trials over 3 to 12 weeks (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27134515/). It is generally well tolerated, though mild gastrointestinal upset such as dry mouth, nausea, and diarrhea has been reported, along with rare allergic reactions to the CS-4 strain. Personer with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis are generally advised to avoid cordyceps given its immune-modulating properties. Reports of lead contamination in some commercial cordyceps produkter have been documented, so sourcing from tested suppliers matters. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals lack sufficient safety data.
Interactions worth flagging
- Theoretical additive effect with immunosuppressant drugs given cordyceps' immune-modulating activity in preclinical studies
- maj affect blood glucose levels, requiring caution when combined with anti-diabetic medications
- Theoretical additive bleeding risk with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications
Three recent studies to know
-
Bioactive compounds from Cordyceps and their therapeutic potential
Review of cordycepin and other bioactive compounds from Cordyceps finds strong preclinical antitumor and immune activity, but notes human clinical confirmation remains limited to small trials.
Läs studie → -
A randomized controlled clinical trial examining the effects of Cordyceps militaris beverage on the immune response in healthy adults
A randomiserad kontrollerad studie found a Cordyceps militaris beverage produced measurable changes in immune response markers in healthy adults versus control.
Läs studie → -
The Genus Cordyceps Sensu Lato: Their Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Properties
Comprehensive 2025 review of Cordyceps species chemistry and pharmacology reaffirms that most antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic findings come from preclinical models rather than large human trials.
Läs studie →
Landmark studies
Found in these produkter
Alla produkter in our catalog that contain Cordyceps, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No produkter in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
Se alla in Adaptogen / Performance →Molekyler in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Cordyceps in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cordyceps?
A mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for energy and stamina.
What dose of Cordyceps should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 1000 mg per dag, with a range of 500 to 3000 mg per dag. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Cordyceps safe?
Wild cordyceps sinensis extraordinarily expensive; supplements use cultivated C. militaris.
What is the best Cordyceps supplement?
We track 0 produkter containing Cordyceps. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Cordyceps?
Cordyceps has evidence grade D, meaning it is primarily supported by animal studies. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Bevisning grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new produkter are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.