Abstract
Objective:
CordyMax™ Cs-4 (Cs-4) is a standardized mycelial fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis, a fungus that has been used for various pharmacologic, metabolic, and ergogenic purposes. The goal of this investigation was to determine the effects of oral Cs-4 administration on whole-body insulin sensitivity, skeletal muscle glucose transport, and endurance performance.
Design:
We studied different indices of carbohydrate metabolism in rats that received Cs-4 orally at a dose of 2 g/kg of body weight daily for 30 days.
Results:
C-peptide response observed during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after 10 days of treatment was significantly decreased in the Cs-4-treated group (Cs-4, 52,802 ± 4,124 vs. control, 70,696 ± 6309 pM × 120 min; p < 0.05). The integrated insulin area under the curve (53.3 ± 4.9 ng/mL × 120 minutes) and the glucose-insulin index (6.6 ± 0.6 units) obtained from the OGTT were significantly decreased(p < 0.01) in the Cs-4-treated group compared to their vehicle-treated counterparts (82.1 ± 8.1 ng/mL × 120 minutes; 9.9 ± 0.7 units) after 20 days of treatment. Neither integrated glucose area under the curve observed during either OGTT, basal- or insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose transport nor skeletal muscle GLUT-4 concentrations were affected by Cs-4 treatment. In addition, swim time to exhaustion did not differ between groups in this animal model.
Conclusion:
We conclude that CordyMax Cs-4 may have potential beneficial effects by maintaining whole-body glucose disposal with a less pronounced increase in insulin secretion after a carbohydrate challenge, however, its effects on endurance performance remain questionable.
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