Cordyceps and sports: what does the research say?
Short answer: Only a handful of small studies have been done on cordyceps and sports, with mixed results. Two studies found differences in a few measurements, while two others found nothing at all. An effect on athletic performance has therefore not been demonstrated, and no health claims for cordyceps itself have been approved in the EU.
Each study also used its own specific cordyceps preparation. So the findings don't necessarily apply to every cordyceps product, including ours. Read more about what cordyceps is in our article on cordyceps.
Last updated: November 6, 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin
You often read online that cordyceps is "the mushroom for athletes." Here, I prefer to lay out what has actually been studied in people, including studies that found nothing. We don't make performance promises, as we're not allowed to.
Why is cordyceps linked to sports?
Cordyceps is linked to sports through a few small studies that measured exercise-related values, and its long history of use in traditional Chinese and Tibetan ways of life. But the picture online is much bigger than the research. There are very few human studies, and they are small and short.
The same measurements come up repeatedly in these studies:
- VO2max (or VO2peak): the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use per minute during exercise.
- Ventilatory threshold: the level of exertion at which your breathing clearly speeds up.
- Metabolic threshold: the level above which lactic acid starts to build up in your blood.
- Time trial and time to exhaustion: how quickly someone completes a set amount of work, or how long they can sustain increasing exertion.
What studies have been done on cordyceps and athletic performance?
The four studies cited most often all had a placebo group and were all small: 17 to 28 participants, over 1 to 12 weeks. Two found no difference from placebo at all, while two found differences in a few measurements.
| Study | Participants | What and for how long | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parcell et al., 2004 | 22 trained male cyclists | 3 grams per day of a commercial cordyceps preparation or placebo, 5 weeks | No difference from placebo in VO2peak, ventilatory threshold, and time trial |
| Earnest et al., 2004 | 17 amateur cyclists | Herbal formula with cordyceps, rhodiola, and other ingredients, or placebo, for 14 days | No difference from placebo in VO2peak, time to exhaustion, or power |
| Chen et al., 2010 | 20 healthy adults aged 50 to 75 | 3 × 333 mg of a specific cordyceps extract per day or placebo, for 12 weeks | In the cordyceps group, the metabolic threshold increased by 10.5% and the ventilatory threshold by 8.5%. VO2max did not change in either group. The authors describe it as a pilot study. |
| Hirsch et al., 2017 | 28 young adults, 10 of whom continued for three weeks | 4 grams per day of a mushroom blend with cordyceps or placebo, for 1 week (3 weeks for 10 participants) | After 1 week, there were no significant differences between the groups. After 3 weeks, among the 10 participants, VO2max had increased in the blend group but not in the placebo group. |
Each study tested a different product in a different group of people. The two studies involving cyclists, the only ones with genuinely trained athletes, found no effects. The blend used in Hirsch’s study also contained a cordyceps species that is not permitted in supplements in the EU.
What do review studies say about cordyceps and sports?
Review studies have not reached a clear conclusion. A 2025 meta-analysis of mushroom supplements in athletes (14 studies, 528 athletes) pooled a few studies on cordyceps. It found differences favoring cordyceps in some exercise measures, and in endurance based on two studies, just reaching the threshold for statistical significance. The authors themselves note that 13 of the 14 studies reported a favorable outcome, which may mean the actual effect is overestimated (Shu et al., 2025).
A 2026 review examined five studies of a single cordyceps species, involving 321 participants aged 16 to 35 who took 1 to 12 grams per day for 1 to 16 weeks. Some studies reported improvements in a few measures, but the authors said the findings were inconsistent. They describe the evidence as limited in certainty, partly due to small groups, different preparations, and blends with other ingredients (Jędrejko et al., 2026). That species is also not permitted in supplements in the EU.
Can you conclude from this that cordyceps improves athletic performance?
No. The studies are too small, too short, and too different to draw any conclusions. With 17 to 28 participants, it's difficult to rule out chance differences.
- Small studies: none of the four studies had more than 28 participants.
- Short duration: 1 to 12 weeks. Nothing is known about longer-term use among athletes.
- Different products: a commercial preparation, an herbal formula, a specific extract, and a mushroom blend. The results for one product cannot be applied to another.
- Mixed results: some measurements changed, others did not. In Chen's study, VO2max did not change at all.
That also applies to our own product. The studies above looked at other, specific preparations, so their findings say nothing about our cordyceps. I think this is the honest answer: interesting to follow, but the evidence is too weak to make any promises.
When should you take cordyceps around exercise?
There is no research identifying the best time to take it around exercise. Our packaging says to preferably take cordyceps during or immediately after a meal. So the easiest way is to take it with a regular meal, regardless of your training.
- Do you train in the morning? Take it with breakfast, mixed into your coffee, tea, or smoothie as a powder, or as a capsule with water.
- Do you train later in the day? Take it with lunch or dinner.
Stick to the daily dose on the packaging, including on training days. Taking more before a competition has not been studied and is not recommended.
| Product | Directions for use on the packaging |
|---|---|
| Organic Cordyceps Powder | 1 to 3 scoops (1 to 3 grams), once a day |
| Organic Cordyceps Capsules 500 mg | 1 to 2 capsules, 1 to 2 times a day |
| Cordyceps Extract Capsules 400 mg | 2 capsules, once a day |
The amounts in the studies above apply only to those specific products and are therefore not dosage recommendations. Not sure which form is right for you? Read about cordyceps powder, capsules, or extract.
Are you taking medication, such as blood thinners or blood sugar-lowering medication, are you pregnant, or are you breastfeeding? Please consult your doctor or pharmacist first. This is also stated on our packaging.
Can you combine cordyceps with coffee before exercising?
You can, although the combination of cordyceps and caffeine has not been studied. Many people simply stir the powder into their coffee. If you do, pay particular attention to the caffeine. According to EFSA, single doses of up to 200 mg of caffeine do not raise safety concerns for healthy adults, even when taken less than 2 hours before intense exercise. The daily limit is up to 400 mg, or up to 200 mg per day during pregnancy (EFSA, 2015).
Do you train in the evening? According to EFSA, as little as 100 mg of caffeine can affect sleep in some adults, especially shortly before bedtime. In that case, it’s better to take cordyceps without coffee, for example, as a capsule with dinner. Find recipes for mushroom coffee in how to make mushroom coffee.
Is cordyceps on the doping list, and is it safe for elite athletes?
Cordyceps is not specifically named on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List for 2026. However, the list is worded broadly: in various categories, it also covers substances with a similar chemical structure or similar biological effect to those named (WADA, 2026). So the fact that something is not on the list does not tell the whole story.
The greater risk for elite athletes is product contamination. According to the Anti-Doping Authority, various studies have shown that dietary supplements can contain doping substances not listed on the label. The athlete always remains responsible. That is why the Anti-Doping Authority advises elite athletes to use only supplements whose batch has been tested through the NZVT (Dutch Quality Assurance System for Elite Sports Nutrition) (Anti-Doping Authority).
Do you compete at a level where you may be tested? Check the NZVT list and consult your support team before using a supplement.
Which cordyceps products does GOYU offer?
At GOYU, we offer cordyceps as Organic Cordyceps Powder (60 g), as Organic Cordyceps Capsules 500 mg, and as Cordyceps Extract Capsules 400 mg (20:1 extract, 30% polysaccharides). The ingredient list for all three includes Cordyceps sinensis, with no fillers. The powder and capsules are organic.
We sell cordyceps as a dietary supplement, without making promises about your sports performance. We have a certificate of analysis (CoA) for every batch, which you can request at support@getgoyu.com. How to read such a report is explained in how to read a CoA.
Summary in 3 points
- A handful of small, short-term studies have been conducted on cordyceps and sports, with mixed results. An effect on sports performance has not been demonstrated.
- The studies tested specific preparations, so the results do not automatically apply to every cordyceps product, including ours.
- Take cordyceps with a meal as directed on the packaging, watch your caffeine intake when drinking coffee, and choose NZVT-tested products if you are an elite athlete.
Frequently asked questions
Does cordyceps work for sports?
This has not been demonstrated. There are a few small studies with mixed results, and no health claim for cordyceps itself has been approved in the EU.
Should I take cordyceps before or after exercise?
This has not been studied. Our packaging says: preferably during or directly after a meal. So just choose the meal that best fits your day.
How much cordyceps should athletes take?
The daily dose stated on the packaging, just as on other days. The amounts used in studies apply only to those specific products.
Can I take cordyceps with coffee?
You can, although the combination has not been studied. Keep an eye on your total caffeine intake: according to EFSA, single doses of up to 200 mg and up to 400 mg per day raise no safety concerns in healthy adults.
Is cordyceps on the doping list?
Not listed by name on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List. Supplements can still be contaminated, so elite athletes are best off choosing products whose batches have been tested through the NZVT.
Sources
- Parcell AC, Smith JM, Schulthies SS, Myrer JW, Fellingham G (2004). International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 14(2), 236-242. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.14.2.236
- Earnest CP, Morss GM, Wyatt F, Jordan AN, Colson S, Church TS, Fitzgerald Y, Autrey L, Jurca R, Lucia A (2004). Effects of a commercial herbal-based formula on exercise performance in cyclists. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(3), 504-509. doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000125157.49280.af
- Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, Abrazado M, Kim W, Cooper CB (2010). Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(5), 585-590. doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0226
- Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG (2017). Journal of Dietary Supplements, 14(1), 42-53. doi:10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386
- Shu MY, Zhang XC, Zuo L, Jiang FL, Liang J, Li F (2025). Effects of fungal supplementation on endurance, immune function, and hematological profiles in adult athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12, 1670416. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1670416
- Jędrejko M, Jędrejko K, Granda D, Kała K, Pokrywka A, Muszyńska B (2026). Nutrients, 18(5), 781. doi:10.3390/nu18050781
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) (2015). Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine. EFSA Journal, 13(5), 4102. efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4102
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The 2026 Prohibited List. Published in Treaty Series 2026, no. 25. officielebekendmakingen.nl
- Dutch Anti-Doping Authority. NZVT: Dutch Security System for Dietary Supplements in Elite Sports. Accessed November 4, 2026. dopingautoriteit.nl
- Product pages and usage instructions for Cordyceps Powder, Cordyceps Capsules, and Cordyceps Extract Capsules by GOYU, accessed November 4, 2026.
You can find all forms of our cordyceps on the buy cordyceps page.
This article is for informational purposes and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If in doubt, or if you are pregnant or taking medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Cordyceps by GOYU
Available as powder, capsules (without fillers), and extract capsules (20:1).
