Improvement after a supplement is not the same as a comparative result
Start with the comparison. A before-and-after change alone cannot isolate the contribution of an ingredient.
Rhodiola
Selected research topic
Stress and mood
The confirmed comparison studies tested several ingredients together. They cannot isolate the effect of this ingredient.
Some findings concern patients or people with a deficiency.
- Publications for this topic
- 8
- Human comparison publications
- 1
- Publications needing review
- 5
Findings in the studies
Outcome needs clarification
Publications linked to this measurement: 1
About this measure
Original outcome name: SDS
- Results were mixed for this outcome.
Several ingredients were tested together, so this ingredient’s individual effect is unknown.
Patient group · Combination study · 3 monthsMeasurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trial: subjects were randomly assigned to groups for comparison.
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Ingredient combination
- How results were compared
- Results were compared between groups. · Study comparison: overall three-arm comparison null, while reported pairwise/post-treatment directions conflict
- Measurement time
- 3 months
Anxiety symptom score
Publications linked to this measurement: 1
About this measure
mean HARS scores
Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
- A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.Patient group · Single ingredient · 10 weeks
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Clinical trial
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Changes within the same group were compared. · Study comparison: Within-person HARS change after Rhodiola treatment
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- 10 weeks
stress symptoms
Publications linked to this measurement: 1
Other human research, including observational studies and reviews
- A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.Patient group · Single ingredient · 3 days, 1 week, and 4 weeks
Measurement and study conditions
- Study type
- Clinical trial
- Study population
- Human participants · Patient group
- Ingredients tested
- Single ingredient
- How results were compared
- Changes within the same group were compared. · Study comparison: within-group questionnaire changes; nonrandomized open-label single-arm with no concurrent control
- Additional measurement information
- Secondary outcome
- Measurement time
- 3 days, 1 week, and 4 weeks
This result is held for interpretation. That does not mean research found no effect.
Outcome groups needing additional review (2)
- Depression symptom score · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Evidence criteria check: 1
- situational anxiety · Distinct papers needing additional review: 1Direction unclear: 1
One paper can appear under multiple measured outcomes or review reasons, so these counts should not be added together.
Representative outcome and study details
Human studies reported a within-group change in mean HARS scores.
Single-ingredient studies · Human studies · Includes patient groups · within-group comparison
1 publications linked to this result
- Route, form, dose, or population details are incomplete, so the findings cannot be confirmed as directly comparable.
Data coverage and detailed study classifications
Paper counts are separated by research topic below. One paper may contribute to multiple findings.
Analysis status: Public-ready
Ingredient analysis date:
How the grade was determined: B
The 60.9 evidence score includes 8 independent human studies and 8 clinical studies in the representative benefit area. The B tier remains conservative because of limited repetition across independent human clinical studies.
The grade is based mainly on the research area with the most evidence. It does not mean the same result was found in other areas.
Papers linked to this ingredient overall: 92
Papers linked to this topic 8 · distinct papers 8 · papers with a confirmed human comparison 1 · papers needing additional review 5
A publication may appear in more than one count. These numbers should not be added. Ingredient-wide papers, topic-linked papers, and sources in outcome groups use different scopes. Adding source counts may count the same paper more than once.
- Depression symptom score (HAM-D): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- Anxiety symptom score (mean HARS scores): Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- SDS: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 1
- situational anxiety: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
- stress symptoms: Sources represented in this measurement group: 1 · Distinct papers with human comparisons for this outcome: 0
What the research found
SDS
Results for this measurement were mixed; no consistent conclusion can be drawn.
Controlled study in people · Ingredient combination · Patient group
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
mean HARS scores
A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Patient group
Within-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
stress symptoms
A change was reported before and after use. Its cause cannot be isolated.
Other evidence · Single ingredient · Patient group
Within-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
HAM-D
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
situational anxiety
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Other evidence · Ingredient combination · General population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Review · Ingredient combination · Unspecified population
Several ingredients were used together. This does not establish the effect of this ingredient alone or synergy.
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Review overlap with primary papers is unknown; counts stay separate.
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Patient group
Between-group comparison
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
Unspecified measured outcome
The study needs further checking before its result can be interpreted.
Controlled study in people · Single ingredient · Unspecified population
The comparison could not be confirmed.
Analysis coverage and paper counts
1 paper · 1 measured outcome
1 papers held from direction counts
Direction counts are distinct papers within each row. Outcome contributions count endpoint results, so one paper may contribute more than once.
How to read research findings
How should I read research findings?
Research guidesNo clear difference and an uninterpretable result are different
A reported null comparison contains a result. An abstract without an interpretable comparison leaves a question unresolved.
Paper counts and study counts are different
Count original research separately from research that reanalyzes it. Publication volume is neither replication nor a quality rating.
Side effects and combination findings
Findings from this ingredient alone are shown separately from those involving another supplement or medication.
No reviewed caution rules are available yet. Reported caution findings are shown below.
Review 1 combination findings and 0 findings that outperformed an ingredient alone.
Findings to review with care
Side effects reported for the ingredient alone are separated from findings involving another supplement or medication.
Cautions reported with another supplement or medication
These studies reported worsening outcomes, reduced absorption, or other cautions with combined use. They do not predict an individual's outcome.
SSRIsPotential risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with SSRIs.
Tricyclic antidepressantsPotential risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with tricyclic antidepressants.
Reported improvements with combinations
Combination findings are grouped by how the study compared them. This is not a recommendation to combine ingredients.
Combinations with reported improvement
The combination showed improvement, but each ingredient's contribution is unclear.
CaffeineA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 48 male volleyball players found that combined Rhodiola rosea and caffeine supplementation significantly improved jump height, reduced power decline during high-frequency jumps, and lowered perceived exertion compared to placebo and single-agent groups.