Caffeine vs Rhodiola for energy
Short answer: For energy, more users report improvement with Rhodiola — 86% of 199 reports, versus 78% of 540 for Caffeine.
Caffeine has 680 meta-analyses and 2,072 randomized trials on PubMed; Rhodiola has 18 and 45.
Based on 1,607 reports about Caffeine and 853 about Rhodiola. Not medical advice.
| Caffeine Substance | Rhodiola Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 49 | 52 |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mostly positive |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 42% | 62% |
| Reports | 1,607 | 853 |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 680 / 2,072 | 18 / 45 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | 90% (10) | — |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | 67% (6) | — |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 79% (368) | 85% (71) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 78% (540) | 86% (199) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 14% (112) | 38% (13) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 16% (210) | 74% (117) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 73% (110) | 83% (126) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 53% (19) | 75% (4) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 91% (35) | 100% (21) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 40% (5) | — |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 29% (7) | — |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 0% (2) | 80% (5) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 25% (4) | 100% (4) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 8% (12) | 40% (5) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | — | 50% (2) |
| Common side effects | jitteriness, anxiety, insomnia, headache | anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, jitteriness |
| Typical dose reported | 100-150 mg / daily | evenings |
To avoid reductions in total sleep time, coffee (107 mg per 250 mL) should be consumed at least 8.8 h prior to bedtime and a standard serve of pre-workout supplement (217.5 mg) should be consumed at least 13.2 h prior to bedtime. The results of the present study provide evidence-based guidance for the appropriate consumption of caffeine to mitigate the deleterious effects on sleep.
Sleep Med Rev, 2023 ↗“Personally, I feel and function much better if I keep my caffeine intake very low to zero.”
The data from the meta-analysis showed that plant adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.
Nutrients, 2021 ↗“This one not only reduces my social anxiety but actually puts me in a good mood and makes me feel more social.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate