Astragalus Root Extract | Tailor Fit Ingredient Guide

What does Astragalus Root Extract do?

Astragalus Root Extract is classified as an adaptogen, helping the body manage physical and environmental stress, which is particularly beneficial for athletes undergoing intense training. For sports and fitness enthusiasts, it offers the following potential benefits:

Improved Aerobic Performance: Studies show it can increase VO2 max (a measure of aerobic fitness) and prolong exhaustion time, benefiting endurance athletes in sports like running, cycling, and basketball.
Reduced Fatigue: It helps reduce fatigue, particularly in high-altitude or intense training conditions, allowing athletes to train harder and longer.
Enhanced Post-Exercise Immune Function: Astragalus supports immune markers like NK cell activity, IL-2 levels, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, which can be suppressed after intense exercise. It also increases CD25 expression, potentially boosting immune response during heavy training.
Telomere Lengthening: Preliminary research suggests it may lengthen telomeres, supporting long-term cellular health and potentially aiding recovery and longevity in athletes.
Recovery Support: While not directly studied for muscle recovery, its adaptogenic properties may help the body adapt to physical stress, indirectly supporting recovery.

However, it does not appear to significantly improve strength, so it may be more beneficial for endurance and recovery-focused athletes rather than those focused on strength training. The benefits of Astragalus for athletes are supported by clinical studies and systematic reviews:

A systematic review published in Encyclopedia (2024) analyzed 11 clinical studies on Astragalus supplementation in sports training, involving sports like martial arts, mountain hiking, basketball, rowing, running, aerobic exercises, and strength training, with participant numbers ranging from 8 to 120. Key findings include:
- Aerobic Performance: VO2 max increased from 40.85 to 44.25 mL/kg/min after 15 days of 4 g daily supplementation in mountain hikers. Exhaustion time improved to 820 ± 31 s vs. 780 ± 28 s in basketball players taking Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (HJT) for 8 weeks.
- Fatigue Reduction: Reduced fatigue caused by altitude acclimatization (3700 m) with 2 g Astragalus extract twice daily for 15 days in mountain hikers. HJT also reduced fatigue, increasing time to exhaustion in basketball players.
- Immune Support: Improved post-exercise immune markers, including NK cell activity, IL-2 levels, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, in athletes taking Astragalus with Ganoderma lucidum for 30 days. Higher IgA, IgG, IgM levels were noted in one study, though inconsistent in another.
- No Effect on Strength: No significant improvements in athletes' strength, including when co-administered with ginseng and creatine.
Additional studies from Examine.com highlight:
- Enhanced Recovery: Astragalus enhances recovery of hemorrhagic stroke, which may relate to muscle recovery in athletes (PubMed ID: 22474516).
- Reduced Fatigue: Efficacy shown for cancer-related fatigue in a meta-analysis of 982 participants across 6 trials and 1 meta-analysis, potentially beneficial for athletic performance (PubMed ID: 40302232).
- Improved Immunity: Increases CD25 expression, potentially boosting immune response during intense training (PubMed ID: 17661330).
- Telomere Lengthening: Lengthens telomeres, which may support long-term athletic performance and recovery, studied in a middle-aged population (PubMed ID: 39275278).

These findings are based on clinical trials and systematic reviews, ensuring credibility, though more research is needed to confirm effects across diverse populations and training modalities.

How much Astragalus Root Extract should I take?

Minimum Effective Dosage: 1 g daily, though higher doses are typically used for athletic benefits.
Maximum Safe Dosage: Up to 4 g daily, as used in studies for aerobic performance and fatigue reduction.
Suggested Dosage: 1–4 g daily of dried extract, divided into two doses (e.g., 2 g twice daily). For the main bioactive compound, astragaloside IV, the standard dose is 5–10 mg, but this depends on the product's extraction quality and should be checked on product labels.

Athletes should start at the lower end of the dosage range and adjust based on tolerance and goals, consulting a healthcare provider for personalized advice.

When should I take Astragalus Root Extract?

Astragalus is best taken daily for consistent benefits:

Daily Use: Supports overall performance, recovery, and immune function when taken regularly over several weeks.
No Specific Timing: Unlike some supplements, Astragalus does not need to be timed around workouts. Its adaptogenic effects are more about long-term resilience than immediate pre- or post-workout benefits.

What should I take with Astragalus Root?

While specific pairings for athletes are not extensively studied, the following are suggested:

Synergistic Pairings: May complement other adaptogens like Ganoderma lucidum (as shown in immune function studies) or recovery-focused supplements like protein or branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
Ingredients to Avoid: No specific contraindications are noted, but caution is advised when combining with other immune-modulating supplements or herbs, especially for those with autoimmune conditions.

Possible Side Effects

Astragalus is generally well-tolerated at recommended doses:

Common: Mild side effects like malaise, headaches, or temporary blood pressure reduction have been reported in some studies but resolved within 24 hours.
Rare: No significant adverse effects were reported in the reviewed trials, including no detrimental impacts on liver or kidney function.
Major Interactions: May interact with immunosuppressants (e.g., after organ transplants) due to its immune-boosting effects, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
Moderate Interactions: Could potentially affect blood sugar levels, so caution is advised for athletes with diabetes or those taking diabetes medications, as it may lower blood sugar too much.
Contraindications: Avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to insufficient safety data. Consult a healthcare provider if you have autoimmune diseases, hormone-sensitive conditions, or are taking medications affecting immune function or blood sugar.

Additional Considerations