Rhodiola for Anxiety: Does It Really Work?

observational-study PMID: 26502953

Quick Summary: A study found that Rhodiola rosea extract may help reduce anxiety, stress, and improve mood in people with mild anxiety. Participants took Rhodiola for two weeks and reported feeling less stressed and anxious.

Can Rhodiola Help With Anxiety and Stress?

The research suggests that Rhodiola rosea extract might be a natural way to ease anxiety and stress. People who took Rhodiola in the study reported feeling less anxious, stressed, angry, confused, and depressed after two weeks. They also had an overall improvement in their mood.

Study Details

Who was studied: 80 people with mild anxiety.

How long: The study lasted for 14 days (about two weeks).

What they took: Participants took 2 tablets of Rhodiola rosea extract (Vitano®), 200mg each, daily - one before breakfast and one before lunch. The other group did not take anything.

What This Means For You

If you experience mild anxiety or stress, Rhodiola might be worth considering. This study suggests it could help improve your mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. However, it's important to remember:

Talk to your doctor: Always check with your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you're already taking medication.

Don't expect miracles: The study showed improvements, but it was a short study. Rhodiola might not work for everyone, and it's not a replacement for professional mental health care.

Look for quality: If you decide to try Rhodiola, choose a reputable brand to ensure you're getting a good quality product.

Study Limitations

It's important to know that this study has some limitations:

No Placebo: The study didn't use a placebo (a "dummy" pill). This means it's harder to know if the improvements were only from the Rhodiola or if other factors played a role.

Short Duration: The study only lasted two weeks, so we don't know if the effects last longer.

More Research Needed: More studies are needed to confirm these findings and understand the long-term effects of Rhodiola.

Key Findings

The study reported significant reductions in self-reported anxiety, stress, anger, confusion, and depression in the Rhodiola group compared to controls after 14 days (p<0.05). Total mood scores improved significantly in the intervention group. No cognitive performance differences were observed between groups. The extract (Vitano®) showed good tolerability with no serious adverse events. While the authors argue placebo effects are unlikely due to gradual symptom changes and measure-specific effects, the absence of a placebo control limits causal interpretation.

Study Design

This was a 14-day randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel groups. Eighty participants with mild anxiety were assigned to either Rhodiola rosea L. extract (n=40) or a no-treatment control group (n=40). Assessments occurred at four timepoints (baseline, day 3, day 7, day 14). Primary outcomes were self-reported mood symptoms (using standardized questionnaires) and cognitive test performance. The study was non-placebo controlled (controls received no intervention) and lacked blinding. Participant demographics beyond "mildly anxious" status were not detailed in the provided summary.

Dosage & Administration

Participants received 2 × 200 mg daily of a standardized Rhodiola rosea L. extract (Vitano®). Administration was one tablet (200 mg) taken before breakfast and one tablet (200 mg) taken before lunch. The control group received no treatment.

Results & Efficacy

At day 14, the Rhodiola group demonstrated statistically significant improvements versus controls in:
- Anxiety (p<0.05)
- Stress (p<0.05)
- Anger (p<0.05)
- Confusion (p<0.05)
- Depression (p<0.05)
- Total mood disturbance (p<0.05)
Changes developed gradually across the 14-day period. No significant differences were found between groups on any cognitive performance measures at any timepoint. Quantitative effect sizes (e.g., Cohen's d) and exact p-values beyond significance thresholds were not provided in the study summary.

Limitations

Key limitations include: 1) Lack of placebo control, making it impossible to rule out placebo effects or expectancy bias despite authors' arguments; 2) No blinding of participants or researchers; 3) Short duration (14 days), limiting assessment of long-term effects; 4) Small sample size (n=80 total); 5) Absence of detailed demographic data (e.g., age range, gender distribution, baseline severity); 6) Reliance on self-reported outcomes without objective biomarkers; 7) Unclear randomization and allocation concealment methods. The non-placebo design fundamentally weakens causal inference.

Clinical Relevance

This study suggests Rhodiola rosea L. extract (Vitano®) at 400 mg/day may provide modest, short-term relief for mild anxiety, stress, and related mood symptoms within two weeks. However, the absence of cognitive benefits and the study's methodological weaknesses (especially no placebo) mean these results should be viewed as preliminary. Users should not expect cognitive enhancement from this dose/formulation. The findings support further investigation but do not constitute strong evidence for clinical use; larger, longer, placebo-controlled trials are essential before recommending Rhodiola for anxiety management based on this single study. Safety profile appears favorable at this dosage.