Effects of Shroom Tech Sport Supplementation and Concurrent Training on Body Composition, Performance, and Health in Collegiate-Aged Men

Background: Skeletal muscle is highly responsive to exercise training stresses, resulting in specific performance improvements based on the type of training undertaken (66, 119). Among all the variations of exercise training there are two extremes: 1) resistance training (RT), and 2) aerobic training (AT). Concurrent training (CT) is the combination AT and RT. This combination has been shown to have positive effects on body composition through decreases in fat mass (93, 136, 181, 463) and aerobic performance (28, 56, 154, 194, 394, 421, 463). Despite these positive outcomes, there have been multiple works suggesting that the combination of these two training modalities hinders increases in strength (28, 181, 223, 420) and power (154, 420) performance and lean mass (223, 238, 404, 420). Notably, CT composed of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and RT has been shown to positively affect aerobic performance without negatively affecting strength performance in recreationally active men (56, 433, 472) and women (433). Interestingly, rhodiola rosea (RR) (34, 102, 371) and cordyceps sinensis (CS) (61) may have potential to enhance performance. Purpose: To determine the effects of CT, composed of HIIT and RT, and Shroom Tech sport (SUP), a multi-ingredient performance supplement (MIPS) containing RR and CS, on body composition, aerobic and strength performance, cardiometabolic profiles, and hormone concentrations in young recreationally active men. Methods: Recreationally active male volunteers were stratified and matched by age, total strength, relative VO2max, percent body fat, and training years; then assigned to take SUP (n=10) or a placebo (PLA) (n=11). Participants completed a 12-week CT program (4 days per week; 2 days: total body RT; 2 days: HIIT). Supplements (1 capsule (2,378mg) per 23kg) were consumed 45 minutes before each training and testing sessions and at breakfast on non-training days. Body composition, blood draws, and strength, power and aerobic performance were tested at week 0, 7, and 14. Additionally, subjects completed three-day food logs for dietary intake. Data were reported as mean ± SD. Dependent variables were assessed by two-way (group x time) analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significance was accepted at p<0.05. Results: There were no differences between groups in any of the participant characteristics. There were no significant differences in body mass index, fat free mass or percent fat free mass. However, there was a significant effect for time for percent body fat, with both groups exhibiting decreases (SUP: pre 15.5 ± 5.8% v mid 14.8 ± 7.2% v post 14.2 ± 6.6%; PLA: pre 16.2 ± 6.7% v mid 15.3 ± 6.5% v post 14.3 ± 6.4%, p=0.0065), with no significant differences between groups. Further, there were main group (p= 0.042) and time (p=0.016) effects for fat mass but no group x time interactions (SUP: pre 11.92 ± 5.28kg v mid 11.51 ± 6.22kg v post 11.10 ± 6.96 kg; PLA: pre 12.83 ± 6.55kg v mid 12.23 ± 6.61kg v post 11.32 ± 6.49kg). There were no significant differences in body segment circumferences or lean mass index (LMI). There were no changes in VO2max. Both groups improved bench (SUP: 2.6±3.0%; PLA: 5.4±5.2%) and squat (SUP: 7.2±6.6%; PLA: 8.8±5.4%) strength. There was a main effect for time in (p=0.007) and average power (p=0.004) increased over time regardless of group. Notably, significant differences were observed between groups in average bench (SUP: 28±1reps v PLA: 25±3, p<0.05) and total (bench + squat) (SUP: 61±4reps v PLA: 57±4, p<0.05) training volumes at "moderate" (72.5-77.5%) intensities. Further, SUP also attenuated decreases in average running volume at 100% calculated max speed (CMS) when compared to those at 90% CMS versus PLA (SUP:-41±83secs v PLA:-135±118, p<0.05). There were no group x time interactions in any of the hormone concentrations. Interestingly, SUP did exhibit significant decreases in cortisol levels (pre: 17.6 ± 4.6ug/dl v post: 16.6 ± 4.3ug/dl, p=0.34). There were time effects for systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL, with decreases in total cholesterol (SUP: Pre: 152 ± 22mg/dL to Mid: 142 ± 23mg/dl to Post: 147 ± 23mg/dl v PLA: Pre: 154 ± 29mg/dl to Mid: 142 ± 22mg/dl to Post: 143 ± 22mg/dl; p=0.009), LDL (SUP: Pre: 83 ± 26mg/dL to Mid: 74 ± 14mg/dl to Post: 80 ± 26mg/dl v PLA: Pre: 82 ± 24mg/dl to Mid: 70 ± 13mg/dl to Post: 76 ± 18mg/dl; p=0.047) and HDL (SUP: Pre: 48 ± 11mg/dL to Mid: 45 ± 10mg/dl to Post: 44 ± 7mg/dl v PLA: Pre: 60 ± 12mg/dl to Mid: 55 ± 12mg/dl to Post: 54 ± 10mg/dl; p=0.013). Conclusion: Supplementation with SUP 45 minutes prior to exercise enhanced moderate intensity resistance exercise performance and max intensity HIIT performance in recreationally trained men. Additionally, 12 weeks of CT protocol consisting of progressive RT and HIIT improved strength and power performance while decreasing fat mass, however there were no differences between groups. Therefore, use of 2,378mg per 23kg SUP for 12 weeks may be beneficial for recreationally active men.