"There are many studies documenting the effectiveness of these adaptogens in increasing endurance and speeding recovery."

Are any these publically available that you could point out? I would be interested in seeing them.

Thom

Here's the detail of one of those searches:

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: We examined the effects of a commercially marketed herbal-based formula purported to increase endurance on oxygen consumption (VO2) in 17 competitive category III/IV amateur cyclists [mean (SEM) age: 31.1 (1.8) yr; height: 178.5 (1.8) cm; weight: 77.1 (1.6) kg]. METHODS: Each cyclist participated in two (pre/post) cycling tests progressing 25 W.4 min(-1) starting at 100 W administered in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind fashion. The second trial was performed 14 d after the ingestion of a manufacturer recommended loading phase (4 d x 6 caps.d(-1)) and a maintenance phase (11 d x 3 caps.d(-1)). Three treatment capsules contained 1000 mg of Cordyceps sinensis (CS-4) and 300 mg Rhodiola rosea root extract as the primary ingredients; 800 mg of other ingredients included calcium pyruvate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, ribose, and adenosine and 200 mcg of chromium. RESULTS: Using a 2 x 2 ANOVA, we observed no significant treatment effect for any between or within group variables including peak VO2 [treatment 4.14 (0.2) L.min(-1); placebo 4.10 (0.2) L.min(-1)], time to exhaustion [treatment 38.47 (1.7) min; placebo 36.95 (1.8) min], peak power output (PO) [treatment 300.00 (12.1) W; placebo 290.63 (12.9) W], or peak heart rate. We also observed no differences for any subpeak exercise variable including the PO eliciting 2 mmol.L(-1) blood lactate (BLa) [treatment 201.00 (18.1) W; placebo 167.50 (19.2) W] and 4 mmol.L(-1) BLa [treatment 235.88 (15.8) W; placebo 244.78 (14.9) W], ventilatory threshold, respiratory compensation point, or Vo2 L.min(-1) gross efficiency at each stage. CONCLUSION: A 2-wk ingestion schema of a commercial herbal-based formula is insufficient to elicit positive changes in cycling performance.

Konapres can you point to the documented studies you refer to in regard to the effectiveness of supplementation with your product?

Wow, tough crowd! I have a feeling Learns mind is made up, despite any athletes' success with Kona Endurance, pro or amateur...and thats fine, I can relate. I too am a very skeptical person. But hey there Learn, not everything new is a scam or ripoff and yes we are a business. Our goal is to manufacture the most potent endurance supplements available and yes, profitability to sustain future growth is important. Learn, it's the real deal, but I do understand your skepticism in this day and age.

Darin Booton
www.konaendurance.com

Chainpin,
My name is Darin Booton and I own DBM Nutrition, we manufacture the Kona Endurance line of endurance supplements. I can help you out with 'what an adaptogen is'. An adaptogen has been formally defined as as an agent that allows the body to counter adverse physical, chemical, or biological stressors by raising nonspecific resistance toward such stress, thus allowing the organism to "adapt" to the stressful circumstances, such as training/racing. The adaptogens in Kona Endurance PRO, our most potent endurance supplement, are Cordyceps sinensis and Rhodiola rosea. Cordyceps sinensis is a mushroom that grows 12,000-15,000 ft in the mountainous regions of China. Many researchers believe that the mushroom's ability to survive in these altitudes gives it it's remarkable oxygenating abilities. The important thing to note when evaluating Cordyceps is the amount of Cordycepic acid. We use 8% Cordycepic acid, compare that to any other products, Kona Endurance PRO is an extremely potent endurance supplement that guarantees an increase in oxygen and a reduction in lactic acid. Rhodiola rosea is the other adaptogen in Kona Endurance PRO. It is a plant native to the cold regions of Europe and Asia. When evaluating Rhodiola, you are looking at the % of salidroside (commonly referred to as rosavins). We use a Rhodiola rosea containing 5.1% rosavins, very hard to find and extremely expensive, but it's wild stuff that really increases endurance. There are many studies documenting the effectiveness of these adaptogens in increasing endurance and speeding recovery. It is really important to note the % of the salidroside and cordycepic acid, because there is alot of 1% and 2% of this, that is nothing but crap, will not increase endurance at all. We can buy tons of that for pennies, but it will have no physiological effects on endurance whatsoever. We use very potent, expensive adaptogens that will make any athlete faster. All athletes that go on Kona Endurance PRO notice major physiological changes in recovery.
I just got off the phone with Gina Kehrs husband. About a month prior to the recent Steelhead 70.3, Gina went on Kona Endurance PRO...she had the fastest bike split in her life! They are ecstatic....her training is at an alltime high he tells me. Earlier this summer, same thing with Brian Lavelle...he was skeptical, went on it roughly a month prior to the Boise 70.3 Triathlon and had the fastest run split of his life! Christian Meier, a cyclist for Symmetrics won the Canadian National Road Championships last month, same thing, Kona PRO made him faster. Olympic cyclist Eric Wholberg went on it after seeing what Christian was doing. Ask Bryan Rhodes about his running lately, he will tell you Kona Endurance PRO is the real deal. These are real athletes with real world results. You should see all the feedback we get from ag-groupers who tell us about pr's, placing higher in age-groups, etc. Point is it works and it works unbelievably well.

Darin Booton
DBM Nutrition
630-443-5163
www.konaendurance.com

Hi,
I have a question about Kona Endurance PRO. Once you have used it for a few months, as I have, does the body adapt to it and therefore no additonal gains? Or stated another way: Should I keep using it all the time and is there continuous benefit to be had?
Thanks, John