PEAKO2®

PEAKO2® -[CordyCeps (Cordyceps militaris) Mycelial Powder, Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) Mycelial Powder, King Trumpet (Pleurotus eryngii) Mycelial Powder, Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Mycelial Powder, Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) Mycelial Powder, and Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) Mycelial Powder] (Organic)] – is a proprietary blend of six adaptogens of Cordyceps. PeakO2 is like beta-alanine and creatine combined, just faster-acting and without the tingles.

Two clinical studies supporting PeakO2’s efficacy in improving power and endurance have been published. It is important to note that an organic-certified, evidence-based performance adaptogen is extremely rare in the world. Mushrooms are really popular right now, as well. In the studies, 1 to 2g of PeakO2 per day showed:

• Improved time to fatigue
• Improved oxygen utilization (better endurance)
• Lower heart beats per minute (heart doing more work with less effort… increase in “work capacity”)
• Decrease in lactate
• Increase in peak power

WHY SIX ADAPTOGENS?

Let’s begin by first highlighting the advantages of Cordyceps Militaris over Cordyceps Sinensis.

The two are actually very different. In fact, the Sinensis species was reclassified in 2007, so now Sinensis and Militaris are taxonomically observed as having fundamental differences*. Specifically, they are of the same order, but they belong to different families and genera. Interesting, but what are the practical differences? A study by Kim and Yun (2005) found Militaris to have more bioactive metabolites than Sinensis. Two separate studies have evaluated the ergogenic potential of Militaris and Sinensis delivered as a nutritional supplement, and their titles say it all. “Cordyceps Militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation,” but “Cordyceps Sinensis (CordyMax Cs-4) Supplementation Does Not Improve Endurance Exercise Performance.”

To explain why PeakO₂™ contains six adaptogens, it’s best to revisit why muscles fail in the first place. Muscle failure is attributable to one or more of the following, (1) ATP depletion from insufficient oxygen utilization/glycogen stores (2) calcium dysregulation (3) excess hydrogen ions/metabolites (4) and/or excessive free radical damage. 

PeakO₂™’s primary mechanism of action is increased oxygen uptake and more efficient use of that oxygen, thereby sparing glycogen and metabolite generation. Moreover, its secondary action is to reduce oxidative stress. Thus, ATP is increased, ions are better controlled, free radicals are reduced, and fatigue is delayed. When various species are combined, synergies can occur that may also help delay muscle fatigue more so than one in isolation.

Cordyceps already has a positive reputation in the sports world, but a multi-species blend provides a wider diversity of beta-glucan-containing compounds and phenolics which can produce a stronger and more diversified immune system. Although it may not show up in a short-term performance testing methodology, minimizing the depression of immune function that often occurs after strenuous exercise or exertion is very important for long-term performance. Blends of mushrooms also provide a broader array of antioxidant compounds to counteract the additional free radicals and oxidative stress generated during sports activities.

Finally, some of the most significant beneficial effects of un-extracted, full-spectrum medicinal mushroom products can be related to their prebiotic dietary fiber content, which fosters balance and diversity of the healthful microorganisms that comprise our microbiome. Therefore, a collection of different species in PeakO₂™ may further enhance the quality of the gut microbiome than any one species alone.

*Sinensis is a species, but it is no longer of the cordyceps genus. It is now genus ophiocordyceps species sinensis. The family of ophiocordyceps is ophiocordycipitaceae, while the family of cordyceps militaris is cordycipitaceae, both of the order hypocreales. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2104736/pdf/0005.pdf

Yu, R., Yang, W., Song, L., Yan, C., Zhang, Z., & Zhao, Y. (2007). Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a polysaccharide from the fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps militaris. Carbohydrate Polymers, 70(4), 430-436.

SUMMARY OF TWO STUDIES:

PeakO₂™ has now been studied in two successful human clinical studies: One at the U of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the other at the College of Charleston. The results are impressive—showing improvements in both power and endurance.

Whether you’re a physique athlete, or you’re heavy into crossfit, team sports or ketogenic endurance, the results are extremely relevant to all athletes. The data show that clinically proven performance benefits begin when you get to 28 grams. You can take 1g per day for 28 days, or 4g per day for seven days. The greater the dose, the faster the results.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

In this study (dose was 4g per day), after 21 days, there were significant improvements in VO2 max, ventilatory threshold, time to exhaustion (TTE) and peak power. These are crucial parameters to maximize performance in nearly any athlete.

VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption) and ventilatory threshold each represent the two pillars of endurance – energy production and delaying the point at which your breathing becomes labored (delaying the anaerobic point, as well as lactate accumulation). By capitalizing on both, PeakO2™ has incredible capacity for improving Time To Exhaustion (TTE). Peak power is the fusion of strength and speed, essential for explosive movements.

In just 7 days, TTE increased 28 seconds over baseline and, in 21 days, it increased 70 seconds over baseline! That could be the difference between winning and losing, particularly considering the placebo group increased just 5 seconds over 21 days.

In 21 days, VO2 max increased nearly 11%. VO2 is a measure of maximal oxygen uptake, which means you can take in more oxygen and utilize it more efficiently than groups not taking PeakO₂™. Because more ATP is generated by the use of oxygen than anything else, you have the potential to exercise longer and harder with more energy. This is critical for those engaged in any endurance athletics such as crossfit, soccer, mixed martial arts athletes (MMA), running or cycling.

After 21 days, peak power rose 8.5% in the PeakO₂™ group while the placebo group didn’t change. For those concerned with power, such as physique athletes, football players, swimmers or sprinters, these results are particularly relevant.

College of Charleston Study:

This study on 21 recreationally active individuals included both 1g and 2g doses. What was discovered is that ingesting 28 grams of PeakO₂™ over a relatively short period of time (i.e. 7-28 days) is important to get clinically significant results. As a matter of comparison, it takes approximately 179 grams of beta-alanine to get clinically significant results. In other words, PeakO₂™ works faster!!

Results:

1. Lactate: The treatment group showed a significant decrease (p=.002) in lactate from pre (2.44 ± 0.9 mmol/L) to post (2.21 ± 0.8 mmol/L). No changes occurred in the control group.
2. VO2peak: treatment group increased VO2peak during the study (p=.02) from (40.2 ± 6.1 ml/kg/min-1) to (41.1 ± 6.2 ml/kg/min-1). No changes occurred in the control group.
3. Note: We use VO2 “peak” because the researcher had subjects push to their volitional fatigue, but did not push the subjects until they met all the necessary criteria for VO2 max. In the first study at UNC, the subjects went to max.
4. Time to Fatigue: The treatment group significantly increased (p=.02) time to fatigue at post by +25.8 seconds! (785.4 ± 109.9 sec to 811.2 ± 124.4 sec) No changes occurred in the control group.

Takeaways:

1. PeakO2 appears to have a significant impact on endurance performance as oxygen consumption has been shown to increase significantly in both studies, but more so at higher doses.
2. In addition to the above results, Heart Rate Recovery improved 8%. In other words, the data point to increased work capacity after consuming just 28 grams of PeakO2, requiring less oxygen to do the same amount of work, indicating improved metabolic efficiency.
3. PeakO2 also appears to improve submaximal endurance performance as up to 2g/day has been shown to decrease blood lactate levels by 9% when subjects train at the same work rate.” This essentially indicates that taking PeakO2 helps your body exert less stress to meet the demands of exercise.
4. PeakO2, in doses up to 2g/day, can improve endurance performance as seen by a 25.8 second time to exhaustion performance improvement in the Charleston study and a 70 second improvement in the UNC study.

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