Can Rhodiola Crenulata Intake Improve Oxygen Saturation and Decrease the Incidence of Acute Mountain Sickness

The number of people traveling to altitude for work or for recreation is rising, and increased media attention towards these activities has also raised the profile of altitude related illness. The most effective preventive measure for acute mountain sickness (AMS)-gradual ascent-is frequently difficult or impractical for modern international travel to locations such as Lhasa in Tibet (3650 m) and La Paz in Bolivia (3740 m). In order to solve this problem, prophylactic acetazolamide was most commonly used. But prescription needed and side effects such as paresthesia and nausea are the disadvantage of using acetazolamide. Some over-the-counter herbal supplements with essentially no adverse effect were widely used, such as Rhodiola species. Rhodiola crenulata are widely used to prevent AMS in Himalayan areas and Lhasa in Tibet but none was examined by human study. The investigators conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study to investigate the efficacy of Rhodiola crenulata in preventing AMS.

Inclusion criteria

• age between 20 and 55 years.
• able to complete the study protocol of 9-day study regimens and mountain climbing twice.
• no prophylactic medication or herb one month before ascent.
• maintaining the same living conditions and habits four months before the first mountain climbing and four months between two mountaineering.

• living in the same altitude or within a difference of 200 meters.
• no additional physical training.
• no plan to gain or loss weight.
• no altitude exposure above 2500m.

Exclusion criteria

• any history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, cerebral neoplasm, mania, renal or hepatic insufficiency.
• women in pregnancy or intending of pregnancy during the 4-month study period.