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Schisandra and strength and power output: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: Benefit.

C LimitedShort-term only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: Two small RCTs, both in older adults or postmenopausal women

In a registered, double-blind trial of 54 adults over 50 with relatively low muscle mass who walked regularly, 1 g a day of Schisandra chinensis extract for 12 weeks increased knee extensor strength more than placebo (right leg 10.2 Nm, 95% CI 3.7 to 16.8; left leg 6.7 Nm, 95% CI 0.3 to 13.1). A second double-blind trial randomized 52 postmenopausal women and analyzed only the 45 who finished (24 and 21); it found a group-by-time interaction for quadriceps strength with the same daily amount. Both trials are small and last 12 weeks; they were led from Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital and from Dong-A University in Busan (one author of the 2021 trial is also at Dong-A University), and neither studied younger adults or athletes, so the proposal is C.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)202020252030RCTCho 2021, 2021: RCT, n = 54, result not recordedPark 2020, 2020: RCT, n = 45, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Park 20202020RCT45result not recorded
Cho 20212021RCT54result not recorded

Effect of Schisandra Chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Park J, Han S, Park H. Effect of Schisandra Chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020. PMID 32260466

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 12 weeks
Sample
n = 45
Population
Healthy postmenopausal women, mean age 61.9 years (45 analyzed of 52 randomized)
Funding
Full text: Dong-A University research fund. PubMed/Europe PMC grant field: Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and National Research Foundation of Korea. Study product (powdered extract) provided by Bioport Korea Inc. COI: none declared

Effect of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extracts and regular low-intensity exercise on muscle strength and mass in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Cho YH, Lee SY, Lee CH. Effect of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extracts and regular low-intensity exercise on muscle strength and mass in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Am J Clin Nutr, 2021. PMID 33710261

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 12 weeks (registered NCT03402308)
Sample
n = 54
Population
Adults over 50 with relatively low muscle mass doing low-intensity exercise (walking)
Funding
not stated in the PubMed or Crossref record; full text not read. ClinicalTrials.gov lead sponsor: Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital

Search and history

Search (): schisandra[ti] AND randomized controlled trial[pt]

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page