Whitehead, M. T., Martin, T. D., Webster, M. J., & Scheett, T. P. (2005). Two weeks of oral Echinacea supplementation significantly increases circulating erythropoietin. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), Supplement abstract 231.

Healthy active males (N = 24) were assigned randomly to a placebo or an Echinacea supplementation group. Ss received 8 gm/day of one substance for 14 days.

EPO was 44.15% greater in the supplemented group than in the placebo group. Red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin did not differ between groups.

Implication. Echinacea stimulates significant EPO increases.

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