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.

Erythropoietin (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.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.