PeakO2® (Adaptogenic Mushroom Blend)

Cordyceps militaris / Ganoderma lucidum / Pleurotus eryngii / Lentinula edodes / Trametes versicolor / Hericium erinaceus
Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
4 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

PeakO2® (Compound Solutions) is a patented, USDA Certified Organic blend of six adaptogenic mushrooms grown on organic oats in the USA — headlined by Cordyceps militaris with Reishi, King Trumpet, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and Lion's Mane. The only study cited on this page tested a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris at 4 g/day in 28 young adults, and it does not name PeakO2 or any brand. After three weeks, VO2 max rose about 4.8 ml/kg/min, time to exhaustion rose about 70 seconds, and the ventilatory threshold rose slightly. After one week there were no significant improvements. Nothing beyond exercise capacity has been tested.

Studied Dose 4 g/day is the only dose with a cited study behind it, and in that study the benefits appeared after three weeks, not after one. The 12 g/day acute protocol has no cited study.
Active Compound Blend of Cordyceps militaris, Reishi, King Trumpet, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, Lion's Mane; beta-glucans, ergothioneine, cordycepin.

Benefits

Better oxygen uptake (VO2 max) after three weeks

In the single cited study, 28 young adults (average age about 23) took a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris at 4 g/day. After three weeks, VO2 max improved by about 4.8 ml/kg/min (p=0.042) and the ventilatory threshold rose by about 0.7 l/min. After one week there were no significant improvements. The paper does not name PeakO2 or any brand, so this is evidence for the mushroom blend that was tested rather than proof for this specific product, and 28 people is a small group.

No measurable benefit in the first week

No published study on this page supports a fast power boost. The one study cited here states plainly that one week of supplementation showed no significant improvements, and it did not measure peak power output at all. The 17.6% figure and the comparison with creatine and beta-alanine come from material that is not published or cited, so treat them as marketing rather than as results.

Time to exhaustion and endurance extension

In the same 28-person study, time to exhaustion increased by about 69.8 seconds after three weeks at 4 g/day. That is the most concrete finding on this page, but it comes from one small short study of a mushroom blend that the paper does not identify by brand, and the same study found no significant change after one week. Explanations involving lactate clearance or multiple mechanisms are speculation, not measured outcomes reported here.

Immune and stress claims have no cited study behind them

No study is cited on this page for immune or stress effects, either for the blend as a whole or for Turkey Tail, Reishi or Lion's Mane individually. The only reference here looked at exercise capacity in 28 young adults. Statements about immune modulation, NK cell activation and stress resilience are untested for this product and should not be treated as established.

Mechanism of action

1

Proposed mechanism: oxygen use and cellular energy

Cordyceps militaris contains cordycepin, adenosine and beta-glucans, and researchers have suggested these may help the body use oxygen more efficiently during hard exercise. This is a proposed explanation, not a measured one. The single human study cited here recorded exercise outcomes such as VO2 max and time to exhaustion; it did not measure mitochondrial function, ATP yield, oxidative damage or ergothioneine, and it did not test the other five mushrooms separately.

Clinical trials

1
Cordyceps militaris mushroom blend and high intensity exercise (2017)
PubMed

Randomized study of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris at 4 g/day in 28 young adults, average age about 23, with outcomes measured after one week and after three weeks. Outcomes included VO2 max, time to exhaustion and ventilatory threshold. (Hirsch KR et al., J Diet Suppl 2017; PMID 27408987)

28 healthy young adults, average age about 23.

One week showed no significant improvements. After three weeks at 4 g/day, VO2 max rose about 4.8 ml/kg/min (p=0.042), time to exhaustion rose about 69.8 seconds, and the ventilatory threshold rose about 0.7 l/min. Limitations: only 28 participants, all young adults, a short study, a single study, and the paper does not name PeakO2 or any brand, so the results belong to the Cordyceps militaris blend that was tested rather than to this product. Independent replication is needed.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Safety past three weeks is untested; the only cited study ran three weeks in 28 healthy young adults
Mild GI adjustment possible — start with 1–2g/day
Turkey Tail and Reishi components — rare mushroom allergy; discontinue if allergic reaction
Contains ergothioneine, an antioxidant compound; no study cited here tested it or any interaction with other antioxidant supplements

Important Drug interactions

Immunosuppressants — mushroom beta-glucans may stimulate immune function; caution in transplant patients on immunosuppression
Anticoagulants — Reishi has mild antiplatelet activity; monitor if on blood thinners
Drug interactions with this blend have not been studied, so no known interactions is not the same as proven safe alongside medications

Frequently asked questions about PeakO2® (Adaptogenic Mushroom Blend)

What is PeakO2?

PeakO2® (Compound Solutions) is a patented, USDA Certified Organic blend of six adaptogenic mushrooms grown on organic oats in the USA — headlined by Cordyceps militaris with Reishi, King Trumpet, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and Lion's Mane.

What is PeakO2 used for?

PeakO2 is researched primarily for Athletic Performance. In the single cited study, 28 young adults (average age about 23) took a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris at 4 g/day. After three weeks, VO2 max improved by about 4.8 ml/kg/min (p=0.

What is the recommended dosage of PeakO2?

The clinically studied dose is 4 g/day is the only dose with a cited study behind it, and in that study the benefits appeared after three weeks, not after one. The 12 g/day acute protocol has no cited study. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is PeakO2 safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, PeakO2 is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Safety past three weeks is untested; the only cited study ran three weeks in 28 healthy young adults Mild GI adjustment possible — start with 1–2g/day It may also interact with some medications. PeakO2 is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does PeakO2 interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Immunosuppressants — mushroom beta-glucans may stimulate immune function; caution in transplant patients on immunosuppression Anticoagulants — Reishi has mild antiplatelet activity; monitor if on blood thinners If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for PeakO2?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for PeakO2 as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. J Diet Suppl. 2017;14(1):42-53..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized study of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris at 4 g/day in 28 young adults; no brand is named in the paper. Exercise tolerance improved after three weeks, while one week showed no significant improvements.