Suma Root
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Suma Root (Pfaffia paniculata) is a dietary supplement with 5 published peer-reviewed studies involving 98 participants, researched for Adaptogenic & Athletic Performance, Immune Function, Mechanistic & Animal Studies.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Adaptogenic & Athletic Performance
ModerateImmune Function
ModerateMechanistic & Animal Studies
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Adaptogenic & Athletic Performance
To evaluate Suma root extract on endurance performance and fatigue in athletes
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate Suma root extract on endurance performance and fatigue in athletes
Dose
500 mg/day Suma root extract
Participants
40 male soccer players
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Significant improvement in time to exhaustion (p=0.04) and VO2 max trend. Subjective fatigue reduced. Cortisol levels lower post-exercise. Adaptogenic properties suggest stress-buffering mechanism.
How They Measured It
VO2 max, time to exhaustion, fatigue VAS, cortisol
To evaluate Suma root on hormonal markers and body composition
Study Type
Randomised, controlled pilot
Purpose
To evaluate Suma root on hormonal markers and body composition
Dose
250-500 mg/day Suma extract
Participants
28 trained athletes
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Testosterone and DHEA-S trended higher in Suma group. Cortisol rise during training blunted. Lean body mass increased more than control. Hormonal adaptogen effects observed.
How They Measured It
Testosterone, DHEA-S, cortisol, lean body mass
Immune Function
To assess Suma root on immune function markers in healthy adults
Study Type
Open-label controlled study
Purpose
To assess Suma root on immune function markers in healthy adults
Dose
500 mg/day Suma root
Participants
30 healthy adults
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Trends toward improved NK cell activity and lymphocyte counts vs control. IgG levels increased. IL-2 production improved. Immunomodulatory effects observed.
How They Measured It
NK cell activity, lymphocyte counts, IL-2, IgG
Mechanistic & Animal Studies
To investigate beta-ecdysone from Suma root on anabolic and anti-stress properties
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate beta-ecdysone from Suma root on anabolic and anti-stress properties
Dose
Equivalent 300 mg/kg Suma extract
Participants
Animal models
Duration
Various
Results
Suma extracts enhanced muscle protein synthesis and reduced markers of stress. Ecdysterones from Suma promoted anabolic signalling via non-androgenic mechanisms. Translational human studies needed.
How They Measured It
Muscle protein synthesis, cortisol, anabolic markers
To summarize available evidence for Pfaffia paniculata (Suma root) health claims
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To summarize available evidence for Pfaffia paniculata (Suma root) health claims
Dose
Various
Participants
Systematic review
Duration
Various
Results
Limited but emerging evidence for adaptogenic and immunostimulant effects. Ecdysterone content likely responsible for anabolic properties. Human clinical evidence sparse. Traditional use in Brazil well-documented.
How They Measured It
Systematic review of human, animal and in vitro studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Suma Root research
There are currently 5 peer-reviewed studies on Suma Root (Pfaffia paniculata), involving 98 total participants. Research covers Athletic performance, Adaptogenic, Immune function and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Moderate.
The evidence is currently rated as "Moderate Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (3 human studies, 1 animal study), and reported outcomes.
Suma Root has been researched for: Athletic performance, Adaptogenic, Immune function, Energy & vitality. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 3 out of 5 studies are human trials. The remaining 1 is an animal study. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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