Dendrobium
Dendrobium is a large genus of orchids used in traditional Chinese medicine and in some modern pre-workout supplements.
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
What is dendrobium?
Dendrobium belongs to the orchid family and appears in traditional Chinese medicine and modern pre-workout supplements. Evidence for improving athletic performance is limited. 1
What makes it interesting to researchers?
A review describes longer exhaustive-swimming times in mice given D. officinale polysaccharides, alongside changes in fatigue-related metabolites. These experiments offer a research lead, not proof of improved energy in people. 2
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Do animal findings establish a useful dose?
No. The review identifies a gap between animal experiments and clinical evidence, so these results do not establish a human performance dose. 2
Is safety settled for long-term use?
The review calls for expanded clinical studies to establish safety and efficacy in people. 2
Sources
- Dendrobium: Why is it in supplements? Operation Supplement Safety, 2018