Cordyceps Benefits for Men: What the Research Actually Shows

Short answer: The best supported cordyceps benefits for men are modest gains in aerobic capacity and exercise tolerance, seen in small human trials that used about 2 to 4 grams a day for 3 to 12 weeks. Claims about testosterone, libido and “stamina” come mostly from animal studies and poorly documented older reports. Cordyceps is generally well tolerated, but it can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners and may add to the effect of diabetes medication.

Key Takeaways

• Cordyceps is a medicinal fungus. Most supplements use cultivated forms such as the Cs-4 strain or Cordyceps militaris, not the rare wild caterpillar fungus.
• Exercise is the most studied benefit. Results are mixed: a 2025 meta-analysis found small improvements in oxygen uptake and ventilatory threshold, but warned of likely publication bias.
• Effects take weeks. One trial saw no significant change after 1 week, but a clear change in VO2max after 3 weeks.
• There is no good human evidence that cordyceps raises testosterone. Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that this is known only from mice.
• Talk to a doctor first if you take anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, NSAIDs or diabetes medication, or if you have a planned surgery.

What Is Cordyceps?

Cordyceps is a group of fungi used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for centuries. The classic wild species, now renamed Ophiocordyceps sinensis, grows on caterpillar larvae in the Himalayan highlands and is known as Chinese caterpillar fungus, dong chong xia cao or yarsha gumba.^[1] Traditionally it was used as a tonic for fatigue, weakness, sexual function and the lungs and kidneys.

Wild cordyceps is scarce and expensive, so almost every supplement on the market uses a cultivated version instead:

• Cs-4: a fermented mycelium strain (also called Paecilomyces hepiali) developed to mimic C. sinensis. It was used in several of the older human trials.^[2]
• Cordyceps militaris: a different species that is easy to grow and is now common in “mushroom blend” products.

This matters because studies used different species, strains and extracts. A result from one product does not automatically apply to another label.

Active compounds

Cordyceps contains nucleosides such as adenosine, adenine, uridine and guanosine, plus cordycepin, ergosterol, mannitol and polysaccharides.^[2] In lab studies, cordycepin reduces platelet aggregation, which helps explain the bleeding caution discussed below.^[1]

Cordyceps Benefits for Men: What Human Studies Show

Most of the human research on cordyceps looks at exercise and oxygen use. That is where the evidence is strongest, and even there it is limited to small trials.

Aerobic capacity in older adults

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at Peking Union Medical College Hospital gave 37 healthy elderly volunteers either Cs-4 at 3 g a day or a placebo for 6 weeks.^[3] In the cordyceps group, VO2max rose from 1.88 to 2.00 L/min (P = 0.050) and the anaerobic threshold rose from 1.15 to 1.30 L/min (P = 0.012). Values did not change on placebo. This is encouraging for aging men, but the VO2max result sits right at the edge of statistical significance and the study was small.

High-intensity exercise tolerance

At the University of North Carolina, researchers gave 28 young adults (average age 22.7) either 4 g a day of a mushroom blend containing Cordyceps militaris or a placebo.^[4] After 1 week, there was no significant difference. Ten volunteers continued for 3 weeks in total, and in that group VO2max improved by 4.8 ml/kg/min with the blend versus 0.9 ml/kg/min with placebo, and time to exhaustion rose by 69.8 seconds. The authors concluded that greater benefits may come from consistent, longer use.

Trained athletes: mixed results

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in Frontiers in Nutrition pooled 14 randomized trials with 528 athletes that tested several fungi, including cordyceps.^[5] For C. sinensis, the pooled analysis found small improvements in VO2peak (p = 0.04) and ventilatory threshold (p = 0.03), and a borderline result for endurance (p = 0.05). Individual trials pointed in different directions, as the table below shows. The reviewers also flagged likely publication bias, because 13 of the 14 trials reported favorable outcomes.

The honest summary: untrained or older men may notice a small improvement in how much oxygen they can use during hard effort. Well-trained athletes are less likely to see a measurable change. Memorial Sloan Kettering describes the exercise results in healthy subjects simply as “mixed.”^[1]

Kidney and blood sugar research

Cordyceps has also been studied as an add-on in kidney disease. A 2014 Cochrane review of 22 studies (1,746 participants) reported better kidney lab values with cordyceps preparations in chronic kidney disease, but judged the evidence low quality.^[2] One small trial of 20 people found 3 g a day improved blood sugar readings over placebo.^[2] These are medical conditions, so any use belongs under a doctor’s supervision, never as a replacement for treatment.

Does Cordyceps Increase Testosterone or Libido?

This is the claim men search for most, and it is the weakest. Cordyceps raised testosterone in mice, and it shortened mount and erection latency in castrated rats.^[1][2] Memorial Sloan Kettering states plainly that whether it has similar effects in humans “is not known.”^[1] Drugs.com notes that older clinical reports in elderly people described better sex drive, but calls those studies poorly documented.^[2]

In other words, no well-designed human trial shows that cordyceps raises testosterone or improves sexual function in men. If low drive, fatigue or erection changes are new or persistent, a blood test and a visit to your doctor are a better first step than any supplement. Our guide to the signs of low testosterone explains what to ask about.

How Cordyceps Works

Researchers have proposed several mechanisms, most from lab and animal work:

• Oxygen use and energy: cordyceps contains adenosine and related nucleosides, which are building blocks of ATP, the cell’s energy currency. This is the usual explanation for the exercise findings, though it is not proven in humans.
• Red blood cell production: in mice, cordyceps increased the growth of red blood cell precursors in bone marrow.^[1] A 16-week C. militaris trial in 22 men reported higher ferritin, hemoglobin and hematocrit changes.^[5]
• Immune activity: lab studies show increased natural killer cell activity and cytokine production.^[1]
• Platelets: cordycepin reduces platelet clumping, which is relevant for bleeding risk.^[1]

Cordyceps Dosage: How Much and How Long

No official dose exists, and Drugs.com notes that dosing backed by product quality data is not available.^[2] The ranges below are what studies actually used:

• Exercise trials: 2 to 4 g a day, most often 3 g.^[3][4][5] The 2025 review suggested 2 to 3 g a day of C. sinensis for 6 to 12 weeks for endurance athletes, while calling for larger trials.^[5]
• Kidney studies (medically supervised): 3 to 6 g a day.^[2]
• Timing: plan on at least 3 to 6 weeks of daily use before judging results. One week was not enough in the Hirsch trial.^[4]

Product quality varies widely. Look for a label that names the species (C. militaris or Cs-4 C. sinensis), states whether it is fruiting body or mycelium, and gives the amount per serving. Independent testing for heavy metals is a strong plus, and our guide to third-party tested supplements shows what to look for.

Cordyceps Side Effects and Safety

Cordyceps is generally considered low in toxicity, and Memorial Sloan Kettering’s patient page says no major side effects have been reported.^[1] Reported problems include:

• Digestive upset: mild diarrhea, dry mouth and nausea.^[2]
• Allergy: one reported hypersensitivity reaction.^[2]
• Bleeding: one case of excessive bleeding after a tooth extraction in a daily cordyceps user.^[1]
• Lead contamination: two cases of lead poisoning were linked to cordyceps products with high lead content; blood lead returned to normal after stopping.^[2]

Who should avoid cordyceps or ask a doctor first

• Men taking warfarin or other anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, NSAIDs or aspirin, because cordyceps may increase bleeding risk.^[1][2]
• Anyone on insulin or other diabetes medication, since additive blood sugar lowering is possible.^[1]
• People scheduled for surgery or dental work.
• People with myelogenous (myeloid) cancers, which Memorial Sloan Kettering says should not use cordyceps based on animal data.^[1]
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, because safety data are lacking.^[2]
• Anyone with kidney disease or a transplant, who should only use it with their specialist’s approval.

Where Ultra Bann Fits

To be clear about our own product: Ultra Bann is a natural male vitality supplement by DL Bioproducts, taken as one capsule every 2 days. It contains seven botanicals with every amount on the label and no proprietary blend: Thai Butea superba 345 mg, Panax ginseng 110 mg, Cynomorium songaricum 85 mg, black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) 85 mg, tongkat ali 85 mg, epimedium (horny goat weed) 45 mg and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) 45 mg, for 800 mg total.

Cordyceps is not one of those seven ingredients. The only mushroom in the formula is reishi, which you can read about in our reishi guide. Unlike cordyceps, which is usually taken in gram doses every day, each of these botanicals is present in milligram amounts. You can see the full label on the ingredients page or visit the Ultra Bann shop. First orders include free US shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cordyceps good for men?

For healthy men, the most realistic benefit is a small improvement in aerobic capacity and exercise tolerance after several weeks. Human evidence for testosterone, libido or sexual performance is lacking, so treat those claims with caution.

Does cordyceps increase testosterone?

It has done so in mice, but there is no reliable human evidence. Memorial Sloan Kettering states that whether cordyceps has a similar effect in people is not known.

How long does cordyceps take to work?

In trials, changes in oxygen uptake appeared after 3 to 6 weeks of daily use. One study found no significant effect after a single week, so short trials of a few days are unlikely to tell you much.

Can you take cordyceps every day?

Human studies have used daily doses of 2 to 4 g for up to 12 weeks without serious problems reported. Long-term safety data are limited, and you should check with your doctor first if you take blood thinners, NSAIDs or diabetes medication.

Which is better, Cordyceps militaris or Cordyceps sinensis?

Both have small positive trials. Most older research used Cs-4, a cultivated form of C. sinensis, while newer blends often use C. militaris. Neither has been proven superior, so choose a product that names its species and part used and is tested for heavy metals.

References

1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Cordyceps. About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products (updated February 2022). mskcc.org
2. Drugs.com. Cordyceps Uses, Benefits and Dosage. Natural Products Professional monograph (updated July 2026). drugs.com
3. Xiao Y, Huang XZ, Zhu JS. Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and assessment of fermentation product of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs-4) in enhancing aerobic capacity and respiratory function of the healthy elderly volunteers. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2004;10(3):187-192. Springer
4. Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2017;14(1):42-53. Abstract
5. Shu MY, Zhang XC, Zuo L, Jiang FL, Liang J, Li F. Effects of fungal supplementation on endurance, immune function, and hematological profiles in adult athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025;12:1670416. frontiersin.org

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for information only and is not medical advice.