Gnosis by Lesaffre’s clinically-proven salidroside adaptogen certified for sports nutrition

Gnosis by Lesaffre reveals its landmark ingredient, Landkind Pure Salidroside, is set to shake up the sports nutrition world following a “first-of-its-kind” clinical study on its benefits for exercise performance. Salidroside is the bioactive compound in Rhodiola rosea, a well-known adaptogen traditionally used to support energy and stress resilience.

The Rhodiola-derived compound has achieved Informed Ingredient Certification by LGC Assure — a globally respected quality assurance mark for banned substance testing — and has also secured US FDA-acceptable structure-function claims specific to athletic and active lifestyles.

Gnosis by Lesaffre says the developments mark a significant advance for the natural ingredient, which now stands out as a clinically validated, clean-label option for performance-focused supplement brands.

“For brands committed to both environmental responsibility and product efficacy, Landkind Pure Salidroside represents a breakthrough solution that offers biodiversity protection and ethical sourcing with performance benefits,” says Nicole Lemus, the company’s VP of sales in the Americas. “Gnosis provides full support for brand owners seeking defined structure-function claims language for use on product labels.”

Clean and effective

Gnosis by Lesaffre emphasizes that Landkind Pure Salidroside now boasts a suite of approved structure-function claims highly relevant to sports nutrition formulations. These include benefits for enhanced oxygen utilization, improved physical performance, support for muscle function, and better mood and stress management.

Additionally, the LGC Assure certification confirms that Landkind Pure Salidroside is tested for more than 285 substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), making it suitable for inclusion in products for elite and drug-tested athletes. Each batch is analyzed in ISO 17025-accredited labs.

While WADA does not endorse or certify products directly, the Informed Ingredient program is recognized worldwide as a benchmark for ensuring clean sport compliance.

“The publication of our important clinical study has been central to securing both Informed Certification and a range of structure-function claims dedicated specifically to the branded Landkind Pure Salidroside,” Hélène Charier, Gnosis’ regulatory and intellectual property director, explains. “This is also the first study to demonstrate that supplementing with salidroside exerts positive impacts on exercise performance.”

Science-backed benefits

The company also highlights that a recent study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, is the first to demonstrate that pure salidroside supplementation enhances key performance markers in physically active individuals.

It also underscores that, unlike conventional Rhodiola rosea extracts — which can take up to five years to grow and offer a 1% salidroside yield — Landkind Pure Salidroside is made via a proprietary precision fermentation process. 

Gnosis by Lesaffre says this ensures a high-purity, standardized ingredient and sidesteps the environmental cost of harvesting a plant recently added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) protected species list.

“These structure-function claims are tied directly to the branded ingredient itself, enabling clear, science-backed communication about the ingredient’s function on labeling to brands, formulators, and consumers alike,” Charier concludes.

“The scientific validation creates exciting new possibilities for innovative product applications that can target specific athletic needs with precision and credibility.”