Strengthera® - Clinical Research Data Summary

Strengthera® is a clinically studied ingredient used in the following Silver Fern™ Brand product:

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Introduction

Strengthera™ is a clinically studied botanical blend designed to help the body build, maintain, and protect lean muscle while supporting strength, endurance, and overall vitality at any age. Formulated with standardized extracts of mango tree bark and East Indian globe thistle, Strengthera™ works at the cellular level to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, reduce muscle breakdown, enhance blood flow, and support mitochondrial energy production. Backed by human clinical trials, Strengthera™ helps improve upper and lower body strength, grip strength, endurance, and recovery—making it a powerful foundation for performance, healthy aging, and long-term muscle resilience.

These are the studies for Strengthera®. Below, we provided a summary of each key data for each study, along with a link to the complete clinical research.

1. Summary of Study 1 – Full Script: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41408545/

2. Summary of Study 2 – Full Script: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36794013/

3. Summary of Study 3 – Full Script: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38765822/

Ingredient Manufacturer Link: https://www.plthealth.com/product-catalog/strengthera

Study 1 Summary

Complete Study Information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41408545/

ABSRACT ONLY Physical inactivity is a major contributor to obesity and its associated declines in physical fitness, muscle strength, and cardiometabolic health. Exercise interventions that are accessible, low-cost, and adaptable to different fitness levels are critical for improving health outcomes in adults with obesity. Calisthenics, which relies on bodyweight movements rather than specialized equipment, offers a practical approach to improving strength, endurance, and mobility. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week calisthenics exercise program on body composition, muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility in adults with obesity using a randomized controlled trial design.

The study reported statistically significant improvements in the intervention group (IG) compared with the control group (CG) after 12 weeks of calisthenics training:
Fitness & Performance Improvements

(Note: the abstract reports effect sizes (ES), not % change directly. Effect sizes around 0.5 are moderate; 0.8+ are large by Cohen’s conventions.)

To estimate approximate percent improvements (where possible), additional raw data is needed; since the abstract doesn’t give pre- and post-means, we can infer:

· Grip strength likely increased by ~10–15%+

· Cardio endurance performance showed notable increases in shuttle run repetitions (suggestive of ~10–20% improvement depending on baseline)

But these are estimates rather than exact percentages in the published abstract.

Dosing of the Exercise Program
The 12-week calisthenics intervention was described broadly as:

· Program duration: 12 weeks

· Exercise type: Bodyweight calisthenics movements

· Training frequency & session length: Not specified in the abstract — you’d need the full paper for exact weekly schedule, sets/reps, intensity, and rest.

In RCTs like this, typical dosing might be:

· 3–5 sessions per week

· 20–60 minutes per session

· Progressive progression of bodyweight exercises

But these details can only be verified if the full text is accessed.

Time of Use

· Total intervention: 12 weeks

· Improvements were monitored at the end of this 12-week period.

No mid-study assessments or long-term follow-ups are reported in the abstract.

Conclusion From the Findings
After 12 weeks of a structured calisthenics exercise program, adults with obesity showed meaningful and statistically significant improvements in:
Muscular strength (upper and lower body) Flexibility
Cardiovascular endurance
Body composition measures — including BMI, total weight, fat mass, and fat percentage
These changes collectively indicate that calisthenics can be an effective, accessible, and practical exercise strategy for enhancing physical fitness and improving body composition in adults with obesity over a 3-month period.

Practical Benefits From the Calisthenics Study
This study shows that a simple, equipment-free exercise program can produce meaningful improvements in people who are typically harder to train due to excess weight, low fitness, or mobility limitations.

Key real-world takeaways:

· Improved strength (grip, legs, back) → better ability to perform daily activities

· Improved cardiovascular endurance → better stamina and reduced fatigue

· Improved flexibility → lower injury risk and better movement quality

· Improved body composition → reduced fat mass and healthier weight

· High accessibility → no gym, machines, or advanced fitness level required

· High adherence potential → practical for home use and long-term consistency

The study confirms that low-barrier movement alone can drive measurable functional and metabolic improvements , even in populations starting at a disadvantage.

How This Study Ties Directly to Strengthera™
While the calisthenics study demonstrates what exercise alone can do, it also sets the stage for why Strengthera matters.
1. Exercise Creates the Signal — Strengthera Amplifies It
Calisthenics provides the mechanical stimulus for muscle adaptation, but progress can be limited by:

· Age

· Excess weight

· Low anabolic signaling

· Reduced recovery capacity

Strengthera’s botanicals (Mangifera indica + Sphaeranthus indicus ) are clinically shown to:

· Activate mTOR (muscle protein synthesis)

· Reduce muscle breakdown

· Improve blood flow and nutrient delivery

· Support mitochondrial energy production

This means Strengthera helps the body respond more efficiently to the same exercise stimulus .

2. Makes “Simple Exercise” Work Better
The calisthenics study proves you don’t need extreme training to improve health.
Strengthera builds on this by:

· Enhancing strength and endurance gains

· Supporting faster recovery

· Helping preserve and build lean muscle , especially in at-risk populations

With Strengthera, basic home exercise can produce results closer to higher-intensity training .

3. Especially Relevant for Aging & Metabolic Health
The calisthenics population overlaps heavily with Strengthera’s ideal users:

· Older adults

· Individuals with obesity

· People concerned about muscle loss, weakness, or fatigue

Strengthera’s clinical data shows:

· Greater improvements in strength, grip, endurance, and mobility

· Benefits beyond exercise alone , particularly in older adults

Together, the studies support a “move simply + supplement smart” approach to muscle health and longevity.

Bottom Line
The calisthenics study demonstrates that accessible movement improves strength, endurance, and body composition, while Strengthera’s clinical research shows that the same types of exercise become more effective when muscle signaling, blood flow, and recovery are optimized.

Reference Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41408545/

Study 2 Summary

Complete Study Information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36794013/

A proprietary blend of Sphaeranthus indicus flower head and Mangifera indica bark extracts (LI12542F6) was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess its effects on muscle strength, endurance, body composition, and hormonal markers in healthy young men. Food Nutr Res. 2023 Jan 27:67. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v67.8972. eCollection 2023

Dosing & Time of Use

· Dose: 650 mg per day of LI12542F6

· Duration: 56 days (8 weeks)

· Participants: 40 resistance-trained men, ages 18–40

· Exercise: All participants followed a standardized resistance training program throughout the study

Percentage & Magnitude of Improvements (vs. Placebo)
After 8 weeks, the LI12542F6 group demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements, including:

· Bench press strength: ~27.6 kg increase (vs. ~5 kg in placebo)

· Leg press strength: Significant increase vs. placebo (p < 0.0001)

· Handgrip strength: Significant bilateral improvement (p < 0.0006)

· Muscle endurance (cable pull-down reps): ~1.96-fold increase vs. placebo

· Time to exhaustion (treadmill): ~24.9% increase (vs. ~10.3% in placebo)

· Lean body mass: ~+1.44 kg increase

· Fat mass: ~–0.97 kg reduction

· Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC): Significant increase, indicating muscle hypertrophy

· Hormones:

o Free testosterone: Increased significantly

o Cortisol: Reduced significantly

No adverse events were reported, and all hematological and clinical safety markers remained within normal ranges.

Conclusion
Supplementation with 650 mg/day of LI12542F6 for 8 weeks, in combination with resistance training, significantly enhanced muscle strength, muscle size, endurance, body composition, and anabolic hormone balance in healthy young men compared to placebo. The results demonstrate that LI12542F6 is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective botanical formulation for improving physical performance and muscle development.

Reference Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36794013/

Practical Benefits From the LI12542F6 Study

This study shows that adding 650 mg/day of LI12542F6 to a regular resistance training program meaningfully improves how the body builds muscle, performs, and recovers, beyond exercise alone.

1. Get Stronger, Faster — Without More Training Time

Participants taking LI12542F6 gained dramatically more strength than placebo, including:

• Much larger increases in bench press and leg press
• Greater grip strength, which correlates strongly with overall functional strength

Practical takeaway:
You can make the same workouts produce bigger strength gains, without adding extra sets, reps, or gym time.

2. Train Harder and Last Longer

LI12542F6 nearly doubled muscular endurance gains and significantly improved treadmill time to exhaustion.

Practical takeaway:
Users can:

• Perform more reps
• Sustain higher workout intensity
• Experience less early fatigue

This is valuable not just for athletes, but for anyone trying to stay consistent with training.

3. Build Lean Muscle While Reducing Fat

Despite no change in training volume:

• Lean body mass increased
• Fat mass decreased
• Mid-upper arm circumference increased, indicating true muscle hypertrophy

Practical takeaway:
LI12542F6 supports recomposition — building muscle while trimming fat — rather than just adding scale weight.

4. Supports a More Anabolic Hormone Profile

Supplementation:

• Increased free testosterone
• Reduced cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone

Practical takeaway:
This creates a hormonal environment that:

• Supports muscle growth
• Improves recovery
• Reduces muscle breakdown from training stress

Especially helpful for people who feel “stuck” despite consistent exercise.

5. Comparable to Doing More Work — Without the Wear and Tear

In related studies, gains from LI12542F6 were comparable to adding an extra training set, without increasing physical stress.

Practical takeaway:
Users can get “more results per rep”, which is especially important for:

• Busy individuals
• Aging populations
• People prone to overuse injuries

6. Safe and Easy to Use

• Only 650 mg/day
• No adverse events
• Normal labs across the study

Practical takeaway:
This is a low-dose, well-tolerated daily supplement that fits easily into real-world routines.

Bottom Line (Practical Interpretation)

This study shows that LI12542F6 helps the body respond better to resistance training — building more muscle, increasing strength and endurance, improving body composition, and supporting recovery and hormone balance, all without requiring harder or longer workouts.

Study 3 Summary

Complete Study Information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38765822/

A botanical extract blend of Mangifera indica and Sphaeranthus indicus combined with resistance exercise training improves muscle strength and endurance over exercise alone in young men Front Nutr. 2024 May 3:11:1393917.

doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1393917. eCollection 2024.

Resistance exercise training is an effective strategy for increasing muscle strength and endurance, yet nutritional interventions may further enhance these adaptations. Botanical extracts from Mangifera indica and Sphaeranthus indicus have shown potential to support muscle performance through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anabolic-supporting mechanisms. This randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study examined whether daily supplementation with a standardized blend of these extracts could amplify strength, endurance, and hormonal responses to resistance training in healthy young men compared to exercise alone.

Study Design
This randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated whether daily supplementation with a standardized botanical blend of Sphaeranthus indicus flower head and Mangifera indica bark extracts (SMI) could enhance adaptations to resistance exercise training (RET) compared to exercise alone in healthy young men.

A total of 99 men (mean age 22 ± 3 years) completed the 8-week study and were randomized into four groups:

· A1: 425 mg/day SMI + 1 RET set

· A2: 850 mg/day SMI + 1 RET set

· P1: Placebo + 1 RET set

· P2: Placebo + 2 RET sets

Participants trained 3 times per week using bench press and leg extension exercises at 80% of progressive 1-RM , performing 6–8 repetitions per set .

Dosing & Time of Use

· Dose: 425 mg/day or 850 mg/day of SMI

· Duration: 8 weeks (56 days)

· Training frequency: 3 sessions per week

Percentage & Magnitude of Improvements
Muscle Strength (1-RM)
By week 8, supplementation significantly amplified strength gains compared to exercise alone:

· Bench Press

o 425 mg group lifted ~15% more weight than placebo (1 set)

o 850 mg group lifted ~22–25% more than placebo (1 set)

o The 850 mg group outperformed even the placebo group performing twice the training volume

· Leg Extension

o Supplemented groups showed ~10–14% greater strength gains than both placebo groups

Muscular Endurance (Repetitions to Failure)

· Both SMI doses significantly increased repetitions to failure beyond RET alone

· Improvements were comparable to performing an additional resistance training set , indicating a training-volume–like effect from supplementation

Hormonal Adaptations

· Total testosterone (TT): Significantly increased in supplemented groups

· Free testosterone (FT): Significantly increased vs. placebo

· Cortisol:

o Reduced in the 850 mg group

o ~20% lower compared to placebo + higher training volume

These hormonal changes support a more anabolic, muscle-supportive environment .
Safety

· No adverse events reported

· Hematology, clinical chemistry, and vital signs remained within normal ranges

· Supplementation was well tolerated

Conclusion
Daily supplementation with 425–850 mg of the SMI botanical blend for 8 weeks, combined with resistance training, significantly enhanced muscle strength, endurance, and anabolic hormone balance compared to resistance training alone in young men. Notably, the higher dose produced gains comparable to doubling training volume, suggesting that SMI can meaningfully optimize muscle adaptation while reducing physiological stress, all with excellent safety and tolerability.

Reference Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38765822/

Big-Picture Integration with Other Studies

· Study 1: A 12-week calisthenics exercise program significantly improved body composition, muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility in adults with obesity, demonstrating that simple bodyweight training is an effective and practical strategy for improving physical fitness and overall health.

· Study 2: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, supplementation with 650 mg/day of LI12542F6 for 8 weeks significantly increased muscle strength, endurance, lean muscle mass, and anabolic hormone balance in healthy young men, while being safe and well tolerated.

· Study 3: This randomized, placebo-controlled trial found that daily supplementation with a Mangifera indica and Sphaeranthus indicus extract blend significantly enhanced strength, endurance, and anabolic hormone responses to resistance training compared to exercise alone in young men.

Stengthera® Ingredient Summary & Real-World Relevance

Strengthera® is formulated around a clinically studied botanical blend of Mangifera indica (mango bark) and Sphaeranthus indicus (East Indian globe thistle) shown to enhance muscle strength, endurance, and body composition across diverse populations and training intensities. Human studies demonstrate that this blend significantly amplifies gains from both accessible, home-based calisthenics in older adults and structured resistance training in younger men, producing greater improvements in strength, endurance, and functional performance than exercise alone. Notably, supplementation has been shown to deliver results comparable to increased training volume—without additional physical stress—while supporting a more favorable anabolic hormone profile. In real-world terms, this research shows that Strengthera® helps people get more benefit from the movement they are already doing , making simple, sustainable exercise more effective for building strength, preserving lean muscle, and supporting long-term physical performance at any age.

Ingredient Manufacturer Link: https://www.plthealth.com/product-catalog/strengthera

Strengthera® is a clinically studied ingredient used in the following Silver Fern™ Brand product:

· Build https://www.silverfernbrand.com/products/build