ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 2018 August;62(4):423-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0390-5616.18.04384-9

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Improvement in mood, oxidative stress, fatigue, and insomnia following supplementary management with Robuvit®

Gianni BELCARO ^{1, 2} ✉, Aristide SAGGINO ^{1, 2}, Umberto CORNELLI ^{1, 2}, Roberta LUZZI ^{1, 2}, Mark DUGALL ^{1, 2}, Morio HOSOI ^{1, 2}, Beatrice FERAGALLI ^{1, 2}, Maria R. CESARONE ^{1, 2}

¹ IRVINE3 Labs, Chieti-Pescara University, Chieti, Italy; ² International Agency for Pharma Standard Supplements (IAPPS), Chieti, Italy

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a substantial role in inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, causing cellular damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. OS also contributes to aging and severe neural disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Previous registries have documented a reduction in OS levels with Robuvit® (Horphag Research, Ltd.), an extract from wood of the French oak (Quercus robur) that provides a decrease of OS as well as relief from chronic fatigue syndrome. The aim of the present registry was to investigate the influence of Robuvit® on a group of subjects presenting with mood disorders, oxidative stress, fatigue, and insomnia.
METHODS: Forty patients were recruited from a selection of patients with high OS levels as assessed with the d-ROMs test. Twenty-two subjects formed the control group following the standard management plan. The remaining 18 subjects formed the Robuvit® supplementation group. They received three capsules of Robuvit® 100 mg per day, for 8 weeks.
RESULTS: Tolerability to the supplementation with Robuvit® was overall good, and no safety concerns were raised. Mood tests showed a significant general improvement in 13 out of 16 items of the BMIS (P<0.05) in the active treatment group. Oxidative stress levels decreased significantly with Robuvit® supplementation after 4 and 8 weeks. Fatigue and insomnia score were also significantly better in supplemented subjects (P<0.05). No changes were observed in controls.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed decrease in OS levels in our patients is probably the result of the antioxidative activity of Robuvit®, and, more precisely, of its active metabolites, the urolithins and ellagic acid.

KEY WORDS: Oxidative stress - Fatigue - Sleep initiation and maintenance disorders - Robuvit