Fatigue, mood swings and stress are common conditions that can affect anyone at any point in time. Fatigue, described by one in five people in a 2019 cross-sectional survey, is a typical symptom that can be linked to physical, psychological and/or social problems.1
When not dealt with, fatigue, moodiness and chronic stress can lead to more severe problems, such as burnout syndrome.
During the current global coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2), a notable increase in physical health problems and severe psychological issues have been recorded, which should not be underestimated.
The lockdown procedures, which affected one third of the world population at times, could have long-lasting psychological effects, such as mood swings, fatigue, stress, burnout or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).2–6
Confinement or isolation for several months, home schooling, the risk of unemployment and the unprecedented situation itself has affected people all over the world and left them stressed out, anxious and exhausted.
Dr Franziska Weichmann
Several clinical studies have shown that Robuvit — a standardised extract of French oak wood and a registered trademark of Horphag Research — offers an evidence-based, safe, natural and caffeine-free solution to boost energy, reduce fatigue and improve both physical performance and mood.
One of the metabolites of Robuvit, urolithin A, can help to generate new mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cells. In this process — called mitophagy — old mitochondria are depleted and nutrients can be more efficiently turned into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which provides energy to drive many cellular processes.7
Urolithin B is another metabolite in Robuvit and was found to help induce muscle growth by increasing protein synthesis and thus enhancing energy expenditure.8 This in turn makes it easier to cope with fatigue and stress.
Indeed, Robuvit has recently been shown to significantly improve vigour — including muscle strength and sexual function — in a study with otherwise healthy men aged 50–65 years who have reported a decrease in general stamina and energy.9
In addition, Robuvit helps to improve energy by increasing the production of ribosomes. Ribosomes are responsible for the synthesis of new proteins, which are needed to generate messenger hormones, enzymes, muscle fibre and others, including the signalling proteins needed to fight challenging mental health conditions.10
Fatigue and insomnia
One of the most commonly experienced symptoms when struggling with mental health problems is fatigue. A clinical study investigated the effect of 300 mg of Robuvit per day on energy levels while excluding any other flavonoid consumption.
After 4 weeks, the 20 healthy participants stated a significant improvement in energy levels as well as a similarly significant reduction of tiredness.11
Another study involving 40 individuals suffering from fatigue, insomnia and/or mood alterations showed a clear improvement of the indicated conditions — compared with control participants — after taking Robuvit (300 mg per day) for 8 weeks.
The supplemented subjects had improved moods, felt fitter in the morning, experienced less fatigue during the day and claimed to have slept 33% more (Figure 1).12
Robuvit even showed a clear effect in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome after 4 weeks of daily supplementation (300 mg). Signs and symptoms of fatigue were significantly alleviated, compared with the control group, and overall energy levels were increased by 48 %.13
Figure 1: Effect of Robuvit on sleep patterns in individuals suffering from fatigue, insomnia and/or mood alterations
Burnout
Robuvit was administered to people suffering from burnout syndrome owing to particularly stressful circumstances. Symptoms were assessed using a survey form, including criteria such as satisfaction at work, level of intolerance, emotional drainage and fatigue. After 4 weeks of daily Robuvit intake, the burnout symptoms were significantly relieved in comparison with the control participants.14
PTSD
A very severe form of psychological trauma, which can last for months or even years if left untreated, is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traumatic events such as but not limited to natural disasters, accidents, combat or assault can induce nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
In a clinical trial, Robuvit was administered for 4 weeks to patients suffering from PTSD. Robuvit was able to decrease the frequency of recurrent nightmares, memories and intense emotional distress, improve sleep and reduce fatigue (Figure 2).15
Figure 2: Percentage change of number of patients with PTSD signs/symptoms after 4 weeks
Robuvit is an oak wood extract that helps to manage psychologically challenging situations. Its effects have been proven in clinical studies with several patients suffering mood swings, fatigue and burnout syndrome. The results show that supplementing with Robuvit helps people to handle stressful situations better while improving their overall energy levels.
References
- C. Galland-Decker, et al., “Prevalence and Factors Associated with Fatigue in the Lausanne Middle-Aged Population: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey,” BMJ Open 9(8): e027070 (2019).
- L. Webb, “COVID-19 Lockdown: A Perfect Storm for Older People’s Mental Health,” J. Psychiatr. Ment. Health Nurs. (2020): doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12644.
- N. Cellini, et al., “Changes in Sleep Pattern, Sense of Time and Digital Media Use During COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy,” J. Sleep Res. (2020): e13074.
- D. Horesh and A.D. Brown, “Traumatic Stress in the Age of COVID-19: A Call to Close Critical Gaps and Adapt to New Realities,” Psychol. Trauma. 12(4), 331–335 (2020).
- S. Dubey, et al., “Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19,” Diabetes Metab. Syndr. 14(5), 779–788 (2020).
- M. Gennaro Mazza, et al., “Anxiety and Depression in COVID-19 Survivors: Role of Inflammatory and Clinical Predictors,” Brain Behav. Immun. (2020) doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.07.037.
- D. Ryu, et al., “Urolithin A Induces Mitophagy and Prolongs Lifespan in C. elegans and Increases Muscle Function in Rodents,” Nat. Med. 22(8), 879–888 (2016).
- J. Rodriguez, et al., “Urolithin B: A Newly Identified Regulator of Skeletal Muscle Mass,” J. Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 8(4), 583–597 (2017).
- A. Ledda, et al., “Exploring the Concept of Vigor and Dys-Vigor in Men of 50–65 Years: Effects of Robuvit®,” Panminerva Med. 62(3), 131–134 (2020).
- F. Natella, et al., “Absorption, Metabolism and Effects at Transcriptome Level of a Standardized French Oak Wood Extract, Robuvit, in Healthy Volunteers: Pilot Study,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 62(2), 443–453 (2014).
- Z. Országhová, et al., “An Effect of Oak-Wood Extract (Robuvit ) on Energy State of Healthy Adults — A Pilot Study,” Phytother. Res. (2015): doi: 10.1002/ptr.5368.
- G. Belcaro, et al., “Improvement in Mood, Oxidative Stress, Fatigue and Insomnia Following Supplementary Management with Robuvit®,” J. Neurosurg. Sci. 62(4), 423–427 (2018).
- G. Belcaro, et al., “Robuvit® (Quercus robur Extract) Supplementation in Subjects with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Increased Oxidative Stress. A Pilot Registry Study,” J. Neurosurg. Sci. 59(2), 105–117 (2015).
- G. Belcaro, et al., “Supplementation with Robuvit® in Subjects with Burnout Associated to High Oxidative Stress,” Minerva Med. 109(3), 211–217 (2018).
- G. Belcaro, et al., “Supplementation with Robuvit® in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Associated to High Oxidative Stress,” Minerva Med. 109(5), 363–368 (2018).
