Improving Physical and Mental Fatigue with SOD Supplementation
Physical and mental fatigue are common problems for many people in the modern world, often caused by factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and insufficient physical activity. In recent years, there has been growing interest in supplements containing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other antioxidants to improve physical and mental performance and reduce fatigue symptoms.
Study on Extramel®: A Promising SOD Supplement
A recent study by Carillon et al. (2014) investigated the safety and efficacy of Extramel®, a supplement containing a patented form of SOD extracted from cantaloupe melon, in healthy adults. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 60 healthy adults aged 20-65 years who reported experiencing mild to moderate levels of mental and physical fatigue for at least six months. Participants received either Extramel® or a placebo supplement for eight weeks, with a four-week washout period between treatments.
The study, conducted by researchers from Bionov, Avignon, France and the University of Montpellier, aimed to evaluate the effects of this SOD supplement on stress, fatigue, and quality of life in healthy individuals.
Results showed that SOD-melon concentrate supplementation significantly decreased perceived stress scores and improved quality of life compared to placebo after four weeks. Physical fatigue scores were significantly reduced at four and six weeks, while mental fatigue scores were significantly reduced at four and eight weeks. No significant adverse effects were reported with Extramel® supplementation during the study.
Potential Mechanisms and Future Directions
The beneficial effects on quality of life and fatigue may be due to decreased psychological stress, which often causes such disorders. By increasing antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, Extramel® supplementation may alleviate the effects of psychological stress that contribute to fatigue and improve quality of life. This antioxidant action is complementary to other powerful antioxidants like glutathione, which is available as Eslite Glutathione in the Philippines.
This study provides promising evidence that SOD-melon concentrate supplementation can effectively reduce stress and fatigue in healthy people and improve overall quality of life. Further research should investigate potential mechanisms of action and identify optimal dosage and duration for different populations with varying stress and fatigue levels. The synergistic effects of combining SOD-melon concentrate with other antioxidants like glutathione and SAG (S-Acetyl Glutathione) could also be explored, as these are made available by Eslite in the Philippines. Overall, this study suggests SOD-melon concentrate supplementation, possibly in combination with other antioxidants, may be valuable for health professionals aiming to improve patients’ physical and mental well-being and support health goals.
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