About 20% of Americans do not feel energized throughout the day.

So much so that it interferes with normal life.¹

Despite adequate sleep and nutrition, this feeling of fatigue results in complaints ranging from depression, to physical weakness, and body pain.

Scientists have found that an extract of French oak wood contains compounds that fight fatigue by working at the cellular level.³

In human studies, an oak wood extract reduced symptoms of fatigue, including weakness and exhaustion.^3-5

Among the most significant results, this extract led to a:⁶

• 44% reduction in un-refreshing sleep,
• 63% reduction in muscle pain,
• 51% reduction in joint pain,
• 51% reduction in sensitivity to noise, foods, medications, and chemicals,
• 58% reduction in depression, and
• 49% reduction in mood swings.

This can help people with chronic fatigue syndrome or with less severe symptoms of fatigue.

How Oak Wood Works

Oak trees are known for their strength and durability. They can live for centuries.

Their resilience comes, in part, from their production of compounds called roburins. These are protective tannins found only in oak trees.⁷

Researchers have recently studied how roburins affect human cells.

They discovered that roburins modulate genes involved in the production of ribosomes,⁸ tiny cellular structures that create proteins and are closely involved in the functioning of every tissue, organ, and system.^9-11

Fighting Fatigue

A team of Italian scientists conducted a study to assess the effects of oak wood extract in people with fatigue.⁶

One group of patients was treated with 200 mg daily of French oak wood extract for at least six months. A second group received no treatment.

The oak wood extract group experienced a:⁶

• 44% reduction in un-refreshing sleep,
• 18% reduction in weakness and exhaustion,
• 29% reduction in short-term memory impairment,
• 63% reduction in muscle pain,
• 51% reduction in joint pain,
• 33% reduction in headaches, and
• 47% reduction in tender lymph nodes in the armpit and neck.

Untreated patients showed no significant changes.

The patients taking the oak wood extract were also found to have a:⁶

• 51% reduction in sensitivity to noise, foods, medications, and chemicals,
• 38% reduction in dizziness,
• 58% reduction in depression,
• 49% reduction in mood swings,
• 40% reduction in weight fluctuation,
• 24% reduction in alcohol intolerance,
• 39% reduction in allergies, and
• 29% reduction in visual disturbances.

The participants were then evaluated using a standardized mood scale.

Patients taking oak wood extract had significant reductions in negative items such as feeling gloomy, fed-up, grouchy, sad, or tired.⁶

These patients also reported significant increases in positive items, like feeling active, happy, peppy, caring, calm, and loving.⁶

On this scale, average overall mood scores in treated subjects rose from -6.93 at baseline to +4.32 after six months. For the untreated group, the average score only rose from -6.5 to -3.4.6

Alleviating Mononucleosis-Related Fatigue

It’s often difficult to pin point a cause of fatigue.

But a common one is infectious mononucleosis, or “mono.”

Though it’s most widespread among teenagers, it can strike at any age, and affects older adults with intense symptoms such as fatigue and body pain.¹²

Scientists designed a clinical study to specifically evaluate the impact of oak wood on these symptoms.¹³

All enrolled patients had recently experienced an episode of infectious mononucleosis that led to fatigue, high levels of oxidative stress, feelings of unwellness, and diffuse body pain.

For four weeks, all patients received a program of diet and sleep hygiene counselling, along with a multivitamin supplement. One group also received 300 mg of oak wood extract daily.¹³

After four weeks, reductions in fatigue, malaise, body aches, and swollen neck lymph nodes were all significantly lower in the oak wood extract group compared to controls. Additionally, participants who received oak wood extract were able to return to normal activities 44% sooner than controls.

Also, after four weeks, high levels of oxidative stress were present in over 50% of controls but in only 16.6% of oak wood extract recipients. Importantly, levels of inflammation-related white blood cells were significantly lower after four weeks in the oak wood extract group, and fewer in the oak wood group had excessive numbers of leukocytes, a specific type of white blood cell.¹³

Targeting Burnout

Fatigue and exhaustion are characteristic symptoms of burnout, a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress.¹⁴

To evaluate the effects of oak wood extract on this condition, scientists selected 108 people with burnout syndrome. For four weeks, half of them received 300 mg of the extract daily, while the others did not. All 108 received dietary counselling, one gram of vitamin C per day, supplemental minerals including magnesium, and electrolyte drinks.¹⁵

The groups taking oak wood extract had improved symptoms. Compared to the untreated group, they showed:¹⁵

• Reduced strain from interactions at work,
• More effectiveness in their work and work relationships,
• Decreased emotional drain and intolerance,
• Decreased need for giving up,
• Higher levels of satisfaction, and
• Greater enthusiasm and interest.

Oxidative stress was also significantly reduced in the treated group.¹⁵

Summary

Roburins from oak wood boost production of ribosomes needed for cellular protein synthesis.

Daily doses of 200-300 mg of roburins found in French oak wood extract have been shown to improve many fatigue-related symptoms and syndromes.

Human studies further demonstrate that this oak wood extract can reduce exhaustion, improve sleep, boost mood, and more.

References

1. Available at: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/fatigue/article_em.htm. Accessed July 16, 2020.
2. Bested AC, Marshall LM. Review of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: an evidence-based approach to diagnosis and management by clinicians. Rev Environ Health. 2015;30(4):223-49.
3. Ippolito E, Belcaro G, Luzzi R, et al. Robuvit(R): improvement of fatigue in medical convalescence. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018 May;58(5):678-83.
4. Belcaro G, Saggino A, Cornelli U, et al. Improvement in mood, oxidative stress, fatigue, and insomnia following supplementary management with Robuvit(R). J Neurosurg Sci. 2018 Aug;62(4):423-7.
5. Orszaghova Z, Waczulikova I, Burki C, et al. An Effect of Oak-Wood Extract (Robuvit(R)) on Energy State of Healthy Adults-A Pilot Study. Phytother Res. 2015 Aug;29(8):1219-24.
6. Belcaro G, Cornelli U, Luzzi R, et al. Improved management of primary chronic fatigue syndrome with the supplement French oak wood extract (Robuvit(R)): a pilot, registry evaluation. Panminerva Med. 2014 Mar;56(1):63-72.
7. Available at: https://www.robuvit.com/fileadmin/robuvit/robuvit_brochure_EN_161_WEB.pdf. Accessed July 17, 2020.
8. Natella F, Leoni G, Maldini M, et al. Absorption, metabolism, and effects at transcriptome level of a standardized French oak wood extract, Robuvit, in healthy volunteers: pilot study. J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jan 15;62(2):443-53.
9. Frank J. The ribosome--a macromolecular machine par excellence. Chem Biol. 2000 Jun;7(6):R133-41.
10. Thomson E, Ferreira-Cerca S, Hurt E. Eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis at a glance. J Cell Sci. 2013 Nov 1;126(Pt 21):4815-21.
11. Yamashita D, Sano Y, Adachi Y, et al. hDREF regulates cell proliferation and expression of ribosomal protein genes. Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Mar;27(6):2003-13.
12. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/infectious-mononucleosis. Accessed July 23, 2020.
13. Hu S, Belcaro G, Ledda A, et al. Mononucleosis-related fatigue: supplementary management with Robuvit(R). Minerva Pediatr. 2018 Oct;70(5):425-9.
14. Available at: https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/. Accessed July 17, 2020.
15. Belcaro G, Hosoi M, Feragalli B, et al. Supplementation with Robuvit(R) in subjects with burnout associated to high oxidative stress. Minerva Med. 2018 Jun;109(3):211-7.
16. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/healthcare-providers/diagnosis/iom-2015-diagnostic-criteria.html. Accessed July 23, 2020.