Melon Juice May Alleviate Stress, Fatigue

Daily intake of a melon juice concentrate may help to lessen stress and fatigue, according to a new study published in Nutrition Journal. A pilot study tested the effects of oral supplementation with a supplement containing Extramel, a proprietary freeze-dried melon juice concentrate that is rich in antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes. SOD enzymes are thought to fight against oxidative cell damage, which several studies have linked to perceived feelings of stress.

The randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was performed on 70 healthy volunteers between the ages of 30 and 55 years old. The subjects took an oral supplement containing 10 mg of Extramel, or a placebo, once daily over the course of four weeks. Feelings of stress and fatigue were measured using four psychometric scales: FARD, PSS-14, SF-12, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

Subjects who took the melon juice concentrate showed decreased symptoms of stress and fatigue, including less physical pain, less trouble sleeping, less trouble concentrating, less weariness, and less irritability. No adverse effects were noted.

Researchers also reported that the placebo effect was very high for the first seven days of supplementation, perhaps because the subjects studied did not have very high levels of fatigue and stress. According to researchers, subjects... stress and fatigue corresponded with a 'normal everyday level of fatigue and stress of working people in developed countries.' They noted that a higher base level of stress and fatigue might lead to a more significant difference between the placebo and the supplemented group.

On a side note, researchers noted that although SOD helped to decrease trouble sleeping, it did not cause sleepiness, which can be a side effect of many sedatives.

Extramel is an ingredient offered by Bionov. High in antioxidants, Extramel contains concentrated melon juice microencapsulated in a vegetal coating, as well as other ingredients that are part of the antioxidants naturally found in melon pulp, such as catalase, glutathione, vitamins, caratenoids, and selenium.