抗氧化成份 - 香瓜SOD可以抗壓力還有疲勞

一份法國的研究指出，每日攝取高含量SOD香瓜萃出 物可以紓緩壓力還有疲勞。一份隨機,雙盲，有安慰劑對照的臨床研究的結果顯示，每日補充140國際單位的SOD可以改善睡眠，精神集中度還有煩躁。香瓜抽出物是一種富含抗氧化劑的岐化酶(SOD)。在1968年第一次被發現時被稱為”生命之酶”，並同時是第一個由細胞傳導的抗氧化劑。它被認為比抗氧化維他命還有效，因為它啟動了人體本身生產自體的抗氧化物，例如:氧化氫和胱甘肽酶。幾項研究顯示有心理壓力和細胞內的氧化壓力之間的連結。“ 我們想要測試如果提高身體抗氧化的一個能力是否可以幫住抵抗疲倦。”在35個接受含有SOD的膠囊的研究對象裡，顯示疲勞症狀有改善。在為期4週的研究結果顯示，疼痛、煩躁、睡眠困擾還有疲憊跟安慰劑組相比都有明顯的改善，並指出沒有任何的副作用。

而最近在倉鼠上使用相同成份的研究則顯示，當高脂肪飲食搭配每日攝取富含SOD香瓜萃出物可以降低膽固醇，動脈硬化還有減輕體重。

Antioxidant-rich melon extract may ease stress, fatigue

Daily consumption of a melon extract rich in the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) may relieve stress and fatigue, suggest findings from a French study.

A daily supplement containing 140 international units of SOD was associated with improvements in sleep, concentration levels, and reduced irritability, compared to the placebo, according to findings from a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical study.

The pilot study used the commercially-available extract Extramel, produced by France’s Bionov and distributed internationally by Seppic. Researchers from both companies, in collaboration with scientists from the University Henri Poincaré and Isoclin, a clinical research organization, report their findings in Nutrition Journal.

The melon-extract is a rich source of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Dubbed 'the enzyme of life' when first discovered in 1968, it is the first antioxidant mobilised by the cell for defence. It is thought to be more powerful than antioxidant vitamins as it activates the body's production of its own antioxidants, including catalase and glutathione peroxidase.

“Several studies have shown that there is a link between psychological stress and intracellular oxidative stress,” explained lead author Marie-Anne Milesi from Seppic.

“We wanted to test whether augmenting the body's ability to deal with oxidative species might help a person's ability to resist burnout. The 35 people in our study who received capsules containing superoxide dismutase showed improvement in several signs and symptoms of perceived stress and fatigue,” she added.

Study details

Milesi and her co-workers recruited 70 healthy volunteers aged between 30 and 55, who reported feeling daily stress and fatigue. The volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either the melon extract (10 mg Extramel corresponding to 140 IU SOD per capsule) or placebo for four weeks.

Furthermore, the researchers noted no adverse effects following four weeks of supplementation with the melon extract.

At the end of the study, significant improvements in pain, irritability, sleep troubles and weariness scores in the Extramel group of 30, 22, 38, and 26 per cent were observed, compared to the placebo group.

There was also a trend for improvements in attitude, and concentration, said the researchers, although these did not reach statistical significance.

A strong placebo effect was noted, however, which the researchers noted was to be expected when studying subjective feelings like stress.

“The placebo effect was only present during the first 7 days of supplementation and not beyond,” said Milesi. “It will be interesting to confirm these effects and better understand the action of antioxidants on stress in further studies with a larger number of volunteers and a longer duration.”

Recent studies with the same ingredient reported that, in hamsters at least, daily SOD-rich melon extracts may lower cholesterol levels and prevent hardening of the arteries, as well lowering body weight when consumed in combination with a high-fat diet.

資料來源：Nutrition Journal
http://www.nutritionj.com/home/
"Effect of an oral supplementation with a proprietary melon juice concentrate (Extramel) on stress and fatigue in healthy people: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial"
Authors: M.-A. Milesi, D. Lacan, H. Brosse, D. Desor, C. Notin