A melon juice extract may have the ability to relieve stress and help people avoid "burn-out", researchers report today.
French researchers say a scientific study, involving some 70 volunteers, showed that the melon juice concentrate could effectively relieve the symptoms of stress and tiredness.
The concentrate, known as Extramel, is said to be rich in enzymes called superoxide dismutase.
During the study, reported in the Nutrition Journal, half the volunteers took the extract and half, unknowingly, took a harmless starch capsule. All the participants showed improvements in their mental health – but those who took the melon extract showed the greatest improvement.
Researcher Marie-Anne Milesi said: "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 said the improvements in those who took the real pill lasted longer than those who took the placebo.
Ms Milesi works for the distributor of the melon extra, Seppic, of Paris, France, and worked on the research with Professor Didier Desor, of the Université Henri Poincaré. Vandoeuvre-lés-Nancy, France.
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: Marie-Anne Milesi, Dominique Lacan, Herve Brosse, Didier Desor and Claire Notin; Nutrition Journal
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