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2023
Study finds that a French oak wood extract helped liver function and slowed disease progression in NAFLD patients

Study finds that a French oak wood extract helped liver function and slowed disease progression in NAFLD patients

People with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may have a new weapon to fight back against this progressive illness, which is characterized by fat buildup in liver cells in people who drink little to no alcohol. Researchers found that men who were given Robuvit® French oak wood extract for three months, in addition to standard management for the disease, experienced improved liver function and slower progression to liver fibrosis compared with a control group that followed standard NAFLD management alone.

“Robuvit® improved liver function in NAFLD and prevented progression to liver fibrosis by improving hepatic metabolism in a relatively short period of time,” authors Gianni Belcaro and colleagues concluded, in the December 2022 issue of Minerva Gastroenterology.¹

That wasn’t the only improvement worth noting. Body mass index (BMI) and fasting glucose levels, both of which tend to increase over time in NAFLD patients, significantly decreased among men who received oak wood extract. Compared with men who didn’t take the extract, patients receiving oak wood also had less liver edema, enlargement, and fibrosis, as shown on ultrasound imaging.

The benefits didn’t end there. At the beginning of the study, both groups reported similar fatigue levels. However, by the end of the study, fatigue levels declined to a greater extent among men who received French oak wood. The extract group also exhibited a significant decrease in oxidative stress.

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Apply What You've Learned: French oak wood extract

Studies have uncovered various health benefits associated with French oak wood extract intake. These reason for these positive effects could be due to compounds known as roburins, which support healthy ribosomes: molecular factories within our cells that create proteins.² This makes French oak wood a healthy all-around daily extract in addition to one that targets specific concerns.
One study revealed that intake of French oak wood extract supported recovery from influenza.³
Other research suggests French oak wood extract can help professionals experiencing work-related stress and burnout.⁴
Research also shows French oak wood extract may help improve symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.⁵ Adding the extract to four weeks of standard treatment for the disorder showed significantly fewer recurrent symptoms, better sleep, and less irritability and fatigue than standard management alone.

References

Belcaro G et al. Minerva Gastroenterol (Torino). 2022 Dec;68(4):434-441.
Natella F et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jan 15;62(2):443-53.
Ippolito E et al. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2018 May;58(5):678-683.
Belcaro G et al. Minerva Med. 2018 Jun;109(3):211-217.
Belcaro G et al. Minerva Med. 2018 Oct;109(5):363-368.

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