Milk Casein Formula May Alleviate Burnout

Workplace burnout has attracted plenty of attention in recent years. Whether it’s stress-induced exhaustion or a general lack of involvement in work, burnout can be a crippling force for workers in any industry.

One potential source of relief may come in the form of a casozepine (milk casein) blend called TARGET 1, which performed well in a recent clinical trial of 87 participants. The TARGET 1 formula featured Lactium, a milk casein product from Pharmachem Laboratories (Kearny, NJ), which has been described as having a “benzodiazepine-like profile” by the French pharmacopoeia, according to a press release.

The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study took place at the University of Bordeaux (France), where 44 participants suffering from some degree of burnout aged 18-65 were given two, 640 mg TARGET 1 tablets to take twice daily for 12 weeks. A comparable group of 41 participants received a placebo. All participants underwent verbal interviews on their life and mental state at the beginning and conclusion of the study. In addition to Lactium, TARGET 1 includes extramel, a melon extract rich in anti-oxidants; taurine, an ingredient believed to have energizing properties; and the adaptogenic herb Eleutherococcus senticosus, which may increase the body’s resistance to stress, said researchers.

At the outset of the study, all participants reported feeling at least “present” burnout exposure as evaluated on the Burnout Measure Scale (BMS-10), which is based on the degree to which participants score themselves on 10 parameters, such as feeling tired, disappointed with people, hopeless, trapped, helpless, depressed, physically weak, worthless/like a failure, difficulty sleeping, or feeling of “I’ve had it.” The majority of participants reported “high” burnout, with a few reporting “very high” burnout.

By the end of the 12 weeks, 14 of the placebo participants still had a “high” level of burnout compared with 26 at the beginning of the trial, while only two participants taking TARGET 1 reported a “high” level of burnout compared with 33 at the trial’s outset. The supplement group also presented greater improvement on the Maslach’s Burnout Inventory Scale-Human Service Survey for professional fatigue than the placebo group.

The researchers concluded that “the dietary supplement TARGET 1, when used in association with verbal expression, might represent a primary tool in the care of people affected by burnout in the future.”

Jacquet A et al. “Burnout: Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of TARGET 1 for professional fatigue syndrome (burnout).” Journal of International Medical Research, vol. 43, no. 1 (February, 2015): 54-66.

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com

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