French oak wood extract may support recovery post-surgery, says recent study

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A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Nutrients¹ found that supplementation with an extract of French oak wood called Robuvit (Horphag Research; Hoboken, NJ) significantly improved the general and mental health of patients recovering from hysterectomies over four weeks. In the study, 66 women were randomized to receive either 300 mg of Robuvit or placebo daily.

Using the SF-36 questionnaire, researchers evaluated the health and function of subjects. Results showed that compared to placebo, subject taking the French oak wood extract saw significant improvements in general health (+16.5%), social functioning (+22.5%), and mental health (+11.7%). Subjects taking Robuvit also saw significantly lower levels of oxidative stress after four weeks, compared to placebo.

"The recovery period following an invasive surgery is critically important. It can affect a patient's mental health, and their ability to perform daily physical tasks as their body recuperates. Nearly 15 percent of patients experience post-operative complications during the recovery period and studies show significantly higher risk of depression for women who have undergone this surgery," states family physician and nutritional health expert Fred Pescatore, MD, in a press release. "This study showing evidence that Robuvit, a natural antioxidant, can support that recovery, including the mental health aspects, represents a step forward for post-operative recovery."

According to the National Women’s Health Network, hysterectomies are the second most commonly performed surgical procedure for women in their reproductive years. “These findings are promising for women who have undergone a hysterectomy procedure and for any post-surgery patient," adds Pescatore. "I'm particularly encouraged by the improvement of oxidative stress levels for participants who supplemented with Robuvit. High levels of oxidative stress can cause the body to take longer to recover and can affect mood. The improvement in the Robuvit test group shows that this antioxidant helps the body recover more efficiently and supports mood."
 

References:

1. Ferianec V et al. “The Oak–wood Extract Robuvit Improves Recovery and Oxidative Stress after Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.” Nutrients, vol. 12 (2020): 913