A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Nutrients found that supplementation with Robuvit, a branded antioxidant extract derived from French oak wood, significantly improved the general health, mood, and social functioning of patients within four weeks of a surgical procedure. Nearly 50 million outpatient surgical procedures are conducted every year in the U.S. according to the CDC, and as many as 15 percent of emergency surgeries can lead to complications in recovery.
 
In research conducted on 66 female patients who had just undergone hysterectomy procedures, some study participants supplemented with 300 mg of Robuvit daily for a period of eight weeks. Hysterectomies involve the surgical removal of a woman’s uterus, which may be necessary for women with risks of certain types of cancer, chronic pelvic pain, or serious complications during childbirth.
 
Hysterectomies are the second most commonly performed surgical procedure for women in their reproductive years. A recent Mayo Clinic study showed that hysterectomy is correlated with an increased rate in depression.
 
Researchers compared results to a placebo control group using a questionnaire and biochemical analysis of blood samples. Evaluations took place before supplementation began, and again after three and seven days, and four and eight weeks after surgery.
 
“The recovery period following an invasive surgery is critically important,” renowned health expert Dr. Fred Pescatore said. “It can affect a patient’s metnal 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. This study showing evidence that Robuvit, a natural antioxidant, can support recovery, including the mental health aspects, represents a step forward for post-operative recovery.”
 
At the four week period, the Robuvit group showed significantly improved physical and mental health recovery compared to the placebo group, including 18.1% improved general ability to perform physical tasks (compared to 3% decline in placebo group), 17.5% improvement in ability to take part in social activities (compared to 7.4% decline in placebo group), and 12.5% improvement of energy and mood (compared to 2.3% improvement in the placebo group).
 
Additionally, Robuvit supplementation resulted in significantly lower oxidative stress, where the Robuvit group increased 6.3% in oxidative stress based on blood samples compared to a 57% increase in the placebo group. The enhancement of MMP-9, an enzyme involved in the degradation of the extra-cellular matrix, was significantly reduced compard to placebo.
 
"These findings are promising for women who have undergone a hysterectomy procedure and for any post-surgery patient," Pescatore said. "I'm particularly encouraged by the improvement of oxidative stress levels for participants who supplemented with Robuvit. Oxidative stress is the body's response to an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals which can be triggered by inflammation from a surgical procedure. 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."