ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Pediatrica 2018 October;70(5):425-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.18.05213-1

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Mononucleosis-related fatigue: supplementary management with Robuvit®

Shu HU ^{1, 2}, Gianni BELCARO ^{1, 2} ✉, Andrea LEDDA ², Marcello CORSI ^{1, 2}, Roberto COTELLESE ², Beatrice FERAGALLI ², Morio HOSOI ^{1, 2}, Mark DUGALL ^{1, 2}, Patrizia TORINO-RODRIGUEZ ^{1, 2}, Maria R. CESARONE ^{1, 2}

¹ IRVINE3 Labs, Department of Medical and Oral Sciences, and Biotechnologies, G. D’Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy; ² International Agency for Pharma Standard Supplements (IAPPS), Chieti-Pescara, Italy

BACKGROUND: Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a common disease of adolescents and young adults, characterized by a specific triad of symptoms represented by fever, sore throat and lymphadenopathy. IM may also affect older adults, with different, more intense signs and symptoms such as fatigue, general malaise, and diffuse body pain. The aim of this four-week-registry study was to evaluate the effects of Robuvit® supplementation on the main consequences of mononucleosis, particularly fatigue, in otherwise healthy adults.
METHODS: All patients enrolled in this registry study experienced an episode of IM characterized by fatigue, a general feeling of unwellness, diffuse body and muscular pain, leukocytosis, and high levels of oxidative stress, at least 2 to 4 weeks prior to inclusion. Fever had already resolved at inclusion. All included patients were positively tested for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Subjects were divided in two groups: those receiving the standard management (SM, N.=26; vitamin B, C, and D, balanced healthy diet, regular sleeping schedule, physical activity, 2 mg copper), and those treated with SM plus Robuvit® (N.=24) supplementation (300 mg/day).
RESULTS: Supplementation with Robuvit® was safe, overall tolerability was good, and no side effects were reported. All patients completed the four-week treatment. After 4 weeks of treatment, a significant reduction in the rate of symptoms was evident in the Robuvit® group compared to the control group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with Robuvit® is safe, well tolerated, and effective in controlling oxidative stress levels and improving fatigue and other symptoms related to IM episodes during the convalescence period.

KEY WORDS: Robuvit - Oxidative stress - Infectious mononucleosis - Fatigue