Effects of a gliadin-combined plant superoxide dismutase extract on self-perceived fatigue in women aged 50-65 years.

Fatigue syndromes exist on a continuum of severity from mild and transient to the disabling chronic fatigue syndrome, with oxidative stress linked to its pathogenesis. A thermolabile gliadin-combined plant superoxide dismutase (SOD) extract has shown potential in clinical trials as a therapeutic antioxidant. This study investigated the effects of 12 weeks of 500 mg/day of a SOD/gliadin supplement on fatigue. Thirty-eight women aged 50-65 years with self-perceived fatigue entered this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The primary outcome measure was general fatigue determined by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI). Secondary outcome measures included other measures of fatigue from the MFI and blood measures of oxidative stress, antioxidant status and hormones. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between, or within groups, for decreases in general fatigue (active=1.6%, placebo=4.1%). There were no within or between group differences (P>0.05) in other measures of fatigue (physical fatigue, reduced activity, reduced motivation, mental fatigue and total fatigue score). In regard to the biochemical measures, there were non-significant (P>0.05) differences in increases in plasma SOD activity (active=7.1%, placebo=12.2%), plasma GPx activity (active=2.4%, placebo=0.7%), red blood cell GPx activity (active=9.8%, placebo=4.4%). Markers of oxidative stress were decreased but there were no differences (P>0.05) within or between groups; malondialdehyde (active=4.1%, placebo=1.6%), F-2 isoprostanes (active=14.7%, placebo=22.4%). There was a trend (P=0.08) for a decrease in cortisol in the active group (24.6%), however this was not significantly different from the decrease in the placebo participants (4.1%). DHEA differences were not significant (P<0.05) and declined 1.3% in the active group and 14.4% in the placebo group. In summary, the thermolabile SOD/gliadin supplement had no significant effect on self-perceived fatigue, antioxidants, oxidative stress or hormones in women aged 50-65 years.