A new study found Bacopa Monnieri Extract could have a beneficial effect on more than one wellbeing aspect, like mental wellbeing, sleep, focus, alertness and stress.
Almost 90 healthy women and men ranging in age from18 to 70 participated in this two-arm, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. The participants self reported experiencing sleep problems. The study lasted 28 days. Participants were given 150 mg of a proprietary Bacopa Monnieri extract twice daily or a placebo. Researchers were interested in assessing the impact Bacopa Monnieri had quality of life (QOL) measures like quality of sleep, alertness, and emotional wellbeing. To measure QOL outcomes researchers used the BIS (Bergen Insomnia Scale), the FOSQ-10 (Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire), the PSD (Pittsburgh Sleep Diary), the SF-36 (Short Form-36 Health Survey), and DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21).
On day 2 and on day 26, study participants were told to collect about 5 mls of saliva 30 minutes after waking up and at 10PM. On day 1 and on day 27, study participants were requested to collect saliva upon waking up, at midday and in the evening. These samples were then assessed for hormones like DHEA-S, Cortisol, Immunoglobulin A, C – reactive protein, and Melatonin. The Fatigue Biomarker Index (FBI), which objectively measures fatigue based on the ratio in concentrations found in 2 salivary peptide fragments, was also assessed.
Positive improvements in salivary biomarkers measures were seen in the group supplementing with the Bacopa Monnieri when compared to the placebo group in all of the QOL measures. Positive changes in evening melatonin, decreases in C – reactive protein and increases in morning Cortisol levels were also seen in the supplement group. Significant improvements in grogginess upon awakening were also noted. Researchers also saw statistically significant improvements to general health (12%), emotional wellbeing (14%) and pain reduction (16%) when compared to baseline.
Bacopa Monnieri is a creeping perennial plant and has been shown to have neuroprotective, adaptogenic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant effects. It also seems to play an essential role in cellular homeostasis.
Prior studies have shown Bacopa Monnieri is helpful in improving focus and alertness perhaps buy interacting on the HT1a receptors associated with serotonin uptake.
Further studies are warranted.
ASK US. WE KNOW. NOBODY KNOWS NUTRITION LIKE WE DO. NOBODY!
