Health and Wellness: Psychopharma Findings Back Berocca Performance

CEBU, Philippines - No doubt you’re one of those bombarded with nutritional advices that scientifically don’t make sense.

Don’t get so surprised. Advices on a deluge of food supplements and “synthesized” herbal products lack the merit because these aren’t supported by extensive scientific literature on safety and corresponding pieces of evidence on the veracity of efficacy claims.

According to Dr. Luis Abola, medical director of Bayer Philippines, Inc. (HealthCare-Consumer Care Division), the nutritional value of herbs can be maximized only if sourced out naturally, and not as a processed product wherein other components may not be identified or may contain steroids which “naturally make one feel better.”

With Berocca though, which is an OTC (over-the-counter) top-selling multivitamin brand of Bayer HealthCare, consumers are assured of staying confidently ahead as clinical trials have already substantiated positive effect of high-dose Vitamin B complex + minerals which are the component in each effervescent tab (water-soluble vitamins).

In a symposium dubbed “Exposed: Multivitamins, Myths and the Case for Berocca Performance” held at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel last May 26, Dr. David O. Kennedy brought in facts to support findings from a recent study which concluded that supplementation with Vitamin B complex + minerals (the generic name of Berocca) can reduce stress, and significantly improve mental health and vigor as well as cognitive and physical performance among healthy individuals.

Professor Kennedy is the director of the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Center at the School of Psychology and Sport Science - Northumbria University in Newcastle, Tyne, United Kingdom and was commissioned, as principal investigator, to conduct a clinical study entitled “Mind, Body Assessment Trial to reinforce the mental and physical performance claim of Berocca.”

It was noticed that those who have a history of excessive tobacco use and alcohol intake – or who have unhealthy lifestyles - were not part of the studies as common sense tells that “supplementation won’t work in people who have a fondness for things that fail to hit optimum nutrition,” Kennedy said.

Various trials, such as the most recent study carried out by Kennedy, et.al. (2010), involving a 33-day administration with Berocca to a cohort of 210-215 healthy males from 30-55 years old and in full-time work, have substantiated the positive effects of a high-dose B-complex vitamin and mineral supplement on mental and physical performance in stressed individuals.

The said brain performance nutrition study entitled “Effects of high-dose B vitamin complex with vitamin C and minerals on subjective mood and performance in healthy males” is posted on www.nutrition-neuroscience.com and on Psychopharmacology online dated 08 May 2010.

To date, only a few studies have assessed the relationship between supplementation with nutritional products and psychological functioning in healthy group of people. The now-published placebo-controlled, double-blind study evaluated the cognitive and mood effects of Vitamin B complex + minerals (Berocca) in the said healthy individuals.

The subjects who had their daily dose of Berocca showed a considerable reduction of stress and nervousness or mental strain. In addition, intake of Berocca also led to an enhanced power of concentration, vigor and stamina. The methods used to assess the effects of the high-dose B-complex vitamin and mineral supplement are widely recognized standard methods employed in psychology including computerized serial subtraction tasks such as Serial Threes and Serial Sevens which require attention and arithmetic resources.

It was noted, though, during the symposium that men were used as variables over women as there are other factors to be considered when dealing with the study on mood and brain performance among females such as menstrual cycle and emotional issues. However, it was clarified that many women consumers attest to increased vigor, decreased tiredness, and improved analytical performance and number facility after experiencing lack of concentration/focus or increased susceptibility to infections with previous lack of minerals (calcium, magnesium and zinc).

Further, Prof. Kennedy stressed in his PowerPoint presentation that “the results of the study directly confirm previous findings.”

“Taken together, the overall outcome suggests that augmenting vitamin and mineral levels in healthy, normal populations may provide beneficial effects in terms of brain function,” said Kennedy, an expert in the relationship between supplementation with vitamins and minerals and psychological functioning.

Media representatives, pharmacists and healthcare professionals from as far as Cagayan de Oro City attended the event.

However, as the study is limited only to psychopharmacology, no conclusive pieces of evidences were presented when Kennedy was asked on the impact (or side effects) of Berocca ingredients to other vital organs like the liver responsible for breaking down substances and most especially the kidney responsible for excretory functions.