Reliv's Exclusive Bioactive Lunasin

Download Full Study

Radiation induced fatigue is a well defined symptom linked to radiation therapy. There has not been an adequate treatment approach, with little having a significant effect. Physical exercise is considered very important, but patients are often too tired to have a consistent regimen. Mind-body therapies can be helpful, but most patients do not pursue these (acupuncture, meditation, message therapies, etc). And there are the issues of a more pronounced “cancer related fatigue,” complex in etiology and suggested intervention techniques. Further, many of these patients are on concurrent chemotherapy, are anemic, and report other cancer treatment related side effects.

Nutritional recommendations are controversial and very complicated. A general statement of taking vitamin supplements, or extra specific minerals, or various therapies such as juicing, is often made. Patients are typically left to their own pursuits or discoveries, yet most health care professionals would encourage nutritional approaches to help the fatigue problem. Using a product such as Reliv, with a 22 year history, was a relatively simplistic attempt to study whether a response was possible.

This study was a “feasibility study” in the sense that all we were looking for was some effect. The number of variables to do a proper scientific analysis is large, and would represent the next phase of research. The possibility of the placebo effect requires a randomized trial, and was inappropriate to this feasibility study. However, this is recognized in reporting, as well as compliance difficulties, and subjectivity of the questionnaires. All that said, there were the very definite improvements, and in some situations, dramatic changes.

Reliv contains a variety of vitamins, minerals and herbs in a powder base excellent for absorption. It is an easy product to prescribe, with dosing fairly standard. Further, there has been much experience with some studies and many testimonials for a positive result with Reliv. We personally were encouraged by these reports of significant improvement with a range of symptoms from other diseases. Testing a nutritional supplement for relief from fatigue was the motivation for this study. Further, few nutritional products have been formally recommended by the scientific experts in oncology.

The result was a certainly positive response. Approximately 75% of the patients with radiation fatigue had relatively immediate results, many within 2 weeks of starting the product. Roughly 25% of the cohort reported excellent results in reversal of radiation fatigue, and improvement or relief from other symptoms. There was no harm done to those who reported no response (except one with a few episodes of vomiting). The results warrant a more extensive trial with all the scientific rigors applied.

Reliv is distributed through a multilevel sales channel. Some clinicians and administrators have high resistance and negative preconceptions of products distributed via multilevel marketing. It is crucial to point out that all product in this study was provided free of charge and no attempt was made to enlist patients in further purchase or marketing the product. A few members of the cohort did buy additional product after the initial response but none were asked to participate in distribution.

Cancer related symptoms often are the most significant issue in quality of life. Treatments such as radiation can be highly symptom producing, with fatigue perhaps the most generic problem. Having the possibility to reverse this problem during the course of radiation is a significant benefit helping both the patient, their family, and the healthcare professionals managing their treatments.