Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia

Very little is known with certainty about the cause and stubborn persistence of fatigue in the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). There are, however, reports of nutrient deficiencies associated with CFS as well as reports of specific nutrient supplementation providing partial relief of symptoms. B vitamins appear to be especially relevant. Studies found preliminary evidence for a reduced functional status of vitamins B1, B2, and, especially, B6, in CFS patients compared to healthy controls. The minerals magnesium and zinc may also have clinical relevance to CFS. Several studies have revealed lower erythrocyte magnesium levels in CFS patients than in controls, although not all studies have confirmed these findings. In a study of 28 women with CFS, mean red blood cell zinc levels, although within the normal range, were significantly lower than the levels measured for a group of healthy control women. Recent studies are beginning to find that antioxidant status may be compromised in patients with CFS. One study found that LDL and VLDL from CFS patients were more susceptible to lipoprotein peroxidation than matched, non-CFS individuals8 and another study found oxidative damage to DNA and to lipids in muscle specimens of CFS patients compared to age-matched controls. This oxidative stress in muscle may not only lead to oxidative damage but could also deplete systemic antioxidant reserves. SpectraCell's FIA™, including tests for functional B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and antioxidant reserves, combined with our serum homocysteine assay may help to determine if these functional deficiencies could be part of the clinical picture of CFS and fibromyalgia patients.

REFERENCES

1. Serum folate and chronic fatigue syndrome. Jacobson W et al. Neurology. 1993;43:2645-2647.
2. The rationale for using high-dose cobalamin (vitamin B12). Lapp CW and Cheney PR. The CFIDS Chronicle Phsicians' Forum. 1993;Fall:19-20.
3. Vitamin B status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Heap LC et al. J R Soc Med. 1999;92:183-185.
4. Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Regland B et al. Scand J Rheumatol. 1997;26:301-307.
5. Analysis of dietary intake and selected nutrient concentrations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Grant JE. J Am Diet Assoc 1996;96:383-386.
6. Magnesium deficit in a sample of the Belgium population presenting with chronic fatigue. Moorkins G et al. Magnes Res. 1997;10:329-337.
7. Normal red cell magnesium concentrations and magnesium loading tests in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Hinds G et al. Ann Clin Biochem. 1994;31:459-461.
8. Antioxidant status and lipoprotein peroxidation in chronic fatigue syndrome. Manuel y Keenoy B et al. Life Sci. 2001;68:2037-2049.
9. Specific oxidative alterations in vastus lateralis muscle of patients with the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Fulle S. Free Radic Biol Med. 2000;29:1252-1259.
10. Protein peroxidation, magnesium deficiency and fibromyalgia. Eisinger J et al. Magnes Res. 1996;9:313-316.

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