Nutritional deficiencies in ME/CFS

Patients with ME/CFS have been found to experience a number of nutritional deficiencies which address not explained by diet.

Differential diagnoses
Before a diagnosis of ME/CFS can be made a number of tests must be run including tests to detect common nutritional deficiencies known to cause of fatigue or pain. Standard tests for these can identify:
 * Iron deficiency
 * Vitamin B12 deficiency

Once any nutritional deficiencies have been treated, and any other alternative possible causes for symptoms have been ruled out, a diagnosis of ME/CFS can be met.

Deficiencies found
Nutritional deficiencies that have been found include various B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, sodium, zinc, L-tryptophan, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and essential fatty acids.

Diet
No particular diet has been shown to be effective in ME/CFS, the general recommendation is for a healthy, balanced diet. A number of clinicians that specialize in ME/CFS recommend certain diets based on personal experience, or certain dietary supplements. The Canadian Consensus Criteria states that the nutritional principles in Travell & Simons (1999) are helpful.

Notable studies

 * 2000, Nutritional Strategies for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - (Full text)
 * 2010, Alternative medical interventions used in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia - (Full text)
 * 2019, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Suggestions for a nutritional treatment in the therapeutic approach - (Full text)

Books

 * 1999, Travell & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: Upper half of body

Related categories

 * Potential treatments
 * Diets
 * Amino acids
 * Herbs
 * Supplements