Nutritional deficiencies in ME/CFS

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ME/CFS is a neurological disease that mostly common occurs immediately after a virus, and is not caused by poor eating habits or malnutrition,[1] and cannot be healed by dietary or nutritional interventions—there is no known cure.[2][3] Patients with ME/CFS have been found to experience a number of nutritional deficiencies which cannot explained by patients' diet.[4][5] Nutritional supplements have been recommended to reduce some ME/CFS symptoms,[6] but no particular dietary approach has found to be effective.[3][7]

Deficiencies found[edit | edit source]

Nutritional deficiencies or reduced levels of certain nutrients that have in studies of ME/CFS patients include some B vitamins, especially vitamin B1, vitamin C, magnesium, sodium, zinc, L-tryptophan, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and essential fatty acids.[6]

Diet[edit | edit source]

Common nutritional deficiencies or lower levels of nutrients found in ME/CFS are not caused by diet.[1] No particular diet has been shown to be effective in ME/CFS, the general recommendation is for a healthy, balanced diet although some dietary supplements may be helpful in addressing certain symptoms.[3][7] 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.[8]

Nutritional deficiencies as a differential diagnosis[edit | edit source]

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:

Once after 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 made in people meeting the diagnostic criteria.[3][7]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2021, Life-Threatening Malnutrition in Very Severe ME/CFS[11] - (Full text)
  • 2019, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Suggestions for a nutritional treatment in the therapeutic approach[12] - (Full text)
  • 2017, Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: A systematic review[13] - (Full text)
  • 2017, Vitamin and mineral status in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis[4] - (Full text)
  • 2010, Alternative medical interventions used in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia[14] - (Full text)
  • 2005, Nutrient intake is unrelated to nutrient status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome[5] - (Full text)
  • 2000, Nutritional Strategies for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome[6] - (Full text)

Books[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Related categories[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Possible causes | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Centers for Disease Control. July 12, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Treatment | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Centers for Disease Control. January 28, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Carruthers, BM; van de Sande, MI; De Meirleir, KL; Klimas, NG; Broderick, G; Mitchell, T; Staines, D; Powles, ACP; Speight, N; Vallings, R; Bateman, L; Bell, DS; Carlo-Stella, N; Chia, J; Darragh, A; Gerken, A; Jo, D; Lewis, DP; Light, AR; Light, KC; Marshall-Gradisnik, S; McLaren-Howard, J; Mena, I; Miwa, K; Murovska, M; Stevens, SR (2012), Myalgic encephalomyelitis: Adult & Paediatric: International Consensus Primer for Medical Practitioners (PDF), ISBN 978-0-9739335-3-6
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Joustra, Monica L.; Minovic, Isidor; Janssens, Karin A.M.; Bakker, Stephan J.L.; Rosmalen, Judith G.M. (April 28, 2017). "Vitamin and mineral status in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis". PLOS ONE. 12 (4): e0176631. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176631. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5409455. PMID 28453534.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jenkins, Michael; Rayman, Margaret (January 1, 2005). "Nutrient intake is unrelated to nutrient status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome". Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine. 15 (4): 177–189. doi:10.1080/13590840600681751. ISSN 1359-0847.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Werbach, Melvyn R. (2000). "Nutritional Strategies for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (PDF). Alternative Medicine Review. 5 (2): 93–108.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Carruthers, Bruce M.; Jain, Anil Kumar; De Meirleir, Kenny L.; Peterson, Daniel L.; Klimas, Nancy G.; Lerner, A. Martin; Bested, Alison C.; Flor-Henry, Pierre; Joshi, Pradip; Powles, AC Peter; Sherkey, Jeffrey A.; van de Sande, Marjorie I. (2003), "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Clinical Working Case Definition, Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols" (PDF), Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 11 (2): 7–115, doi:10.1300/J092v11n01_02
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Simons, David G.; Travell, Janet G.; Simons, Lois S. (1999). Travell & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: Upper half of body. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780683083637.
  9. ↑ "Other Conditions for Evaluation | Information for Healthcare Providers | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Centers for Disease Control. July 12, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Evaluation | Information for Healthcare Providers | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Centers for Disease Control. April 28, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  11. ↑ Baxter, Helen; Speight, Nigel; Weir, William (April 2021). "Life-Threatening Malnutrition in Very Severe ME/CFS". Healthcare. 9 (4): 459. doi:10.3390/healthcare9040459. PMC 8070213. PMID 33919671.
  12. ↑ Bjørklund, Geir; Dadar, Maryam; Pen, Joeri J.; Chirumbolo, Salvatore; Aaseth, Jan (January 1, 2019). "Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Suggestions for a nutritional treatment in the therapeutic approach". Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 109: 1000–1007. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.076. ISSN 0753-3322.
  13. ↑ Jones, Kathryn; Probst, Yasmine (June 14, 2017). "Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 41 (4): 338–344. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12670. ISSN 1326-0200.
  14. ↑ Porter, Nicole S.; Jason, Leonard A.; Boulton, Aaron; Bothne, Nancy; Coleman, Blair (March 2010). "Alternative medical interventions used in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia" (PDF). Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.). 16 (3): 235–249. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0376. ISSN 1557-7708. PMID 20192908.

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