Natural Supplements And Mitochondrial Dysfunction
A number of natural supplements have been used to treat nonpsychological fatigue and mitochondrial dysfunction.,, These supplements include those containing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, metabolites, enzyme inhibitors and cofactors, mitochondrial transporters, herbs, and membrane phospholipids . Although several natural supplements have been used to reduce fatigue, few are considered truly effective. This article will discuss some of the most promising supplements and conclude with combinations of specific supplements that have been used to treat intractable chronic fatigue and improve mitochondrial function.
Some Of The Areas That Are Being Studied As Possible Causes Of Me/cfs Are:
People with ME/CFS often have their illness begin in a way that reminds them of getting the flu. This has made researchers suspect an infection may trigger ME/CFS. In addition, about one in ten people who become infected with Epstein-Barr virus, Ross River virus, or Coxiella burnetti will develop a set of symptoms that meet the criteria for ME/CFS. People with these infections who had severe symptoms are more likely than those with mild symptoms to later develop ME/CFS symptoms. But not all people with ME/CFS have had these infections.
Other infections that have been studied in connection with ME/CFS are human herpesvirus 6, enterovirus, rubella, Candida albicans, bornaviruses, mycoplasma, and human immunodeficiency virus . However, these infections have not been found to cause ME/CFS.
It is possible that ME/CFS is caused by a change in the persons immune system and the way it responds to infection or stress. ME/CFS shares some features of autoimmune illnesses . For example, both ME/CFS and most autoimmune diseases are more common in women and both are characterized by increased inflammation. However, other signs of autoimmune disease, like tissue damage, are not found in patients with ME/CFS.
Scientists think that the immune system might be contributing to ME/CFS in other ways, including:
Read Also: What Doctor Treats Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What Are The Symptoms Of Me/cfs
ME/CFS symptoms, which can often be made worse by standing upright, include:
- Post-exertional malaise , the worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental exertion, with symptoms typically worsening 12 to 48 hours after activity and lasting for days or even weeks
- Non-restorative sleep/sleep disturbance
- Multiple chemical sensitivity disorder
Also Check: Things To Help With Fatigue
The Cdc Symptom Inventory
All participants in the DePaul sample completed the CDCâs Symptom Inventory , a self-report measure of the frequency and severity of 9 CFS-related symptoms over the past one month. A composite score of frequency and severity is obtained for each symptom. Additionally, participants are asked the duration in years of each symptom and whether or not they currently consider the symptom to be a part of their ill health and their past ill health. The measure evidences good internal consistency and good convergent validity .
Cellular Immune Function In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- 1Department of Immunology and Infection, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- 2Centre of Statistics and Applications, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- 3Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
Also Check: Fever Chills Body Aches Headache Fatigue Nausea
The Medical Outcomes Study Short
All participants in both samples completed the SF-36 , a 36-item self-report measure of disability comprised of eight subscales: physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, role emotional, social functioning, vitality, and mental health. The composite score for each subscale ranges from 0â100 with higher scores indicating better functioning. This measure is frequently used in research to assess disability brought on by illness. Buchwald, Pearlman, Umali, Schmaling and Katon found that for a sample of individuals with CFS, the SF-36 had good internal reliability and convergent validity. It was also able to distinguish individuals with CFS and chronic fatigue from individuals with major depression, acute mononucleosis, and from healthy controls.
World Chronic Fatigue And Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Day
12 May
This day is used to make the public aware of what Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome is about.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is more than just fatigue. It is a serious, debilitating medical condition. Individuals with CDS experience various problems including pain in the muscles and joints, tender lymph nodes, headaches, prolonged, extreme exhaustion following physical or mental activity and many other symptoms.
CFS is a real medical condition. There is no known cause or cure for CFS, but scientists have identified numerous biological abnormalities in CFS patients. CFS is not psychological in origin. Medical studies have proven CFS is not all in the head, laziness or a mental disorder.
CFS can be treated. Physicians can help improve a patients quality of life by treating symptoms such as sleep disorders, pain and gastrointestinal difficulties.
Related links
Dont Miss: Vitamins For Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
Read Also: Does Smoking Weed Cause Fatigue
Impaired Energy Metabolism In Me/cfs
Metabolomic studies have reported evidence of impaired ATP production from oxygen, glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids in multiple cell types . Not just oxidative phosphorylation but also glycolysisand possibly, the citric acid and urea cyclesare incriminated. In people with ME/CFS, there also is a more general hypometabolic state as previously proposed , characterized by depressed levels of most metabolites, as occurs in hibernating animals . Later, we speculate as to the cause of this hypometabolic state.
Both structural and functional mitochondrial abnormalities have been found in ME/CFS. Branching and fusion of mitochondrial cristae are observed in muscle biopsies of some patients . Although some studies have reported deletions of mtDNA genes, the most extensive controlled study using contemporary technology did not find mtDNA variants that correlated with susceptibility to ME/CFSalthough it did find a correlation between specific haplogroups and mtDNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms and specific symptoms . Other reports have identified a deficit in Complex V activity of the electron transport chain in lymphocytes, with a compensatory up-regulation of respiratory capacity , and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential in CD8+ T cells . Serum from ME/CFS patients reportedly contains a factor that induces mitochondrial fragmentation .
Dont Miss: How To Combat Chronic Fatigue
What Is It Like Living With Me/cfs
The severity of ME/CFS varies greatly from patient to patient, with some people able to maintain fairly active lives. For others, ME/CFS has a profound impact. About 25 percent of people with ME/CFS are housebound or bedbound as a result of their illness. For many, there is often a pattern of relapse and remission. Most symptoms are invisible to others, which makes it difficult for family members, friends, and the public to understand the challenges of the disease.
We know its so important to share personal experiences to increase understanding of ME/CFS. Visit our Humans of M.E. story archive to read and share your stories of ME/CFS.
It feels like I always have the flu, only much worse. It feels like the world is always moving, and I cant find my bearings.Rob P.
When my symptoms first occurred, I was diagnosed with the flu during June, July, and August during off-flu season. Doctors suspected that I was a hypochondriac.Conella B.
Sometimes it feels as if my body is shutting down on me. I think about going to the emergency room, not even able to make it to the car if I decide to go. I rarely decide to anyway, because every time I ever have gone for my invisible illnesses, they have never once been able to help me in any way.Kelly S.
Recommended Reading: Adrenal Fatigue What Is It
Pathomechanisms And Possible Interventions In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome
1Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
2Department of Clinical Science and
3Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Address correspondence to: Øystein Fluge, Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. Phone: 47.55972010 Email: .
Find articles byFluge, Ø.in:JCI |PubMed |
1Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
2Department of Clinical Science and
3Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Address correspondence to: Øystein Fluge, Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. Phone: 47.55972010 Email: .
Find articles byTronstad, K.in: |PubMed |
1Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
2Department of Clinical Science and
3Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Address correspondence to: Øystein Fluge, Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Lies vei 65, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. Phone: 47.55972010 Email: .
J Clin Invest.
Sample Collection And Processing Including Pbmc Freezing
Blood samples were collected in sodium heparin or in potassium EDTA vacutainers and transported within Pathopak containers , at room temperature protected from direct sunlight and extremes of environmental temperature. Samples were delivered to the University College London / Royal Free Hospital BioBank laboratories for processing and storage within 6 h of collection: the average time from collection to processing was 2.5 h across all four study groups. Serum, plasma, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were processed and aliquoted in volumes of 200 l to 2 ml. PBMCs were aliquoted at 5 × 106 cells/ml. Aliquots were stored in 1 or 2 ml cryotubes, in vapour phase liquid nitrogen at 180°C, and shipped to LSHTM for laboratory analysis on dry ice. Each aliquot was labelled with a 2D bar code corresponding to a unique 15 digit ISBT 128 identifier which also served to anonymise the samples. All laboratory evaluations were performed in a blinded manner with samples identified only by their unique identifier.
Also Check: Anti Fatigue Compression Foot Sleeve
About Columbia Universitys Mailman School Of Public Health
Founded in 1922, Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda of research, education, and service to address the critical and complex public health issues affecting New Yorkers, the nation and the world. The Mailman School is the third largest recipient of NIH grants among schools of public health. Its over 450 multi-disciplinary faculty members work in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues as preventing infectious and chronic diseases, environmental health, maternal and child health, health policy, climate change & health, and public health preparedness. It is a leader in public health education with over 1,300 graduate students from more than 40 nations pursuing a variety of masters and doctoral degree programs. For more information, please visit www.mailman.columbia.edu.
Me/cfs: What Do We Know
Researchers have long believed that ME/CFS could involve chronic inflammation. Studies reveal several biomarkers of inflammation and a sustained immune response in the blood of ME/CFS patients. Some researchers now consider ME/CFS to be a neuroimmune or neuroendocrineimmune disease.
However, we’re still learning about the specific role of inflammation in the condition. Recent research paints a growing picture of autoimmunity as well. And when autoimmunity is involved, the major question is: what is its target?
Don’t Miss: Can Lack Of Exercise Cause Fatigue
Personal And Medical History
The health care provider will take a careful personal and family medical history, and perform a thorough physical examination and psychological assessment. The provider will ask questions such as:
- When did the fatigue first begin?
- Does anything make it worse or better?
- Is it better at certain times of the day?
- Does physical or mental activity make it worse?
- What are your other symptoms?
- Has anyone else in your family experienced similar symptoms?
- Is your personal and professional life stressful?
The provider may also ask about any changes in weight or recent illnesses. You should tell your provider about any drugs you are taking, including over-the-counter medications, and vitamin, herbal, or dietary supplements. You may be asked to keep a diary for several weeks to record your activities and symptoms.
How Is Cfs Diagnosed
CFS is a very challenging condition to diagnose.
According to the Institute of Medicine, as of 2015, CFS occurs in about 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans. Its estimated, however, that 84 to 91 percent have yet to receive a diagnosis.
There are no medical tests to screen for CFS. Its symptoms are similar to many other conditions. Many people with CFS dont look sick, so doctors may not recognize that they indeed have a health condition.
In order to receive a CFS diagnosis, your doctor will rule out other potential causes and review your medical history with you.
Theyll confirm that you at least have the core symptoms previously mentioned. Theyll also ask about the duration and severity of your unexplained fatigue.
Ruling out other potential causes of your fatigue is a key part of the diagnosis process. Some conditions with symptoms that resemble those of CFS include:
- severe obesity
- sleep disorders
The side effects of certain drugs, such as antihistamines and alcohol, can mimic symptoms of CFS as well.
Because of the similarities between symptoms of CFS and many other conditions, its important to not self-diagnose. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They can work with you to get relief.
You May Like: How Can Crohn’s Cause Severe Fatigue
Other Drugs Being Investigated For Cfs
Rituximab
Rituximab is a biologic drug used to treat the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. The drug targets and blocks the activation of certain type of B cells. A small early-stage trial investigated rituximab’s effectiveness in treating CFS. Results suggest that the drug may improve fatigue and other symptoms in some people with the disease. The results are preliminary and further study is needed before it can be determined if rituximab is likely to be helpful in treating CFS.
Rintatolimod
In 2016, Rintatolimod an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent, was approved for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome in Argentina. It is also available now in Canada and Europe, but is still not approved for use in the United States. It is the only drug to receive an approval for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome anywhere in the world.
Inflammation: Helpful And Harmful
Inflammation is involved in many illnesses and injuries, and most adults have used at least one anti-inflammatory drug in their lifetime. We routinely ice and elevate our injuries to keep them from getting too inflamed.
We usually view inflammation as a problem–a symptom to be treated. However, inflammation is part of a healthy response to problems in the body. When your body detects a problemwhether it be invading viruses or bacteria, or tissues damaged from injurythe immune system triggers an inflammatory response.
What happens during an inflammatory response is that blood vessels dilate to deliver more blood to the injured area, and immune proteins are released into that blood. White blood cells flow out of the blood vessels into the problem area to kill or clean up materials that shouldnt be there. Then the tissue can begin to heal.
So when you bash your shin or twist an ankle, a little swelling is a good thing. It means the healing process is at work.
On the other hand, when inflammation becomes chronic due to ongoing damage or a misfiring immune system, then you’ve got a problem.
Ongoing damage can come from something like back pain from an injury that’s aggravated by poor posture, or repeated damage due to disease. When that damage is due to a misfiring immune system, it can mean autoimmunity.
Read Also: Anti Fatigue Comfort Floor Mat
Assessing Adequacy Of The Correlation Matrix
Before running the exploratory factor analysis on the BioBank sample, we assessed the adequacy of the correlation matrix. Sufficient inter-item correlations were observed, but four pairs of items were highly correlated , demonstrating that multicollinearity was a potential issue. Two of the four pairs of items were determined to be theoretically important, with both items measuring distinct constructs and therefore these items were both retained . One item from each of the remaining two pairs was dropped from the analyses. After dropping these two items, the correlation matrix was re-run. The determinant was approaching zero, but still acceptable. Bartlettâs test of sphericity indicated that the correlation matrix was not an identity matrix . The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy also indicated the matrix was appropriate for EFA. Finally, measures of sampling adequacy for all items were > .60, also indicating that EFA was appropriate.
T Cell And Nk Cell Function
We next compared the ability of T cells and NK cells from healthy controls, people with MS and PWME to respond to in vitro stimulation. For assessment of T cell responsiveness, PBMCs were cultured for 4 h with the mitogenic cocktail of PMA and ionomycin and then stained for intracellular cytokines. The proportion of cells producing IL-2, IFN- or a combination of IL-2 and IFN- was assessed in the CD3+ CD4+ and the CD3+ CD8+ cell populations but no significant differences were observed among the groups in either the adjusted or unadjusted analysis .
Figure 8. Production of cytokines by T cells in response to stimulation in vitro. PBMC from mild/moderately affected ME/CFS , severely affected ME/CFS or multiple sclerosis patients or healthy control individuals were cultured in vitro with PMA and ionomycin for 4 h. The production of IFN and IL-2 cytokines was assessed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, with the proportions of cells which produced only IL2 , both IL2 and IFN or only IFN calculated for each study participant. Within the dot plots, the lines show the means and the error bars show ± SD.
Also Check: Does Irregular Heartbeat Cause Fatigue
How Is Cfs Treated
Theres currently no specific cure for CFS.
Each person has different symptoms and therefore may require different types of treatment to manage the disorder and relieve their symptoms.
Work with your team of healthcare providers to create the best treatment plan for you. They can go over the possible benefits and side effects of the therapies with you.
