Studies done on Nutrient Issues (links)

Bliksrud YT. Tenuous link between chronic fatigue syndrome and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2017 Nov 28;137(23-24). PMID: 29231630

The authors comment on a study suggesting that pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency is associated with CFS.

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Earl KE, Sakellariou GK, Sinclair M, Fenech M, Croden F, Owens DJ, Tang J, Miller A, Lawton C, Dye L, Close GL, Fraser WD, McArdle A, Beadsworth MBJ. Vitamin D status in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a cohort study from the North-West of England. BMJ Open. 2017 Nov 8;7(11):e015296. PMID: 29118054

Low serum concentrations of total 25(OH)D do not appear to be a contributing factor to the level of fatigue of CFS/ME.

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Joustra ML, Minovic I, Janssens KAM, Bakker SJL, Rosmalen JGM. Vitamin and mineral status in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 28;12(4):e0176631. PMID: 28453534

The objectives of this meta-analysis were (1) to determine vitamin and mineral status in CFS and FMS patients as compared to healthy controls; (2) to investigate the association between vitamin and mineral status and clinical parameters, including symptom severity and quality of life; and (3) to determine the effect of supplementation on clinical parameters. Little evidence was found to support the hypothesis that vitamin and mineral deficiencies play a role in the pathophysiology of CFS and FMS, or that the use of supplements is effective in these patients.

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Witham M, Kennedy G, Belch J, Hill A, Khan F. Association between vitamin D status and markers of vascular health in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Int J Cardiol. 2014 Jun 1;174(1):139-40. PMID: 24726169

An association between vitamin D status and vascular health was found in CFS/ME patients.

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Mikirova N, Casciari J, Hunninghake R. The assessment of the energy metabolism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome by serum fluorescence emission. Altern Ther Health Med. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):36-40. PMID: 22516851

The researchers determined that NADH levels could be used to gauge health status of CFS patients.

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Blankfield A. A Brief Historic Overview of Clinical Disorders Associated with Tryptophan: The Relevance to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FM). Int J Tryptophan Res. 2012;5:27-32. PMID: 23032646

The current paper will focus on the emerging role of tryptophan deficiencies in CFS and fibromyalgia.

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Antiel RM, Caudill JS, Burkhardt BE, Brands CK, Fischer PR. Iron insufficiency and hypovitaminosis D in adolescents with chronic fatigue and orthostatic intolerance. South Med J. 2011 Aug;104(8):609-11. PMID: 21886073

In patients presenting with chronic fatigue and/or orthostatic intolerance, low ferritin levels and hypovitaminosis D are common, especially in patients with excessive postural tachycardia.

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Berkovitz S, Ambler G, Jenkins M, Thurgood S. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective survey. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2009 Jul;79(4):250-4. PMID: 20209476

25-OH vitamin D levels are moderately to severely suboptimal in CFS patients, with a mean of 44.4 nmol/L (optimal levels >75 nmol/L). These levels are lower and the difference is statistically significant (p<0.0004) than those of the general British population from a recent national survey, but similar to those in patients with other chronic conditions.

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Maes M, Mihaylova I, Kubera M, Uytterhoeven M, Vrydags N, Bosmans E. Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardiovascular disorder. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2009;30(4):470-6. PMID: 20010505

CFS patients have very low levels of CoQ10, a mitochondrial nutrient that acts as a cofactor for ATP production and has antioxidant effects.  This may be related to increased mortality from chronic heart failure in the disease.

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McCully KK, Malucelli E, Iotti S. Increase of free Mg2+ in the skeletal muscle of chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Dyn Med. 2006 Jan 11;5:1. PMID: 16405724

CFS patients had higher resting free Mg2+ levels compared to sedentary controls.

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Heap LC, Peters TJ, Wessely S. Vitamin B status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J R Soc Med. 1999 Apr;92(4):183-5. PMID: 10450194

There is a reduced functional B vitamin status, particularly of pyridoxine, in CFS patients.

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Jacobson W, Saich T, Borysiewicz LK, Behan WM, Behan PO, Wreghitt TG. Serum folate and chronic fatigue syndrome. Neurology. 1993 Dec;43(12):2645-7. PMID: 8255470

Half of a group of CFS patients were deficient in folic acid.