Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

CHRONIC FATIGUE Symptoms Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Prolonged Fatigue Enlarged or Sore Lymph Nodes Muscle and Joint Aches Sleep Disturbances Low Grade Fever Depression Memory Lapses Inability to Concentrate Sore Throat Back in the 1960s, before Chronic Fatigue was recognized as a clinical syndrome, both uncontrolled and double-lind studies (totaling nearly 3,000 subjects) found that 75%-91% of fatigued patients experienced pronounced relief of fatigue during treatment with magnesium and potassium aspartates. This successful treatment seems to have been forgotten as doctors and researchers try to find a disease to cure or a virus to kill. While treating the cause of any illness is preferable to just relieving the symptoms, until a treatable cause is found, thousands of patients could be left unable to function due to debilitating fatigue. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) describes varying combinations of symptoms including prolonged fatigue, sore throat, low grade fever, lymph node swelling, headache, muscle and joint pain, intestinal discomfort, sleep disturbances, emotional distress and/or depression and loss of concentration. While CFS and CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients have common symptoms, a common cause has not been found. One theory is that CFS is a lasting immune dysfunction induced by an infectious trigger. Epstein-Barr virus and other infectious agents, have been suggested, but none has been proven. It seems more likely that chronic fatigue...while it is certainly real...is not a distinct disease with a singular cause, but a clinical condition. Like other complex medical conditions such as high blood pressure, a variety of direct and indirect factors can lead to the development of the clinical syndrome. Because fatigue is the most prevalent complaint heard in a doctor's office, physicians may sometimes doubt its legitimacy, However, with no diagnostic or blood test to evaluate fatigue, the patients symptoms are the only yardstick. One physician states, "100% of patients who complain of fatigue actually are fatigued, and you have to believe them." Because of the similarities in fatigue and depression, many doctors, not being able to find an illness to treat, have shuttled patients of to psychiatric care. Chronic fatigue and depression are not the same, although many chronic fatigue patients are depressed. Depression may be the result rather than the cause of chronic fatigue. Wouldn't you be depressed if you'd been fatigued for months? Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) ATP, adenosine triphosphate, is the substance which stores the energy created when the body burns carbohydrates and fats in the Krebs cycle. When the body needs energy (as, for example, in muscular contraction), ATP is broken down into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and immediate energy is released. ATP is the universal energy molecule for the body in the same way that electricity is the universal energy source for a computer. Magnesium, Potassium and Aspartic Acid Low levels of magnesium have been noted in many CFS patients. Magnesium is required for ATP synthesis and is a cofactor of more than 300 enzymatic reactions involving energy metabloism. Its primary site of action is within the cell. It also enhances transport of potassium into the cells. Malaise is probably the most common symptom of chronic potassium deficiency and muscular weakness is almost always noted. Aspartic acid is converted intracellularly into oxaloacetate, an important substrate in the energy- producing Krebs cycle, and is also a carrier molecule for the transport of potassium and magnesium into the cell. In the potassium and magnesium aspartate studies of the '60s, a beneficial effect was usually noted after 4-5 days, but sometimes 10 days were required. Dosage was generally one gram of each salt daily (250 mg. with each meal and at bedtime). Patients usually continued treatment for 4-6 weeks. In most cases, fatigue did not return after treatment was discontinued. CREATINE PHOSPHATE QUICKLY REGENERATES ATP Since very small quantities of ATP are stored within the muscle cell, it must be constantly replenished. Creatine phosphate has that ability. Creatine is a small molecular weight compound similar in size to an amino acid, found especially in the muscle tissues of vertebrates. At rest, between 60% and 90 % of creatine stored in the muscle is in the form of creatine phosphate. The role of creatine phosphate in energy production is simple. When ATP energy is released by the breakdown of ATP to ADP, creatine phosphate simply donates its phosphate group to ADP to rapidly regenerate ATP. When muscle stores of creatine phosphate are inadequate, ATP is regenerated more slowly and muscles are more easily fatigued. MAGNESIUM AND MALIC ACID A combination of magnesium and malic acid has also been recommended for treatment of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Reports from clinical experience using 300-600 mg. of elemental magnesium and 1200-1400 mg. of malic acid indicate that about 40% of the patients show some type of benefit. Fibromyalgia pain may respond in as little as 48 hours, while fatigue would generally take approximately two weeks. Both magnesium and malic acid are required for synthesis of ATP. CO-ENZYME Q10 Another important nutrient used in the production at ATP is Co-Enzyme Q10. CoQ10 is concentrated in the mitochondria, which is often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell CoQ10 is necessary for cell respiration, electron transfer and the control of oxidation reactions. Reports from clinical observations indicate symptomatic improvement in CFS patients given CoQ10 supplements. In addition to its role in energy production, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. Supplementation has been shown to revitalize the immune system and increase resistance to viral infections which have been implicated as a cause of chronic fatigue CoQ10 has also been found beneficial in relieving fatigue associated with ischemic heart disease. More CoQ10 is found in heart tissue than in any other muscle of the body and most heart patients show a significant deficiency of CoQ10. When CoQ10 levels are restored, the heart muscle is strengthened, allowing it to more efficiently pump oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, which in turn, can increase energy. In a controlled study, exercise tolerance increased 184% over controls in heart patients after 8-12 weeks of CoQ10 supplements. HORMONAL IMBALANCES AND GLANDULAR SUPPORT Since CFS symptoms closely parallel those of subclinical adrenal insufficiency or exhaustion, some researchers believe chronic fatigue to be a malfunction of the adrenal/pituitary/hypothalamus axis. Individuals in acute and chronic fatigue states show reductions in plasma cortisol compared to non-fatigued individuals. Reduced cortisol can lead to lethargy and fatigue. When there is a stressor, whether it is viral, bacterial, environmental or psychological, a complex of actions takes place in the endocrine system resulting in increased adrenal hormones. If the stress is extreme or prolonged, the adrenal glands could become exhausted. Abnormalities in cortisol and cortisol releasing hormone could account for the many varied symptoms associated with CFS. Fatigue is the most prominent symptom of pantothenic acid deficiency and there is a close correlation between pantothenic acid tissue levels and adrenal cortex function. Patients could benefit from raw adrenal concentrate and pantothenic acid supplements, as well as glandular concentrates for support of the pituitary and hypothalamus. Licorice, by potentiating glucocorticoid hormone activity, has also been reported to improve hypocortisolism in chronic fatigue patients. NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH FATIGUE Marginal deficiencies of a number of essential nutrients including vitamin B-12, folic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, essential fatty acids and phosphorous may cause fatigue and repletion of these deficiencies will restore normal energy levels. Amino acid imbalances and deficiencies are also seen in many CFS patients. Deficiencies of carnitine and methionine appear to be the most prevalent. While there may be varying modalities available in the treatment of CFS and CFIDS it appears from the literature that the magnesium, potassium, aspartic acid, malic acid, creatine approach is not efficacious.
REFERENCES
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