Nutritional Supplements for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Your physician will likely perform some laboratory testing to assess nutrient deficiencies. Consult a nutritionally oriented physician for proper selection, dosing, and safe application of the following treatments.

• High potency multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.

• Consider additional antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E.

• Co-enzyme Q 10.
o One study found that 80% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients are deficient and supplementation led to significant improvement.
o This nutrient is also an essential component of cellular energy production. It can be depleted from the body by certain medications, such as statin drugs for lowering cholesterol.

• L-Carnitine
o An amino acid that is required for cellular energy production.
o Deficiency of carnitine has been documented in some CFS sufferers and supplementation has led to improved energy in a preliminary study.
o One third of CFS patients respond to supplementation with carnitine.

• L-Tryptophan.
o Depressed in 80% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.
o Supplemented in the form of 5-hydroxy tryptophan (5-HTP).

• Essential fatty acids.
o EFAs are fatty acids (also known as Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids) which are essential to life, but which cannot be produced in the body and must be taken in through diet.
o One study found that after 3 months of treatment, 85% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome reported improvement, compared to 17% of controls.

• Myer's Cocktail
o An intravenous (IV) vitamin and mineral treatment with relieves symptoms in about 50% of cases of CFS.

• Vitamin B12
o B12 deficiency seen in 30% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients (Wallach).
o Deficiency symptoms include fatigue and depression.
o Even people without documented B12 deficiency report improved energy levels after supplementation.
o Dosing is best if given as an intramuscular injection or sublingually (under the tongue).
o The preferred form of B12 supplementation is methyl- or hydroxycobalamin, rather than cyanocobalamin.

• Folic acid.
o Deficient in a subset of CFS patients.
o Deficiency can lead to immunosuppression, fatigue and depression.
o Supplementation for 3 months lead to improvement in 1 study.

• Vitamin C.
o Deficiency symptom: fatigue and depression.

• NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
o NADH is an important nutrient in cellular energy production.
o Preliminary studies have found it to be effective in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.

• Magnesium.
o Magnesium is involved in every energy dependent reaction in the body. It is depleted with chronic stress.
o CFS patients typically report improved energy with supplementation of magnesium.

• Potassium and magnesium aspartate has shown benefit for people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

• Sodium
o Supplementation may be of benefit in people with low adrenal function or neurally mediated hypotension.

• Zinc.
o Frequently deficient in CFS.
o Deficiency symptoms: immunodepression, muscle pain, and fatigue.

• Antioxidant treatment:
o Vitamin E
o Vitamin C
o Selenium. Supports glutathione levels.
o Glutathione. Directly increases glutathione levels.
o N-Acetyl Cysteine. Raises glutathione levels.
o Alpha Lipoic Acid. Increases intracellular glutathione.
o Co-Q 10. Improves energy production. Neuroprotective.