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Clinically proven
to reduce oxidative stress.
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Oxidative Stress and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is defined as long-standing, severe, disabling fatigue without demonstrable muscle weakness. The etiology is unknown and possibly multiple in nature, affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune, and many other systems and organs.Treatment is rest and psychological support, often including antidepressants. Onset is usually abrupt, and many patients report an initial viral-like illness with swollen lymph nodes, extreme fatigue, fever, and upper respiratory symptoms. There is now some evidence that CFS is accompanied by signs of oxidative stress and by a decreased antioxidant status. However it is still not clear whether oxidative stress abnormalities documented in CFS are the cause or the effect.
About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Affects between 100,000 and 250,000 Americans, although many researches believe it is more prevalent that this.
- Affects three times more women than men.
- Most common in younger adults, with 90% of cases in the 20-50 year age range.
- Symptoms are often confused with fibromyalgia
- Disabling fatigue lasting at least 6 months.
Risk Factors
- The exact cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is unknown. It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system is so geared up to defend the body against invaders that it attacks the body’s own tissues.
- Impaired immune function (i.e. allergies)
- Some experts believe that some sort of viral infection plays a role
- Multiple nutrient deficiences (not getting proper nutrition)
- Food intolerance
- Extreme physical or mental stress
Risk Reducers
- Because the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is unknown, risk reducers are really symptom reducers, and vary from individual to individual. However, it is believed that everyone who experiences Chronic Fatigue Syndome responds positively to the following:
- Reduced stress
- Balanced diet
- Rest
- Moderate Exercise
- Proper amounts of sleep
- Lowering of oxidative stress
The Studies
Lower serum zinc in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): relationships to immune dysfunctions and relevance for the oxidative stress status in CFS.
Maes M, Mihaylova I, De Ruyter M. J Affect Disord. 2006 Feb;90(2-3):141-7. Epub 2005 Dec 9.
The present study examines serum zinc concentrations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) versus normal volunteers. Serum zinc levels were determined by means of an atomic absorption method. We found that serum zinc was significantly lower in the CFS patients than in the normal controls. There was a trend toward a significant negative correlation between serum zinc and the severity of CFS and there was a significant and negative correlation between serum zinc and the subjective experience of infection. We found that serum zinc was significantly and negatively correlated to the increase in the alpha2 protein fraction and positively correlated to decreases in the expression of mitogen-induced CD69+ (a T cell activation marker) on CD3+ as well as CD3+CD8+ T cells. These results show that CFS is accompanied by a low serum zinc status and that the latter is related to signs of inflammation and defects in early T cell activation pathways. Since zinc is a strong anti-oxidant, the present results further support the findings that CFS is accompanied by increased oxidative stress. The results of these reports suggest that some patien | | |
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