Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Introduction

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a condition that is associated with too much fatigue, or feeling tired without that feeling getting away, even after rest. the fatigue cannot be linked to any existing medical condition (“CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)”, 2019). This disorder has no specific etiological path with no specified cause and way of diagnosis of the disease. It is accepted that some of the causes that may result in CFS include psychological stress, viral infections or multidimensional factors. Numerous research indicates that various marginal nutritional deficiencies could possess etiological importance (Campagnolo, Johnston, Collatz, Staines & Marshall-Gradisnik, 2017: Dykman, Tone, Ford & Dykman, 2015). These nutritional deficiencies are observed in CFS patient and could be as a result of disease progression too as well as provide a difficulty in the healing process. Therefore dietary factors have some effects on CFS, which means understanding nutritional changes and content of an individual can help give some relevance to the etiology of CFS.

Summary of the disease

Cause

There is no specific cause that is associated with the development of the disease. However, some research indicate that psychological stress, viral infections like rubella and other combination of factors like hormonal imbalances and weakened immune system. Genetics has also been implicated (“CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)”, 2019)

Risk Factors

CFS commonly affects individuals in the age of 40s as well as 50s. Women are more predisposed to CFS compared to men. Other elements that could increase the risk of this disorder are:

• Genetics
• Having allergy
• Stress
• Environmental characteristics

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disease are different from one patient to another, also depending on the level of severity of the disorder. Fatigue is the most obvious symptoms, which is bad enough to disrupt daily activities.

Diagnosis is based on the fact that the individual has less ability to perform the daily task that was usually easy to implement for six months and bed rest doesn’t help reduce the fatigue (“CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)”, 2019). Post-exertional malaise is experienced lasting more than 24 hours after mental and physical activities.

Sleep problem may also be presented by CFS such as:

• Chronic insomnia
• Feeling unrested after sleep
• Additional sleeping disorders

Additionally, amnesia, reduced concentration or orthostatic intolerance may be introduced by this condition.

Treatment

There is currently no treatment available, but the symptoms may be treated to manage the condition.

How Nutrition Relates To CFS

According to numerous literature, there is a connection between nutritional deficiencies of various elements of diet and the progression of the disease (GRANT, VELDEE & BUCHWALD, 2015). According to Werbach (2015), the nutritional imbalances that lead to a deficiency of folic acid, zinc, magnesium, Sodium and vitamin B complex, seem to extend the damage for the diseases. Individuals who have CFS usually have a deficiency of folic acid, which indicate that dietary inclusion of the folic acid can help in elevating the effects of the disease. Essential fatty acids have also been linked with CFS in another study by Puri and Basant (2007). Such studies indicate some underlying connection of CFS with dietary intake. Fatigue, as well as depression which is common in CFS condition, are equally symptoms of folate inadequacy. Additionally, numerous experiment on folate supplementation indicated an improved mood to folate-deficient members of the public (Smith & Cohen, 2008: Werbach, 2015).

Another nutritional element that is linked with CFS is Vitamin B12 with informal research indicating that women who had CFS had a deficiency of Vitamin B12, which is also associated with fatigue and neurasthenia.  no data is supporting CFS improvement upon Vitamin B12 supplementation (Jenkins & Rayman, 2005). However, other nutritional elements that are linked to the cause and progression of the disease include Sodium, Zinc, other B vitamins and magnesium in which studies indicate lower erythrocyte magnesium in CFS patient (GRANT, VELDEE & BUCHWALD, 2015).

How CFS Affect Nutritional Status of an Individual

To make necessary accommodations to the demands that CFS brings, it is only obvious, to begin with, diet. This is not always an easy process for many individuals. The dietary changes that are brought about by this condition bring about difficulties. Usually, about 60% of patients with CFS as well as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) goes through gastrointestinal symptoms which include heartburn, diarrhoea vomiting constipation as well as cramps. In numerous cases, this is caused by the sensitivity to daily dietary intake (Dykman, Tone, Ford & Dykman, 2015). Due to diversity that each patient has in terms of the disease progression, each patient may experience different sensitivity to a different type of food (“CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)”, 2019). When one individual may maintain a vegetarian diet, another one may require meat in every meal. Since every individual digestive system echoes one’s specific case of ME/CFS worsened by allergies, food sensitivity, bladder sensitivities,and others-there exist no simple ‘best diet’ for individuals with CFS.

These complications brought out by CFS means that attaining a proper nutritional diet may be hard for patients. Additionally, the disease brings about deficiencies of some elements of diet like Zinc, Manganese, Sodium, Vitamins and essential fatty acids this means that supplementation of these elements necessitates a change in lifestyle regarding diet (Werbach, 2015). Therefore the complication that CFS brings about culminate into one of its symptoms.

How Nutrition Help In Healing

Based on the fact that CFS is linked with nutritional deficiencies, it can be proposed that nutrition can play a fundamental role in the healing process of the condition. Incorporation of dietary supplementation has been linked with the improvement of health. The various deficiencies that are noticed among patients with CFS mentioned earlier, indicate that supplementation with these elements may improve symptom manifestation. This evidence suggests that the use of nutrition supplementation can be used as an intervention which may be necessary in the healing process. Supplementation of Zinc, Magnesium, Folic acid, Sodium, essential fatty acid and vitamin B complex, has been linked with the elevation of the various symptoms of the condition.

A study conducted by Kathryn et al. (2010) on the effects of nutritional supplements on CFS found, dietary supplements culminated into a considerable reduction in the level of severity of CFS symptoms. However, another review done by Campagnolo et al. (2017) investigated the effects of nutritional and dietary intervention in the treatment of CFS, and the investigation concluded that there is not enough evidence to prove that dietary modification either supplementation and elimination alleviate CFS symptoms. Although the study mentioned that more studies need to be done, the little studies available indicate some level of improvement when dietary changes are made in terms of supplementation of the deficient elements.

Conclusion

CFS is a condition associated with fatigue that doesn’t go away even with sufficient rest. There has been no single consensus on what exactly causes this disease. The disorder has, however, been linked with the nutritional deficiencies which either lead to the condition or part of the disease progression. Some of the deficiencies include iron, magnesium, sodium, essential fatty acid, Vitamin C and vitamin B complex. This condition, therefore, leads to significant dietary changes for patients to ensure that these deficiencies are eliminated. Numerous studies indicate that nutritional supplementation not only helps to reduce some symptoms.

References

Campagnolo, N., Johnston, S., Collatz, A., Staines, D., & Marshall-Gradisnik, S. (2017). Dietary and nutrition interventions for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review. Journal Of Human Nutrition And Dietetics, 30(3), 247-259. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12435

CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). (2019). Retrieved 28 November 2019, from https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome#treatment

Dykman, K., Tone, C., Ford, C., & Dykman, R. (2015). The effects of nutritional supplements on the symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Integrative Physiological And Behavioral Science, 33(1), 61-71. doi: 10.1007/bf02688676

GRANT, J., VELDEE, M., & BUCHWALD, D. (2015). Analysis of Dietary Intake and Selected Nutrient concentrations in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Journal Of The American Dietetic Association, 96(4), 383-386. doi: 10.1016/s0002-8223(96)00104-6

Jenkins, M., & Rayman, M. (2005). Nutrient intake is unrelated to nutrient status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Journal Of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, 15(4), 177-189. doi: 10.1080/13590840600681751

Puri, B. K. (2007). Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and the pathophysiology of myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome). Journal of clinical pathology, 60(2), 122-124.

Smith, B., & Cohen, M. (2008). Dietary Intake of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Journal Of The American Dietetic Association, 98(9), A87. doi: 10.1016/s0002-8223(98)00620-8

Werbach, M. (2015). Nutritional Strategies for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Alternative Medicine Review, 5(2), 93-105. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mel_Werbach/publication/12548254_Nutritional_strategies_for_treating_chronic_fatigue_syndrome/links/59ea9d3eaca272cddddb8318/Nutritional-strategies-for-treating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.pdf