Brouwers, F M, Van Der Werf, S, Bleijenberg, G et al. · QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians · 2002 · DOI
This study tested whether a supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients could reduce fatigue and improve physical activity in people with ME/CFS. Fifty-three patients took either the supplement or a placebo for 10 weeks in a blinded trial. The researchers found no significant difference between the supplement and placebo groups on fatigue levels, number of symptoms, or overall impact on daily life.
Many ME/CFS patients explore nutritional supplementation seeking symptom relief, making evidence about efficacy clinically relevant. This study provides rigorous controlled evidence that broad-spectrum polynutrient supplements do not produce measurable improvements in core ME/CFS symptoms, helping patients and clinicians make informed decisions about supplement use.
This study does not prove that no supplement could ever help ME/CFS patients—only that this particular formulation showed no benefit in this population. It also does not address whether targeted supplementation for specific micronutrient deficiencies might help subgroups of patients. The 10-week duration and small sample size limit generalizability to longer-term effects or diverse patient populations.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Brouwers, F M, Van Der Werf, S, Bleijenberg, G, Van Der Zee, L, & Van Der Meer, J W M (2002). The effect of a polynutrient supplement on fatigue and physical activity of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.. QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/95.10.677
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-brouwers-2002-effect-polynutrient,
author = {Brouwers, F M and Van Der Werf, S and Bleijenberg, G and Van Der Zee, L and Van Der Meer, J W M},
title = {The effect of a polynutrient supplement on fatigue and physical activity of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.},
journal = {QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1093/qjmed/95.10.677},
note = {PubMed: 12324640},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/brouwers-2002-effect-polynutrient},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/brouwers-2002-effect-polynutrient
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