Effectiveness of the SYNCHRONIZE + Brief Intervention in Improving Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Nutritional Quality and Intake Pattern in Persons with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. — ME/CFS Atlas
E1 ReplicatedModerate confidencePEM not requiredRCTPeer-reviewedReviewed
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Effectiveness of the SYNCHRONIZE + Brief Intervention in Improving Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Nutritional Quality and Intake Pattern in Persons with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Carrasco-Querol, Noèlia, Cabricano-Canga, Lorena, Bueno Hernández, Nerea et al. · Nutrients · 2024 · DOI
Quick Summary
Researchers tested whether a Mediterranean diet program called SYNCHRONIZE + could help people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome eat better and feel healthier. Over one year, participants who received the intervention ate more vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and fish, while eating fewer sweets and processed meats. People in the program also had better muscle mass and fewer nighttime eating habits.
Why It Matters
Nutrition is an understudied but potentially modifiable factor in ME/CFS management. This study provides evidence that a brief, accessible dietary intervention can improve dietary patterns and nutritional quality in this population, offering a low-cost, multidisciplinary approach that could complement other treatments. Understanding dietary patterns may help optimize energy availability and nutritional status in individuals with post-exertional malaise and chronic fatigue.
Observed Findings
Mediterranean diet adherence increased significantly in the intervention group at 3 and 6 months post-intervention, with effects sustained at 12 months.
Intake of protective foods increased (legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish) while intake of less healthy foods decreased (sweets, pastries, butter, cream, red/processed meats, chips, candies).
Key nutrient intake improved, including protein and iron levels.
Muscle mass index improved in the intervention group.
The proportion of participants with night eating patterns decreased significantly.
Inferred Conclusions
The SYNCHRONIZE + intervention is effective for improving Mediterranean diet adherence in persons with fibromyalgia and CFS, with benefits sustained over 12 months.
Brief, low-cost multidisciplinary dietary interventions can improve overall nutritional quality and dietary intake patterns in this population.
Dietary improvements may be influenced by participant age and educational level, suggesting potential for tailored interventions.
Preservation of muscle mass through improved nutrition may be an important secondary benefit in these conditions.
Remaining Questions
Does improved diet adherence translate to reduced symptom severity, improved fatigue levels, or enhanced quality of life in ME/CFS patients?
What This Study Does Not Prove
This study does not establish that improved diet adherence directly alleviates ME/CFS symptoms or improves fatigue, quality of life, or exercise tolerance—outcomes not measured here. It also does not prove that Mediterranean diet is superior to other dietary patterns for this population, nor does it determine whether dietary improvements occur due to the intervention itself or simply increased attention and support. The study was conducted in primary care populations with fibromyalgia and CFS, potentially limiting generalizability to other geographic regions or healthcare settings.
Tags
Symptom:PainFatigue
Method Flag:PEM Not DefinedWeak Case DefinitionMixed Cohort
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 →
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