Goertzel, Benjamin N, Pennachin, Cassio, de Souza Coelho, Lucio et al. · Pharmacogenomics · 2006 · DOI
This study looked at whether ME/CFS patients have higher 'allostatic load'—a measure of stress on the body's systems including metabolism, heart function, and hormones. Researchers compared 43 ME/CFS patients to 60 healthy controls and found that ME/CFS patients with higher allostatic load reported worse physical function, more body pain, and more frequent symptoms. The study suggests the body's stress response systems may play a role in ME/CFS severity.
This study provides biological plausibility for how ME/CFS symptoms may relate to cumulative physiological stress, potentially linking multiple dysfunctional body systems into a coherent framework. Understanding allostatic load as a contributor to symptom severity could inform future treatments targeting metabolic, cardiovascular, or endocrine dysfunction in ME/CFS.
This study does not establish causation—elevated allostatic load may result from rather than cause ME/CFS symptoms. The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether reducing allostatic load would improve symptoms. The study also does not validate allostatic load as a diagnostic marker or explain the biological mechanisms linking specific system dysfunctions to particular symptoms.
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
Goertzel, Benjamin N, Pennachin, Cassio, de Souza Coelho, Lucio, Maloney, Elizabeth M, Jones, James F, & Gurbaxani, Brian (2006). Allostatic load is associated with symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.. Pharmacogenomics. https://doi.org/10.2217/14622416.7.3.485
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-goertzel-2006-allostatic-load,
author = {Goertzel, Benjamin N and Pennachin, Cassio and de Souza Coelho, Lucio and Maloney, Elizabeth M and Jones, James F and Gurbaxani, Brian},
title = {Allostatic load is associated with symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.},
journal = {Pharmacogenomics},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.2217/14622416.7.3.485},
note = {PubMed: 16610958},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/goertzel-2006-allostatic-load},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/goertzel-2006-allostatic-load
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