Jones, Kathryn, Probst, Yasmine · Australian and New Zealand journal of public health · 2017 · DOI
Researchers reviewed 22 studies looking at whether changing what you eat could help ME/CFS symptoms. They found some promise with certain supplements like omega-3 fatty acids and D-ribose, as well as foods high in polyphenols (like berries and green tea). However, the evidence overall was limited and inconsistent—meaning we don't yet have clear dietary recommendations that work reliably for most ME/CFS patients.
ME/CFS causes severe individual and community burden, making even modest dietary interventions potentially valuable. This review synthesizes available evidence to guide patients and clinicians on which nutritional approaches have preliminary support, while identifying gaps that justify further research investment.
This systematic review does not prove that any specific dietary modification is effective for ME/CFS—the evidence base remains too weak and inconsistent. It cannot establish causation from the mixed findings across disparate studies, and the quality and size of included studies limit definitive conclusions about real-world clinical benefit.
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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Primary citation
Jones, Kathryn & Probst, Yasmine (2017). Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review.. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12670
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-jones-2017-role-dietary,
author = {Jones, Kathryn and Probst, Yasmine},
title = {Role of dietary modification in alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms: a systematic review.},
journal = {Australian and New Zealand journal of public health},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1111/1753-6405.12670},
note = {PubMed: 28616881},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jones-2017-role-dietary},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/jones-2017-role-dietary
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