Shao, Changzhuan, Ren, Yiming, Wang, Zinan et al. · BioMed research international · 2017 · DOI
Researchers used rats exposed to stress and exercise to model ME/CFS and then measured chemicals in their urine before and after exercise. They found abnormalities in how the rats' bodies produce energy and process hormones, particularly in molecules called sphingosine and a hormone precursor called 21-hydroxypregnenolone. These findings suggest that ME/CFS may involve disrupted energy metabolism and problems with the body's stress-response system.
This study provides preclinical mechanistic evidence that ME/CFS involves metabolic and hormonal abnormalities that persist and change with exercise, supporting the hypothesis that HPA axis dysfunction and altered lipid metabolism contribute to the illness. Identifying potential biomarkers like sphingosine could help develop diagnostic tools and targeted treatments for patients.
This is a rat model study and cannot directly prove that these same metabolic changes occur in human ME/CFS patients. The study does not establish whether the observed metabolite changes are causes or consequences of the disease state, nor does it demonstrate clinical utility of these biomarkers in 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
Shao, Changzhuan, Ren, Yiming, Wang, Zinan, Kang, Chenzhe, Jiang, Hongke, & Chi, Aiping (2017). Detection of Urine Metabolites in a Rat Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before and after Exercise.. BioMed research international. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8182020
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-shao-2017-detection-urine,
author = {Shao, Changzhuan and Ren, Yiming and Wang, Zinan and Kang, Chenzhe and Jiang, Hongke and Chi, Aiping},
title = {Detection of Urine Metabolites in a Rat Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before and after Exercise.},
journal = {BioMed research international},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1155/2017/8182020},
note = {PubMed: 28421200},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/shao-2017-detection-urine},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/shao-2017-detection-urine
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