Sidorova, Yu S, Petrov, N A, Shipelin, V A et al. · Voprosy pitaniia · 2020 · DOI
This review examined whether common foods like spinach and quinoa contain natural compounds that might help with chronic fatigue and other health problems. Researchers found that both foods contain substances called phytoecdysteroids and other active compounds that have been shown in animal studies to reduce fatigue, improve memory, and support overall health. The authors suggest these foods could be useful additions to supplements and specialized diets.
For ME/CFS patients, this review is relevant because phytoecdysteroids and related compounds have been investigated for their potential to reduce chronic fatigue and improve cognitive function—both cardinal symptoms of ME/CFS. The identification of these compounds in accessible foods rather than only medicinal plants could provide patients with dietary approaches to explore alongside conventional management strategies.
This review does not establish that spinach or quinoa effectively treat ME/CFS in humans; all evidence cited comes from animal models and in vitro studies. It does not prove that dietary intake of these foods at normal consumption levels will produce the pharmacological effects observed in concentrated extracts used in laboratory studies. The review is observational and does not establish causation or provide evidence from randomized controlled trials in human patients.
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
Sidorova, Yu S, Petrov, N A, Shipelin, V A, & Mazo, V K (2020). [Spinach and quinoa - prospective food sources of biologically active substances].. Voprosy pitaniia. https://doi.org/10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10020
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-sidorova-2020-spinach-quinoa,
author = {Sidorova, Yu S and Petrov, N A and Shipelin, V A and Mazo, V K},
title = {[Spinach and quinoa - prospective food sources of biologically active substances].},
journal = {Voprosy pitaniia},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.24411/0042-8833-2020-10020},
note = {PubMed: 32459909},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/sidorova-2020-spinach-quinoa},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/sidorova-2020-spinach-quinoa
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