ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2807 studies

1761–1780 of 2,807 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective survey.

Berkovitz, Saul, Ambler, Gareth, Jenkins, Michael et al.·International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition·2009

This study measured vitamin D levels in 221 ME/CFS patients and found they were significantly lower than in healthy people from the general British population. Because ME/CFS patients often spend less time outdoors and are less physically active, they may not get enough sun exposure to produce adequate vitamin D naturally. The researchers suggest that ME/CFS patients should try to get more sunlight and eat vitamin D-rich foods, and may benefit from vitamin D supplements if levels remain low.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Vitamin D metabolites as clinical markers in autoimmune and chronic disease.

Blaney, Greg P, Albert, Paul J, Proal, Amy D·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2009

This study measured two types of vitamin D in the blood of patients with autoimmune and chronic diseases, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that a specific form of vitamin D (1,25-D) at high levels was associated with these conditions, but the commonly-tested form of vitamin D (25-D) was not. This suggests doctors may need to test for the right type of vitamin D to properly assess autoimmune disease.

BiomarkersImmune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Increased d-lactic Acid intestinal bacteria in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sheedy, John R, Wettenhall, Richard E H, Scanlon, Denis et al.·In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2009

This study found that people with ME/CFS have higher levels of specific bacteria in their gut that produce a substance called D-lactic acid. These bacteria were found in much larger quantities in stool samples from ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. The researchers suggest this excess D-lactic acid might help explain why some ME/CFS patients experience brain fog and cognitive problems.

Gut MicrobiomeEnergy Metabolism

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sullivan, Asa, Nord, Carl E, Evengård, Birgitta·Nutrition journal·2009

This small study tested whether specific probiotic bacteria (live microorganisms that may benefit gut health) could reduce fatigue and improve physical activity in ME/CFS patients. Fifteen patients took probiotics for 4 weeks and were monitored for changes in fatigue, physical activity, and cognitive function. While some patients reported feeling better overall, the study did not find significant improvements in fatigue or activity levels, though cognitive function did improve.

Gut MicrobiomeImmune System

E2 ModerateMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

RETRACTED: Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lombardi, Vincent C, Ruscetti, Francis W, Das Gupta, Jaydip et al.·Science (New York, N.Y.)·2009

This study, which has since been retracted, reported finding a virus called XMRV in blood cells from most ME/CFS patients tested, but rarely in healthy people. The researchers showed that this virus could be grown in the lab and transmitted between cells. However, subsequent studies by other scientists could not reproduce these findings, leading to the retraction of this paper.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Visible and near-infrared spectral changes in the thumb of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sakudo, Akikazu, Kato, Yukiko Hakariya, Tajima, Seiki et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2009

Researchers used a special light-based scanning tool to examine the thumbs of ME/CFS patients and healthy people, looking for differences in blood and oxygen levels. They found that ME/CFS patients had higher oxygen-carrying proteins in their blood, less water in their tissues, and signs of faster energy use in their cells. These findings suggest that ME/CFS patients' bodies may be working harder than usual, even at rest.

Energy Metabolism

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

[Relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and type A behaviour].

Godás Sieso, Teresa, Gómez Gil, Esther, Salamero Baró, Manel et al.·Medicina clinica·2009

This study examined whether people with ME/CFS tend to have Type A personality traits—characteristics like urgency, competitiveness, and high-striving behavior. Researchers gave 82 ME/CFS patients a personality questionnaire and found their Type A scores were notably higher than healthy people and even higher than heart disease patients. The authors suggest that Type A personality may be connected to ME/CFS and should be considered when treating the condition.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Demographic and clinical aspects of an Italian patient population with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Carlo-Stella, N, Cuccia, M·Reumatismo·2009

This Italian study surveyed patients diagnosed with ME/CFS to understand their symptoms and backgrounds. The researchers found that Italian patients with ME/CFS experience persistent fatigue along with symptoms that resemble infectious illnesses, neurological problems, and joint/muscle issues—similar to what has been reported in other countries.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Are chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome valid clinical entities across countries and health-care settings?

Hickie, Ian, Davenport, Tracey, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry·2009

This large international study analyzed data from nearly 38,000 people across 21 countries to determine whether chronic fatigue and ME/CFS are real, recognizable conditions. Researchers found that people with these conditions share a consistent pattern of five main symptom types—muscle pain and fatigue, thinking difficulties, inflammation-related symptoms, sleep problems, and mood changes—regardless of where they live or which type of doctor they see. This consistency across different countries and healthcare settings provides strong evidence that chronic fatigue and ME/CFS are genuine medical conditions, not just psychiatric problems.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Sleep apnea and psychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Libman, Eva, Creti, Laura, Baltzan, Marcel et al.·Journal of health psychology·2009

This study looked at whether sleep apnea (a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep) is common in people with ME/CFS and how it affects mood and psychological well-being. The researchers found that 68% of ME/CFS patients had sleep apnea, but those who did were not significantly more ill than those without it. Both the ME/CFS and sleep apnea groups showed more psychological difficulties than healthy controls, but the researchers suggest these emotional struggles are likely a natural response to living with a chronic illness rather than a separate psychiatric condition.

SleepDiagnostics

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Use of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for assessment of personality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Van Campen, Elise, Van Den Eede, Filip, Moorkens, Greta et al.·Psychosomatics·2009

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have certain personality traits that might be connected to their illness. Researchers gave a personality questionnaire to 38 people with ME/CFS and 42 healthy people, and found that those with ME/CFS scored higher on two traits: being cautious about potential harm and being persistent in their efforts. The findings suggest that these personality characteristics might play a role in how ME/CFS develops or continues.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome combines increased exercise-induced oxidative stress and reduced cytokine and Hsp responses.

Jammes, Y, Steinberg, J G, Delliaux, S et al.·Journal of internal medicine·2009

This study found that people with ME/CFS experience unusual stress on their cells during exercise, particularly involving harmful molecules called free radicals. Their bodies also fail to mount normal protective responses—both in terms of producing protective proteins (heat shock proteins) and inflammatory markers that healthy people produce during exertion. This combination of excessive cellular damage and insufficient protective response may explain why exercise is so difficult for people with ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Associations between pet ownership and self-reported health status in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wells, Deborah L·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2009

Researchers asked 193 people with ME/CFS whether they owned pets and how their health was doing. About 58% owned pets, mostly dogs and cats. While pet owners reported feeling that their animals helped their mental well-being, the study found no clear statistical link between owning a pet and having better health scores overall.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Longitudinal change in chronic fatigue syndrome: what home-based assessments reveal.

Friedberg, Fred, Sohl, Stephanie J·Journal of behavioral medicine·2009

This study followed 75 people with ME/CFS for 2 years and compared different ways of measuring how they were doing. Researchers used both traditional questionnaires and home-based measurements like activity trackers and daily fatigue diaries. They found that people who reported feeling better had lower fatigue levels and stood up more often at home, but these improvements didn't always show up on activity trackers or psychological tests.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Cardiovascular dysfunction with low cardiac output due to a small heart in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Miwa, Kunihisa, Fujita, Masatoshi·Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2009

This study found that many ME/CFS patients experience heart-related symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, and dizziness. Using heart imaging tests, researchers discovered that about one-third of ME/CFS patients had smaller-than-normal hearts that pump less blood than expected, which may contribute to their fatigue and other symptoms.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load: results from a population-based case-control study in Georgia.

Maloney, Elizabeth M, Boneva, Roumiana, Nater, Urs M et al.·Psychosomatic medicine·2009

This study looked at whether people with ME/CFS have higher levels of 'allostatic load'—a measure of how much stress and wear-and-tear their bodies have accumulated over time. Researchers compared 83 people with ME/CFS, 202 people with some symptoms but not full ME/CFS, and 109 healthy controls in Georgia. They found that people with ME/CFS did have significantly higher allostatic load than healthy people, suggesting their bodies may be under greater physiological stress.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Salivary cortisol output before and after cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Roberts, Amanda D L, Papadopoulos, Andrew S, Wessely, Simon et al.·Journal of affective disorders·2009

This study looked at whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy—could help fix a hormone imbalance found in ME/CFS patients. Researchers measured a stress hormone called cortisol in the saliva of 41 patients before and after 15 sessions of CBT. They found that cortisol levels increased after therapy, suggesting that CBT may help restore this hormone to healthier levels.

Endocrine Disruption

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Use of medications by people with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy persons: a population-based study of fatiguing illness in Georgia.

Boneva, Roumiana S, Lin, Jin-Mann S, Maloney, Elizabeth M et al.·Health and quality of life outcomes·2009

This study looked at what medications and supplements people with ME/CFS were taking compared to healthy people and those with other chronic illnesses. Researchers found that over 90% of people with ME/CFS used at least one medication or supplement, and they used significantly more drugs overall—an average of 5.8 compared to 3.7 in healthy people. People with ME/CFS were more likely to take antidepressants, sleep aids, muscle relaxants, and pain relievers.

Interventions

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exploratory analysis of the relationships between aerobic capacity and self-reported fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Weinstein, Ali A, Drinkard, Bart M, Diao, Guoqing et al.·PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation·2009

This study looked at whether feeling tired (fatigue) matches up with how well the body can use oxygen during exercise in people with three different conditions: rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and ME/CFS. Researchers tested 29 patients total and found that people who reported doing more physical activity had better oxygen capacity, but surprisingly, how fatigued people *said* they felt didn't match their actual aerobic fitness levels.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The role of coping in the relationship between depression and illness severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Walker, Karen, Lindner, Helen, Noonan, Michelle·Journal of allied health·2009

This study looked at how depression and coping strategies affect how severely people with ME/CFS feel their illness impacts them. Researchers surveyed 156 ME/CFS patients about their mood, how they cope with their condition, and how they perceive their illness severity. They found that how patients cope—especially seeking social support and finding positive ways to think about their situation—may be just as important as treating depression when it comes to how sick people feel.

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Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective survey.

Vitamin D metabolites as clinical markers in autoimmune and chronic disease.

Increased d-lactic Acid intestinal bacteria in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

RETRACTED: Detection of an infectious retrovirus, XMRV, in blood cells of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Visible and near-infrared spectral changes in the thumb of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

[Relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome and type A behaviour].

Demographic and clinical aspects of an Italian patient population with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Are chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome valid clinical entities across countries and health-care settings?

Sleep apnea and psychological functioning in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Use of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for assessment of personality in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome combines increased exercise-induced oxidative stress and reduced cytokine and Hsp responses.

Associations between pet ownership and self-reported health status in people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Longitudinal change in chronic fatigue syndrome: what home-based assessments reveal.

Cardiovascular dysfunction with low cardiac output due to a small heart in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load: results from a population-based case-control study in Georgia.

Salivary cortisol output before and after cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Use of medications by people with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy persons: a population-based study of fatiguing illness in Georgia.

Exploratory analysis of the relationships between aerobic capacity and self-reported fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The role of coping in the relationship between depression and illness severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

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