ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

101–120 of 206 studies

A Perspective on the Role of Metformin in Treating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID.

Fineberg, David, Moreau, Alain, Schneider-Futschik, Elena K et al.·ACS pharmacology & translational science·2025

This article explores whether metformin, a common diabetes medication, might help treat ME/CFS and Long COVID by fixing problems with how cells make energy and controlling inflammation. The authors explain that metformin could work by reducing harmful molecules in cells, improving how the body uses energy, and calming down overactive immune responses. However, they stress that metformin would likely work best as part of a combination treatment rather than as a single cure.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Mitochondrial Measures in Primary Cells Isolated from Patients with ME/CFS.

Allan, Claire Y, Katsaros, Tina, Missailidis, Daniel et al.·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study describes laboratory methods to test how well the mitochondria (the energy factories in our cells) are working in people with ME/CFS. Researchers took two types of cells from ME/CFS patients—fibroblasts (skin cells) and immune cells from the blood—and used special dyes and measurements to check if these cells have problems with energy production, cellular damage, or stress responses. These techniques could help scientists understand whether mitochondrial problems contribute to ME/CFS symptoms.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Heightened innate immunity may trigger chronic inflammation, fatigue and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS.

Che, Xiaoyu, Ranjan, Amit, Guo, Cheng et al.·npj metabolic health and disease·2025

This study examined blood samples and immune responses in ME/CFS patients to understand why they experience extreme fatigue and feeling worse after activity. Researchers found that patients' immune systems overreact to germs, their bodies have trouble producing energy efficiently, and they have several chemical imbalances in their blood. These problems got worse after exercise and matched how sick patients felt.

Energy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Real-Time Measurement of Mitochondrial Function and Glycolysis in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines.

Katsaros, Tina, Missailidis, Daniel, Annesley, Sarah J·Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2025

This study describes a new method to measure how cells make energy in people with ME/CFS. Researchers use a special machine to track two main energy-production pathways in cells: one that happens quickly (glycolysis) and one that happens in the cell's energy factories called mitochondria. By measuring how much oxygen cells use and the acids they produce, scientists can see if these energy pathways are working differently in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of sweet corn cob polysaccharide selenium nanoparticles alleviates symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wang, Jingyang, Wang, Xin, Xiu, Weiye et al.·Food & function·2025

Researchers created tiny particles made from selenium and sweet corn cob material and tested whether they could help reduce fatigue symptoms in mice with chronic fatigue syndrome. The particles appeared to improve energy production in cells and reduce harmful oxidative stress, while also making positive changes to the bacteria in the digestive system.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

mTORC1 syndrome (TorS): unifying paradigm for PASC, ME/CFS and PAIS.

Bar-Tana, Jacob·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This study proposes that ME/CFS, Long COVID, and similar post-infection illnesses may all be caused by the same underlying problem: excessive activity of a cellular control system called mTORC1. The authors suggest that if this overactive system is the shared driver of these conditions, it could explain why patients experience fatigue, worsening after exercise, pain, heart rate changes, and brain fog—and it might point toward new treatments.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A novel frameshift mutation in ADCK1 identified in a case of chronic fatigue syndrome successfully treated with oral 5-ALA/SFC.

Koga, Tomohiro, Kita, Kiyoshi, Okumura, Junko et al.·Immunological medicine·2025

This study reports a single patient with ME/CFS who carried a rare genetic mutation affecting how cells produce energy. When treated with a supplement called 5-ALA/SFC along with other nutrients, the patient's fatigue and daily functioning significantly improved. This case suggests that some people with ME/CFS may have mitochondrial (cellular energy) problems related to this genetic change, and that certain supplements might help.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Metabolic adaptation and fragility in healthy 3Din vitroskeletal muscle tissues exposed to chronic fatigue syndrome and Long COVID-19 sera.

Mughal, Sheeza, Andújar-Sánchez, Félix, Sabater-Arcis, Maria et al.·Biofabrication·2025

Researchers grew human muscle tissue in the laboratory and exposed it to blood from ME/CFS and Long COVID patients to see what happens. They found that muscle exposed to patient blood initially tries to work harder by burning more fuel, but over time the muscle becomes weak and fragile. The mitochondria (the energy-producing structures in cells) also change shape and stop working properly, suggesting the muscle is struggling under stress.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Widespread Myalgia and Chronic Fatigue: Phagocytes from Macrophagic Myofasciitis Patients Exposed to Aluminum Oxyhydroxide-Adjuvanted Vaccine Exhibit Specific Inflammatory, Autophagic, and Mitochondrial Responses.

Masson, Jean-Daniel, Badran, Ghidaa, Gherardi, Romain K et al.·Toxics·2024

This study examined immune cells from people with macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF), a condition involving long-term inflammation from vaccine aluminum adjuvants lodged in muscle tissue. Researchers found that these immune cells behave abnormally when exposed to aluminum adjuvants: they produce more pain-causing molecules, show signs of energy exhaustion, and struggle to respond to their normal workload. These findings suggest a possible mechanism for why MMF patients develop severe fatigue and widespread muscle pain similar to ME/CFS.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Heat treatment in health and disease: How water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation affects key cellular mechanisms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients compared to healthy donors.

Hochecker, Barbara, Molinski, Noah, Matt, Katja et al.·Journal of thermal biology·2024

This study tested whether a gentle heat treatment called water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) could affect how cells work in ME/CFS patients compared to healthy people. Researchers warmed cells from both groups to 39°C for one hour and looked at three important cellular processes: autophagy (cells cleaning themselves), mitochondrial function (energy production), and gene activity. The heat treatment activated cleaning and stress-response processes in all cells tested, and in ME/CFS cells specifically, it slightly reduced the high mitochondrial activity toward levels seen in healthy cells.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Dysregulation of tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome by pentose phosphate pathway.

Bulbule, Sarojini, Gottschalk, Carl Gunnar, Drosen, Molly E et al.·Journal of central nervous system disease·2024

Researchers found that patients with ME/CFS who experience dizziness upon standing have abnormally high levels of certain molecules called biopterins in their blood. The study discovered that these molecules are produced through an unusual metabolic pathway involving the breakdown of glucose, and this pathway appears to trigger inflammation in immune cells. This finding suggests a potential biochemical explanation for some ME/CFS symptoms.

Energy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations-A Narrative Review.

Gutiérrez-Hellín, Jorge, Del Coso, Juan, Franco-Andrés, Arturo et al.·Nutrients·2024

This review article examines how creatine, a natural substance that helps muscles produce energy, might help people beyond just athletes. The authors suggest creatine supplementation could reduce fatigue in women during certain phases of their menstrual cycle, help vegans and vegetarians compensate for lower creatine from their diet, and potentially support people with chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle loss, and other health conditions by improving how their cells produce energy.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Microvascular Capillary and Precapillary Cardiovascular Disturbances Strongly Interact to Severely Affect Tissue Perfusion and Mitochondrial Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Evolving from the Post COVID-19 Syndrome.

Wirth, Klaus Josef, Löhn, Matthias·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2024

This study proposes that ME/CFS may develop from COVID-19 in some people due to problems with how blood flows through tiny vessels in the body. The researchers suggest that abnormal blood cells and clots, combined with weak heart function and overly constricted blood vessels, create a double problem that starves muscles of oxygen and damages the energy-producing structures (mitochondria) inside cells. This combination may trigger a harmful cycle that keeps the problem going.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Mitochondria Dysfunction and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Ross, Stephanie Maxine·Holistic nursing practice·2024

This review examines how problems with mitochondria—the energy-producing parts of our cells—might contribute to ME/CFS. The study explores the theory that when mitochondria don't work properly, cells can't produce enough energy, which could explain the severe fatigue and exhaustion that ME/CFS patients experience. Understanding this connection may help researchers develop better treatments aimed at restoring cellular energy production.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Dysregulation of the Kynurenine Pathway, Cytokine Expression Pattern, and Proteomics Profile Link to Symptomology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Kavyani, Bahar, Ahn, Seong Beom, Missailidis, Daniel et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2024

This study found that ME/CFS patients have imbalances in a particular chemical pathway in their body (the kynurenine pathway) that appears connected to inflammation and symptom severity. The researchers discovered that higher levels of one early chemical in this pathway correlated with worse symptoms, while lower levels of later chemicals in the pathway might affect how cells produce energy. Interestingly, they also found that five of the most significantly changed proteins in ME/CFS patients are involved in gut health, suggesting the gut microbiome may play an important role in the disease.

BiomarkersGut MicrobiomeEnergy MetabolismImmune System

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredObservational

Urine Metabolomics Exposes Anomalous Recovery after Maximal Exertion in Female ME/CFS Patients.

Glass, Katherine A, Germain, Arnaud, Huang, Yuhsin V et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2023

Researchers tested urine samples from ME/CFS patients and healthy people before and after intense exercise. They found that healthy people's urine chemistry changed noticeably after exercise (showing normal recovery), but ME/CFS patients' urine chemistry barely changed. This suggests that ME/CFS patients' bodies may not be adapting properly to physical stress the way healthy bodies do.

Energy MetabolismPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Heterogenous circulating miRNA changes in ME/CFS converge on a unified cluster of target genes: A computational analysis.

Kaczmarek, Mateusz Piotr·PloS one·2023

This study looked at tiny molecules called microRNAs in the blood of people with ME/CFS to understand what might be going wrong. While different patients had different patterns of these microRNAs, the researchers found that they all tend to affect the same core group of genes—suggesting ME/CFS may disrupt similar biological pathways across patients. These changes seem to affect muscle blood flow during exercise, the body's ability to handle low oxygen, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial function.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Broadband Electrical Spectroscopy to Distinguish Single-Cell Ca2+ Changes Due to Ionomycin Treatment in a Skeletal Muscle Cell Line.

Ferguson, Caroline A, Santangelo, Carmen, Marramiero, Lorenzo et al.·Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2023

Researchers used a specialized technology to measure electrical changes in muscle cells when calcium levels increased abnormally. They found that calcium buildup—a problem seen in ME/CFS and other muscle diseases—creates detectable electrical differences that can be measured. This new method may eventually help doctors identify calcium problems in patient cells more easily.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

WASF3 disrupts mitochondrial respiration and may mediate exercise intolerance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Wang, Ping-Yuan, Ma, Jin, Kim, Young-Chae et al.·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2023

Researchers found that a protein called WASF3 may be responsible for exercise intolerance in ME/CFS by interfering with how mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) work in muscles. When WASF3 levels were high, both mice and cells from ME/CFS patients showed reduced energy production capacity. Lowering WASF3 in the patient's cells improved their mitochondrial function, suggesting this protein could be a potential treatment target.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Ginsenoside Rg1 can reverse fatigue behavior in CFS rats by regulating EGFR and affecting Taurine and Mannose 6-phosphate metabolism.

Lei, Chaofang, Chen, Jiaxu, Huang, Zhen et al.·Frontiers in pharmacology·2023

This study tested whether ginsenoside Rg1, a compound from ginseng, could reduce fatigue in rats with chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers found that the treatment reversed fatigue behavior and corrected abnormal metabolism patterns in the rats' blood, particularly affecting molecules called taurine and mannose 6-phosphate. The results suggest ginseng-derived compounds might help ME/CFS patients, though human studies would be needed to confirm this.

Energy Metabolism

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A Perspective on the Role of Metformin in Treating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID.

Mitochondrial Measures in Primary Cells Isolated from Patients with ME/CFS.

Heightened innate immunity may trigger chronic inflammation, fatigue and post-exertional malaise in ME/CFS.

Real-Time Measurement of Mitochondrial Function and Glycolysis in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines.

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of sweet corn cob polysaccharide selenium nanoparticles alleviates symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

mTORC1 syndrome (TorS): unifying paradigm for PASC, ME/CFS and PAIS.

A novel frameshift mutation in ADCK1 identified in a case of chronic fatigue syndrome successfully treated with oral 5-ALA/SFC.

Metabolic adaptation and fragility in healthy 3Din vitroskeletal muscle tissues exposed to chronic fatigue syndrome and Long COVID-19 sera.

Widespread Myalgia and Chronic Fatigue: Phagocytes from Macrophagic Myofasciitis Patients Exposed to Aluminum Oxyhydroxide-Adjuvanted Vaccine Exhibit Specific Inflammatory, Autophagic, and Mitochondrial Responses.

Heat treatment in health and disease: How water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation affects key cellular mechanisms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients compared to healthy donors.

Dysregulation of tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome by pentose phosphate pathway.

Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations-A Narrative Review.

Microvascular Capillary and Precapillary Cardiovascular Disturbances Strongly Interact to Severely Affect Tissue Perfusion and Mitochondrial Function in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Evolving from the Post COVID-19 Syndrome.

Mitochondria Dysfunction and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Dysregulation of the Kynurenine Pathway, Cytokine Expression Pattern, and Proteomics Profile Link to Symptomology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Urine Metabolomics Exposes Anomalous Recovery after Maximal Exertion in Female ME/CFS Patients.

Heterogenous circulating miRNA changes in ME/CFS converge on a unified cluster of target genes: A computational analysis.

Broadband Electrical Spectroscopy to Distinguish Single-Cell Ca2+ Changes Due to Ionomycin Treatment in a Skeletal Muscle Cell Line.

WASF3 disrupts mitochondrial respiration and may mediate exercise intolerance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ginsenoside Rg1 can reverse fatigue behavior in CFS rats by regulating EGFR and affecting Taurine and Mannose 6-phosphate metabolism.

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