Evidence browser

Curcumin, a polyphenolic antioxidant, attenuates chronic fatigue syndrome in murine water immersion stress model.

Gupta, Amit, Vij, Garima, Sharma, Sameer et al.·Immunobiology·2009

This study tested whether curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, could help reduce fatigue in mice infected with bacteria-like substances. Mice treated with curcumin showed less fatigue behavior and had lower levels of inflammation markers compared to untreated mice. The results suggest curcumin might be worth exploring as a potential treatment for ME/CFS.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Can sustained arousal explain the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Wyller, Vegard B, Eriksen, Hege R, Malterud, Kirsti·Behavioral and brain functions : BBF·2009

This study proposes that ME/CFS may be caused by the body getting stuck in a constant state of high alert, similar to being continuously stressed. This sustained arousal could develop after infections or emotional stress, especially in people with certain genetic traits or personality types. The researchers suggest this constant activation creates harmful cycles affecting the immune system, hormones, muscles, and thinking—ultimately leading to the overwhelming fatigue that defines ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous SystemImmune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Memory and attention problems in children with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalopathy.

Haig-Ferguson, A, Tucker, P, Eaton, N et al.·Archives of disease in childhood·2009

This study looked at 20 children with ME/CFS who had memory and attention problems. Researchers asked the children, their parents, and teachers about these difficulties, and then gave the children a series of tests to measure how well they could focus, remember things, and process information. The children's test scores showed they had real difficulties with attention and memory compared to healthy children their age.

Cognitive Impairment

Immunological similarities between cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome: the common link to fatigue?

Meeus, Mira, Mistiaen, Wilhelm, Lambrecht, Luc et al.·Anticancer research·2009

This research review compares immune system abnormalities found in both cancer and ME/CFS, focusing on whether similar immune problems might explain why both conditions cause severe fatigue. The authors identified several immune dysfunctions that appear in both diseases—including problems with natural killer cells, abnormal inflammatory signaling, and increased cellular stress—and suggest these shared immune problems may contribute to the fatigue experienced by patients with either condition.

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Web usage data as a means of evaluating public health messaging and outreach.

Tian, Hao, Brimmer, Dana J, Lin, Jin-Mann S et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2009

This study looked at how many people visited the CDC's ME/CFS website over 18 months and what information they searched for. The website received millions of visits from around the world, showing that many people are looking for reliable information about ME/CFS. The researchers found that a public awareness campaign successfully brought more visitors to the site, and that people were more interested in professional medical information after the campaign ended.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredObservational

Can pacing self-management alter physical behavior and symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome? A case series.

Nijs, Jo, van Eupen, Inge, Vandecauter, Jo et al.·Journal of rehabilitation research and development·2009

This small study looked at whether a strategy called "pacing" — learning to balance activity and rest — could help people with ME/CFS feel better and do more. Seven patients received three sessions teaching pacing techniques, and researchers measured their activity levels and symptoms before and after. Patients reported improvements in their ability to do daily tasks and some symptoms like muscle weakness and concentration problems got better, though the changes were modest.

[Functional somatic syndrome in dental practice].

Inamitsu, Tetsuaki·Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine·2009

Many people experience pain and discomfort in their face, jaw, and mouth that doctors and dentists cannot easily explain with standard tests. This review discusses how conditions like temporomandibular disorder (jaw pain), burning mouth syndrome, and facial pain are related to each other and to broader conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. These conditions often occur alongside anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, and treating them effectively requires a team approach including medication, physical therapy, and counseling.

Pain and Sensitization

Modulation of antigen-induced chronic fatigue in mouse model of water immersion stress by naringin, a polyphenolic antioxidant.

Vij, Garima, Gupta, Amit, Chopra, Kanwaljit·Fundamental & clinical pharmacology·2009

Researchers tested whether naringin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could help reduce fatigue-like symptoms in mice exposed to immune challenges and stress. Mice treated with naringin showed improvements in their activity levels, pain sensitivity, and markers of cellular damage compared to untreated mice, suggesting that reducing oxidative stress might help manage fatigue symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Cognitive-behavior therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome: is improvement related to increased physical activity?

Friedberg, Fred, Sohl, Stephanie·Journal of clinical psychology·2009

This study looked at whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy combined with gradually increasing physical activity—helped 11 people with ME/CFS feel better. While most patients reported feeling improved, the researchers found something surprising: some patients who felt better had actually increased their activity levels (shown by motion sensors), while others had decreased their activity levels. This suggests that improvement in ME/CFS may not work the same way the standard CBT model predicts.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

[Q Fever in Tunisia].

Kaabia, N, Letaief, A·Pathologie-biologie·2009

Q fever is an infection caused by bacteria from animals that spreads to humans, usually through breathing contaminated air. While most people infected have no symptoms or mild flu-like illness, some can develop a chronic form that includes long-term fatigue. This review examines how common Q fever is in Tunisia and why doctors there often miss or misdiagnose it.

An in vivo proton neurospectroscopy study of cerebral oxidative stress in myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome).

Puri, B K, Agour, M, Gunatilake, K D R et al.·Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2009

This study used brain imaging to measure levels of a protective molecule called glutathione in the brains of people with ME/CFS. Researchers had expected glutathione levels to be lower in ME/CFS patients because it was reduced in their blood, but surprisingly, the brain levels were similar between patients and healthy controls. The study found no evidence that taking glutathione supplements would help with ME/CFS brain-related symptoms.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM requiredMechanistic

Transcriptional control of complement activation in an exercise model of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sorensen, Bristol, Jones, James F, Vernon, Suzanne D et al.·Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)·2009

After exercise, people with ME/CFS show higher levels of certain immune molecules (particularly C4a) that may contribute to their post-exercise symptoms. This study looked at which genes were turned on or off in immune cells after exercise and found that people with ME/CFS activated different immune pathways than healthy people—specifically, a pathway called the lectin pathway responded differently. This suggests their immune system may be producing excess inflammatory signals after physical activity.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Exley, Christopher, Swarbrick, Louise, Gherardi, Rhomain K et al.·Medical hypotheses·2009

This study describes one patient who developed both chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and a muscle condition called macrophagic myofasciitis after receiving vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants, and who also had high levels of aluminum in their body. The researchers propose that aluminum accumulation from vaccines might trigger immune system problems that lead to these conditions. This is a single case report rather than a broad study of many patients.

Model-based therapeutic correction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction.

Ben-Zvi, Amos, Vernon, Suzanne D, Broderick, Gordon·PLoS computational biology·2009

People with ME/CFS often have abnormally low cortisol levels, a hormone that helps the body manage stress and energy. This study used mathematical computer modeling to design a new treatment approach: rather than giving more cortisol (the intuitive approach), the model suggests temporarily suppressing cortisol further until the body's signaling hormone (ACTH) rises enough to trigger the system to reset itself back to normal levels. This counterintuitive strategy could work by exploiting how the body's hormone system naturally behaves.

Endocrine Disruption

[Cellular and molecular mechanisms of interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune systems under chronic fatigue syndrome in experiment].

Rybakina, E G, Shanin, S N, Fomicheva, E E et al.·Rossiiskii fiziologicheskii zhurnal imeni I.M. Sechenova·2009

This study used laboratory rats to understand how ME/CFS might develop by triggering an immune response with a synthetic molecule. Researchers found that during this fatigue-like state, immune cells became less active, brain cell communication pathways were dampened, and the body's stress-response system (which normally helps us cope) became less effective. These findings suggest ME/CFS involves problems in how the immune system and brain communicate with each other.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Power spectral analysis of sleep EEG in twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Armitage, Roseanne, Landis, Carol, Hoffmann, Robert et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2009

Researchers compared brain wave patterns during sleep between identical twins where one had ME/CFS and one did not. They found no significant differences in the electrical activity of the brain during sleep between the sick and healthy twins, even though those with ME/CFS reported more sleep problems. This suggests that genetic factors may influence sleep patterns more strongly than the illness itself.

Sleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Changes on definition and diagnostic criteria of the chronic fatigue syndrome].

Qin, You, Pang, Feng-Shun, Cai, Bei-Yuan·Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine·2009

This article reviews how the definition and diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS have changed over time. The authors examine the evolution of how doctors identify and classify this condition using different diagnostic frameworks. Understanding these changes helps patients and doctors communicate more clearly about the disease.

Diagnostics

Does hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hypofunction in chronic fatigue syndrome reflect a 'crash' in the stress system?

Van Houdenhove, Boudewijn, Van Den Eede, Filip, Luyten, Patrick·Medical hypotheses·2009

This study explores why many ME/CFS patients have problems with their stress hormone system, particularly a gland in the brain called the hypothalamus. The researchers suggest that ME/CFS might involve a breakdown in how the body normally responds to stress, leading to an imbalance that triggers excessive inflammation and sickness symptoms like exhaustion and pain sensitivity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Pathogenic mechanisms of idiopathic nonallergic rhinitis.

Baraniuk, James N·The World Allergy Organization journal·2009

This study examines why some people develop chronic nasal symptoms like congestion and runny nose that don't have an obvious allergic cause. Researchers found that this condition may actually involve several different problems: structural issues in the nose, nerve sensitivity problems, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction—the same type of nervous system problem found in ME/CFS.

Autonomic Nervous System

Astragalus membranaceus flavonoids (AMF) ameliorate chronic fatigue syndrome induced by food intake restriction plus forced swimming.

Kuo, Yao-Haur, Tsai, Wei-Jern, Loke, Soy-Hwee et al.·Journal of ethnopharmacology·2009

This study tested whether a natural plant supplement called Astragalus membranaceus flavonoids (AMF) could help rats with chronic fatigue caused by stress and food restriction. The rats that received AMF showed improvements in immune function, better energy for swimming, and restored normal immune system balance compared to untreated fatigued rats.