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Chronic Fatigue Syndrom
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterized by persistent or relapsing debilitating fatigue for at least 6 months in the absence of any other definable diagnosis. Symptoms of CFS may include depression, hypotension, insomnia, anxiety, loss of concentration, sensitivity to food, medicines and alcohol, weight loss, and inability to endure stress, neuro cognitive symptoms, myalgias. 1-3 Number of studies has shown that there might be a trend in immune dysfunction in patients with CFS especially increase in immunological markers such as cytokines, activated T-cells, abnormal immunological complexes, auto-antibodies. CFS patients are also very often nutritionally deficient in many minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids. Digestive problems are also common in CFS patients.
The following functional tests can offer important information for creating an individualized program for the CFS patient.
Nutritional imbalance
- Fatty Acid Analsyis
- Organic Acid Test
- RBC Magnesium
Intestinal disfunction
- Comprehensive Stool Analysis (CSA)
- Intestinal Permeability Test
Immunological Imbalances
- Food sensitivity and allergy test
- Lymphocyte Profile Test
Detoxification Test
Oxidative Stress Test
- Antioxidant profile, SOD, GSH, GPX, Anti LDL Ab, 8OH-D Gluanosine
Metabolic Imbalances
- Analysis of Minerals and Toxic Metals: Research has shown that toxicity of metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium could very often cause fatigue. Large concentrations of toxic metals puts a lot of strain on the body making it difficult to detoxify and get rid of it. Toxic metals accumulate in tissues leaving body exhausted and fatigue. 4-6 Mineral deficiencies such as low magnesium also contribute to CFS. 7 Therefore contamination with toxic metals from the environment and nutrient deficiencies together can be the core cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Endocrinology
- Adrenal Stress Test: Research has shown that adrenal dysfunction may well contribute to CFS. Patients very often show low levels of cortisol and adrenal dysfunction. 8
References:
1 Holmes GP,Kaplan JE,Gantz NM, et al.Chronic fatigue syndrome: a working case definition. Ann Intern med. 1988;108:387-389.
2 Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I, et al. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comrehensive approach to its definition and study. Ann Intern med. 1994;121:953-959.
3 National Insitute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Chronic fatigue Syndrome: Information for Physicians. Bethesda, MD:NIH, U.S. Dept.health and Human Services;1996:1-16
4 Bar-Sela S, Levy M, Westin JB, Laster R, Richter ED. Medical findings in nickel-cadmium battery workers. Isr J Med Sci 1992;28(8-9):578-83.
5 Maizlish NA, Parra G, Feo O. Neurobehavioral evaluation of Venezuelan workers exposed to inorganic lead. Occup Environ Med 1995;52(6):408-414.
6 Florentine MJ, Sanfilippo DJ 2d. Elemental mercury poisoning. Clin Pharm 1991;10(3):213-21.
7 Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1991;337(8744):757-60.
8 Demitrack MA, Dale JK, Straus SE, Laue L, Listwak SJ, Kruesi MJ, et al. Evidence for impaired activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Endocrin Metab 1991;73:1224-1234.
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