| Since the publication of a book called Beat | | | | should have a beneficial action on the |
| Chronic Fatigue The Natural Way, many people | | | | chemical imbalances in the brain which we |
| are turning to the natural substance omega 3, | | | | have identified." |
| and in particular pure ethyl EPA, to help | | | | |
| treat the debilitating condition known as | | | | Since this study was published further |
| chronic fatigue syndrome. | | | | advances have been made, and the findings |
| | | | released by a leading professor in the United |
| What is chronic fatigue syndrome ? | | | | Kingdom state clearly that he considers |
| | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to be a genuine |
| We all get tired. Many of us have felt | | | | physical illness. The professor describes how |
| depressed at times. But the mysterious | | | | he came to conclude that CFS could be |
| chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is not like | | | | successfully treated by supplementation with |
| the normal ups and downs we experience in | | | | essential fatty acids, specifically |
| everyday life. The early sign of this illness | | | | ultra-pure EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and |
| is a strong and noticeable fatigue that comes | | | | virgin evening primrose oil. |
| on suddenly and often comes and goes | | | | |
| sometimes, it never stops. You sometimes feel | | | | The professor describes the changes in the |
| too tired to do normal activities or are | | | | immune system seen with CFS, as a reduction |
| easily exhausted with no apparent reason. | | | | in natural killer cell activity and a shift |
| Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover, to | | | | from TH1 cell activity toward increased TH2 |
| which researchers have compared CFS, the | | | | cell activity, known as a type 2 immune |
| profound weakness of CFS does not go away | | | | response. He believes that this is best |
| with a few good nights of sleep. Instead, it | | | | explained by the presence of a pre-existing, |
| slyly steals your energy and vigour over | | | | long-term, viral infection to which the |
| months and sometimes years. | | | | immune system is reacting. |
| | | | |
| Who gets chronic fatigue syndrome? | | | | Using MRI scanning to carry out |
| | | | neurospectroscopy examinations of people with |
| Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects both | | | | CFS, in order to obtain information about the |
| men and women, and its incidence cuts across | | | | chemistry of the living brain, the professor |
| wide strata of age as well as racial and | | | | demonstrated a clear difference between the |
| socio-economic groups. It was first described | | | | brains of people with CFS and normal |
| in the 1930s; CFS received a flurry of | | | | volunteers; the results indicated a very |
| publicity in the mid-1980s when the syndrome | | | | significant change in the turnover of fatty |
| was erroneously associated with the | | | | acids in the cell membranes of CFS sufferers. |
| Epstein-Barr virus. In the early to mid-1990s | | | | |
| it was being described as yuppie flu. | | | | Essential fatty acids - linoleic acid |
| | | | (omega-6) and alpha linolenic acid (omega-3) |
| Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndromemuscle | | | | are known as such because they must be |
| aches and pains, especially after physical | | | | acquired from food and cannot be manufactured |
| exertionfeeling depressed and emotionalpoor | | | | by the body. The professor explains how |
| sleep, difficulty getting off to sleep, | | | | viruses can cause the symptoms of CFS by |
| frequent wakings, and not feeling refreshed | | | | inhibiting a crucial enzyme in the chains |
| after sleepnausea and loss of appetitea | | | | that convert these essential fatty acids into |
| recurrent sore throat, feeling of enlarged | | | | other fatty acids required by the body, |
| glands in the neck which come and gorunning a | | | | including GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), EPA and |
| slightly high temperature for no apparent | | | | DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). This leads to a |
| reasonfeeling of faintness and dizziness | | | | deficiency in these fatty acids. He believes |
| | | | the resulting lack of EFAs in the body leads |
| Omega 3 fish oil EPA and chronic Fatigue | | | | to many of the symptoms familiar to CFS |
| syndrome | | | | sufferers, including tiredness, poor immune |
| | | | response and painful joints. |
| The most recent study that has been performed | | | | |
| was published in the journal Acta | | | | The professor concluded by saying that by |
| Psychiatrica Scandinavica. In the study, | | | | giving patients large amounts of GLA and EPA |
| doctors from London found that in the brains | | | | the effects of the virus can be circumvented |
| of people with chronic fatigue syndrome there | | | | and how CFS patients taking high-dose |
| are high levels of two key chemicals, choline | | | | supplements reported improvements in symptoms |
| and creatine. | | | | within 12 weeks. Crucially, the supplement |
| | | | should be DHA-free, which means that the |
| Choline is important for controlling fat | | | | majority of fish oil supplements, which |
| levels in brain cells while creatine provides | | | | contain both EPA and DHA, are not suitable. |
| energy. | | | | The Professor also strongly believes that the |
| | | | type of DHA found in most fish oil |
| The doctors said the findings suggested CFS | | | | supplements inhibits some of the beneficial |
| patients had abnormal phospholipid | | | | actions of EPA. |
| metabolisms. Phospholipids are special types | | | | |
| of fats which are an essential component of | | | | Conclusion |
| cells. They are protected by certain types of | | | | |
| fatty acids. | | | | Since both these sets of findings were |
| | | | released, more and more people are turning to |
| The London doctors believed fatty acid | | | | high grade ethyl EPA fish oil to help with |
| supplements could help to restore the | | | | this debilitating condition. Whether this |
| chemical imbalance in the brain and alleviate | | | | will lead to a mainstream treatment for |
| the symptoms of CFS. EPA, which is found in | | | | chronic fatigue syndrome, and whether it will |
| omega 3 fish oil supplements, may be | | | | work for all sufferers, remains to be seen. |
| particularly useful. | | | | However, a large majority of people who are |
| | | | trying this as a form of treatment are |
| The leader of the study said: "This study | | | | reporting some very interesting and very good |
| suggests that if patients with CFS take a | | | | results. |
| high-EPA fatty acid supplement, then this | | | | |