The effect of a polynutrient supplement on fatigue and physical activity of patients with [CFS]: a double‐blind [RCT], 2002, Brouwers et al

The effect of a polynutrient supplement on fatigue and physical activity of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a double‐blind randomized controlled trial

FM Brouwers, S Van Der Werf, G Bleijenberg, L Van Der Zee, JWM Van Der Meer

Background: The efficacy of dietary supplements in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is uncertain, with conflicting evidence.

Aim: To assess the effect of a polynutrient supplement on fatigue and physical activity of patients with CFS.

Design: Prospective randomized placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trial.

Methods: Fifty‐three patients (16 males, 37 females) fulfilling the CDC criteria of CFS. The entry criteria were a score on the Checklist Individual Strength subscale fatigue severity (CIS fatigue) ≥40 and a weighted sum score of ≥750 for the eight subscales of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP8) and no use of nutritional supplements in the 4 weeks prior to entry. The exclusion criteria were pregnancy and lactose intolerance. The intervention—a polynutrient supplement containing several vitamins, minerals and (co)enzymes, or placebo, twice daily for 10 weeks—was preceded by 2 weeks of baseline measurements. Outcome measurements took place in week 9 and 10 of the intervention. Five participants dropped out (4 supplement, 1 placebo). The main outcome measures were CIS fatigue score, number of CDC symptoms and SIP8 score. Efficacy analyses were performed on an intention‐to‐treat basis.

Results: No significant differences were found between the placebo and the treated group on any of the outcome measures: CIS fatigue +2.16 (95%CI −4.3 to +4.39, p=0.984); CDC symptoms +0.42 (95%CI −0.61 to +1.46, p=0.417); SIP8 +182 (95%CI −165 to +529, p=0.297). No patient reported full recovery.

Discussion: The findings do not support the use of a broad‐spectrum nutritional supplement in treating CFS‐related symptoms.

Link (QJM: An International Journal of Medicine) [Paywall]

 

Does anyone have access to the full paper? I'm curious if it mentioned what the polynutrient actually contained in detail.

 

125 mL of the solution, so 1.25 times the numbers above.

 

@forestglip

Thank you for the info.

 

Interesting. Looks like pretty low levels of lots of most of the standard things, sub RDA. But perhaps interesting as it has things like creatine and coenzyme q10 which often seem to pop up being studied independently in more recent studies?

 

Nice to see a "didn't find anything marketable" finding published. I do wonder whether they had at least one subject that reported a benefit of some kind, since that seems reasonably common in PWME. I had temporary remission from a multivitamin/mineral tablet, and it turned out to be the iodine. Of course, it was the usual "works the first couple of times, then stops working" ME effect.

 

I really wish every study included a chart of individual responses.