Probiotic effect on chronic fatigue syndrome
Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden studied the effect of 3 probiotics on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
First, the details.
- 15 patients with CFS were included in the study.
- They had high fatigue severity scores and high disability scores.
- They were monitored for 2 weeks, received treatment with probiotics for 4 weeks, and then followed another 4 weeks.
- Treatment included Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFB 1748, and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12.
And, the results.
- There were no major changes in the gastrointestinal microflora.
- At the end of the study 6 of 15 patients reported improvement based on Visual Analogue Scales and the SF-12 Health Survey
The bottom line?
It’s a small study with some evidence of benefit. But in the absence of a control group it’s hard to know for sure.
However, the authors think “improvement of health is possible to achieve [and this] should encourage further studies with interventions with probiotics in patients with CFS.”
1/28/09 19:30 JR
