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