Fibromyalgia Tissue Bank to Study Role of Glial Cells

Fibromyalgia Tissue Bank to Study Role of Glial Cells

The world's first fibromyalgia tissue bank has been established at Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Arizona. The tissue bank will expand the area of arthritis research and explore the role of glial cells as they relate to fibromyalgia pain.

Glial cells, also known as glia, are supportive cells in the brain and spinal cord which do not conduct electrical impulses, unlike neurons which do. The first human tissue study to determine if glial cells are involved in long-term pain conditions will hopefully lead to improved treatments. According to the institute, the research could be important for 50 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain conditions ranging from nerve damage, arthritis inflammation, and fibromyalgia to cancer and AIDS. Fibromyalgia tissue donors will be asked to visit the institute each year to undergo a fibromyalgia evaluation and complete a pain assessment questionnaire. Actual tissue donation would not occur until the donor's death.


From the Sun Health website www.sunhealth.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Bennett
Linda Tyler
(623) 815-7600

First fibromyalgia tissue bank to be established

Sun City, Arizona
2/15/2007

Sun Health Research Institute has established the world's first fibromyalgia tissue bank and is initiating the first research to explore the latest theory in fibromyalgia pain. Both of these endeavors could positively impact the millions of people in the United States suffering from fibromyalgia.


The National Institute of Health (NIH) has awarded a $1.4-million grant to Dr. Dianne Lorton, head of the Sun Health Research Institute's Robert J. Hoover Center for Arthritis Research, to establish the world's first fibroymalgia tissue bank.


"This is vital to the institute's expansion of arthritis research and initiating the first research to explore the role of glial cells in fibromyalgia's chronic pain," said Dr. Joseph Rogers, president of Sun Health Research Institute.


The expanded arthritis research project is made possible not only by the NIH grant but also by a $100,000 grant from the American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association and a pilot project grant from the NIH. The newly awarded NIH grant is establishing a fibromyalgia brain and spinal cord tissue bank to explore mechanisms for the pain of this disease.


"Tissue collected from fibromyalgia patients will be an incredible resource for finding answers to the questions of what causes fibromyalgia and how we can successfully treat it,"said Dr. Lorton. "There is a great need for individuals with fibromyalgia to become tissue donors to help us find new insights into understanding and treating the chronic pain of this disease."


This will be the first human tissue study to scientifically demonstrate whether activated brain and spinal cord cells called glia are involved in long-term pain conditions which will allow for the development of new drugs that control chronic-pain responses.


"Pain in fibromyalgia is poorly understood and managed," said Lorton. "It is expected this innovative new research will lead to a potentially revolutionary treatment for the millions of people suffering with severe chronic pain."


Lorton is collaborating with Dr. Linda Watkins at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in doing this research that could significantly impact the fifty million Americans who suffer from long-term pain caused by nerve damage from shingles or diabetes, inflammation from arthritis, and in diseases and syndromes such as cancer, AIDS and fibromyalgia.


Tissue donation will not occur until the donor's death. However, fibromyalgia-tissue donors will be asked to visit the institute annually to undergo a fibromyalgia assessment and complete a pain-assessment questionnaire. Donor enrollment benefits include priority placement on a list for any future clinical trials of newly developed drugs for treating chronic pain. For information on becoming a tissue donor, call (623) 875-6528.


"It is a very personal decision to become a tissue donor, but the possibility of helping to find a cure for future generations can make this a rewarding and positive experience," Lorton said.


During 2006, Sun Health Research Institute celebrated 20 years as a pioneer in the search for answers to age-related diseases. Since its founding in 1986, the Institute, together with its Arizona consortium partners, has been designated by the National Institutes of Health as one of just 29 Alzheimer's Disease Centers in the nation. The Institute's Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research takes laboratory discoveries to clinical trials that foster hope for new treatments. The Institute is affiliated with the Sun Health non-profit community healthcare network.

Got my Disabled Parking Placard!!!

Hi all! Just to let you in on the good news...
After waiting almost two months for the darn thing to come in, I finally got my placard. Finally I can start parking in those places that only the brave dare go!
Finally I can stop parking in the obscure spots because people are greedy and "need" to be close to the door. Finally I can not worry about making it to my car after navigating Wal-Mart and trying not to collapse before I reach the car.
Finally I can accept that I am truly disabled enough to warrant help. Its only taken me 6 years to come to that conclusion and my pig-headedness finally allowed me to ask for true help.

Managing Your Energy

Happy New Year all! During this time we tend to make resolutions to change our thinking about our illnesses in one way or another...here is an article that may help you deal with the chronic fatigue and trying to be "normal" and getting things done everyday.

Managing Your Energy
From Karen Lee Richards, www.chronicfatigue.about.com

Does this scenario sound familiar? You get up one morning and, surprisingly, feel a little better than usual. Almost giddy with excitement, your mind quickly scans the list of chores you’ve been too sick to take care of. You eagerly begin…clean the house, do the laundry, work in the garden. By midday, you start to sense that your body is getting tired, but the adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment spurs you on. You push yourself to make use of every little bit of energy you can muster before you collapse into bed. The next morning, you wake up feeling like you’ve been run over by the proverbial Mack truck. For the rest of the week, it’s all you can do to drag yourself from bed to bath to sofa.

Most of us with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome are so sick and tired of being sick and tired, that whenever we get even a hint of extra energy, we go overboard.

It’s hard not to. For a few brief hours we almost feel “normal” again. But, as tempting as it is to go all out on a good day, it’s exactly the wrong thing to do. We would never think of handling our finances like we handle our energy. If we spent our entire paycheck on the day we received it, we’d have nothing left to live on until our next payday. Just as we budget our money, it’s essential that we learn to budget our energy.

Living Within Your "Energy Envelope"
You may be familiar with the envelope method of handling your finances. It’s not used as often in this credit-card age, but it is a simple, effective way of living within your budget. Here’s how it works. You set aside one envelope for each item in your budget (rent, utilities, food, etc.). Each payday, you place a designated amount of money in each envelope. When an envelope is empty, you’ve spent your allotted budget for that period of time. Anything else you need in that category either has to wait until the next payday, or must be taken from another envelope. Of course, the problem with taking money from another envelope is that you will run short when that particular bill comes due. For example, if you run out of money in your food envelope and so take $50 from your rent envelope, when the rent comes due, you’ll be $50 short.
What does the envelope method of budgeting have to do with your energy levels? You can start budgeting your energy, just as you do your money. Until you are able to build an energy reserve, you’ll have to budget your energy on a daily basis. Each day when you awaken, assess your energy level for that day. Realistically decide how much you think you can do that day and mentally picture putting your day’s worth of energy into an envelope. Every time you expend energy for something, imagine taking a portion of your energy allotment out of the envelope. When your envelope is empty, it’s time to stop for the day.

If visualizing is not your thing, you might try writing tasks for the day on pieces of paper and actually put them into an envelope, removing each task as it’s accomplished.

Using the “Fifty-Percent Solution”
Once you get the hang of living within your energy envelope, you can start building an energy reserve – a kind of energy savings account. Rather than using up all of your energy each day, begin following the “fifty-percent solution.” When you make your energy assessment for the day, only do fifty percent of what you feel like you can do. If you feel like you can exercise for 20 minutes, only exercise for 10. Instead of consistently depleting your energy each day, you will slowly begin to build a reserve.
Not continually pushing your body to its limits allows it more time to heal and build strength. According to Dr. William Collinge, author of Recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Guide to Self-Empowerment, the rest you get on a good day is of a higher quality than the rest you get on a bad day. Eventually this additional quality healing time will pay off with more energy on a regular basis.

Sources: Campbell, Bruce. The CFIDS/FIbromyalgia Toolkit, A Practical Self-Help Guide. Lincoln: Authors Choice Press, 2001.

Collinge, William. “Promoting Recovery: The fifty percent Solution.” ProHealth. 5/25/06.

Updated: January 10, 2007

Can a Simple Blood Pressure Test Diagnose Fibromyalgia?

From Karen Lee Richards,
Your Guide to Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. www.chronicfatigue.about.com

When you go to the doctor, do you cringe when the nurse pulls out the cuff to take your blood pressure -- because you know it’s going to be painful? I know I do – and I always feel like a wimp because I can’t even tolerate a simple blood pressure test. One nurse actually called me a wimp, but another more kind-hearted nurse taught me to ask for the large cuff, which does significantly reduce the degree of pain I experience.
Apparently, I’m not alone. In a recent study, 69 percent of fibromyalgia patients experienced pain from blood pressure testing. The study entitled, “Sphygmomanometry-Evoked Allodynia – A Simple Bedside Test Indicative of Fibromyalgia: A Multicenter Developmental Study,” was published in the December 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.
Terminology: Sphygmomanometry is the long word for the simple and standard blood pressure test which everyone receives at the doctor's office. Allodynia is a condition in which pain results from a stimulus that does not normally evoke pain.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether a universally used clinical test -- sphygmomanometry -- would be helpful in identifying FM patients.
Method: Researchers studied 20 fibromyalgia patients, 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 20 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 20 healthy individuals in each of three public rheumatology outpatient services. Each participant was asked to answer the question, “When I take your blood pressure, tell me if the cuff’s pressure brings forth pain.”
Results: While 69 percent of FM patients experienced sphygmomanometry-evoked allodynia, only 10 percent of OA patients, five percent of RA patients and two percent of healthy individuals did. The mean blood pressure value at which FM patients felt pain was lower than the other three groups. FM patients showed a negative correlation between the blood pressure value at which the allodynia developed and the total Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score, number of tender points, and the FIQ visual analog scales for pain intensity and fatigue.
Conclusions: In this study, there was a strong association between pain experienced during blood pressure testing and the diagnosis of FM. Sphygmomanometry is a simple test and a universally standard clinical procedure that may be useful in recognizing FM patients. Based on the results of this study, the researchers suggest looking for other FM features in anyone who has sphygmomanometry-evoked allodynia.
Source: Vargas, Alfonso MD, et al. Sphygmomanometry-Evoked Allodynia – A Simple Bedside Test Indicative of Fibromyalgia: A Multicenter Developmental Study Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 2006 Dec;12(6):272-4.

Updated: December 27, 2006

Fibromyalgia Pain: It's for Real

Researchers Say Chronic Pain Patients Don't Process Body's Natural Pain Relievers
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
on Thursday, November 30, 2006

Nov. 30, 2006 -- There is now "overwhelming" scientific evidence showing that fibromyalgia and related chronic pain conditions are real, but their clinical management leaves much to be desired.

That is the conclusion of two researchers from the University of Michigan who have studied fibromyalgia for several years.

Because there has been no obvious physiological cause for the pain disorder, doctors still routinely dismiss fibromyalgia as being "in a patient's head."

But after reviewing the research, Richard E. Harris, PhD, and Daniel J. Clauw, MD, write that it is increasingly clear that fibromyalgia is a central nervous system disorder and that patients experience hypersensitivity to pain. There also appears to be a fairly strong genetic component to fibromyalgia and related conditions.

"It is time for us to move past the rhetoric about whether these conditions are real, and take these patients seriously as we endeavor to learn more about the causes and most effective treatments for these disorders," Harris and Clauw write in the December issue of the journal Current Pain and Headache Reports.

Brain Imaging Studies

As many as 10 million Americans may have fibromyalgia, according to The National Fibromyalgia Association.

The disorder is characterized by chronic pain throughout the body, but symptoms may also include fatigue, headaches, and problems with memory and concentration.

Brain imaging studies conducted at the University of Michigan and other research centers in recent years show clear differences in responses to pain stimulation among people with and without fibromyalgia.

Compared to people without the disorder, fibromyalgia patients showed increased brain activity in response to pain.

"These studies indicate that fibromyalgia patients have abnormalities within their central brain structures," Clauw says.

Research by Harris, Clauw, and colleagues also suggests that fibromyalgia patients don't process the body's natural pain relievers as efficiently as people without the disorder.

"We think that these may have both a heightened sensitivity to pain and this dysfunction in their analgesic [painkilling] mechanism," Harris tells WebMD. "It is not yet clear how this all fits together."

National Fibromyalgia Association president and founder Lynne Matallana tells WebMD that the doctors who treat fibromyalgia patients face a unique challenge.

"This is a new paradigm for medical professionals to understand," she says. "It isn't a virus, or bacteria or inflammation. It isn't a tumor or something else that you can see. It is a problem within the pain-processing center of the central nervous system."

Treatment Options Still Few

While the recent research has done much to improve the understanding of fibromyalgia and related chronic pain conditions, few advances have been made in the treatment of these disorders, Harris says.

The use of medications such as antidepressants can help some patients with fibromyalgia. And regular exercise seems to help many patients.

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain in some studies, but not others, he adds.

Matallana says several drug companies are in the later stages of testing several new drugs designed specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia, which target the central nervous system.

"We are really excited about this research," she says.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOURCES: Harris, R. and Clauw, D. Current Pain and Headache Reports, December 2006; online edition. Richard E. Harris, PhD, research investigator, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor. Daniel J. Clauw, MD, department of medicine, division of rheumatology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor. Lynne Matallana, president and founder, National Fibromyalgia Association.

Arthritis and weather?

www.arthritis.about.com
From Carol & Richard Eustice,
Your Guide to Arthritis.

Weather and Arthritis Symptoms: Is There a Connection?
Many arthritis patients claim weather affects how they feel. Some people with arthritis believe that symptoms of arthritis (such as pain and stiffness) are influenced by changes in the weather.
Is there a connection between weather and arthritis symptoms?
Why is the effect of weather changes on arthritis symptoms true for some but not for others?
Where is the best place to live, in terms of climate, if you have arthritis?

We asked rheumatologist Scott J. Zashin, M.D. to explain, Is There a Connection Between Weather and Arthritis Symptoms?

Many arthritis patients claim weather affects how they feel. Some people with arthritis believe that symptoms of arthritis (such as pain and stiffness) are influenced by changes in the weather.

Is there a connection between weather and arthritis symptoms?
Why is the effect of weather changes on arthritis symptoms true for some but not for others?
Where is the best place to live, in terms of climate, if you have arthritis?



Weather and Arthritis Symptoms

It is not uncommon for patients with arthritis to notice an increase in symptoms with certain weather conditions. For example, some of my patients can predict when it will soon rain based on their symptoms. Others feel terrific in places that have increased barometric pressure, but hurt more in locations where the pressure is lower.

The "Rejuvenator"

In fact, a patient of mine felt so well when he vacationed in Destin, Florida that he developed a small chamber that would raise the barometric pressure to a level that replicated Destin. He would sit in the chamber for 30 minutes twice a day and was able to discontinue his medications.
Due to his relief, I conducted a very small study that exposed patients to 30 minutes in a placebo chamber and 12 hours later in the "Rejuvenator" (the chamber that was developed to have an increase in barometric pressure), as well as another study that included one 30 minute placebo session and two 30 minute "Rejuvenator" treatments over 3 days. The majority of the patients had clinical improvement using the chamber with the increased barometric pressure. Side effects included self-limited symptoms of ear pressure, sinus pressure and "windburn". Based on the results of this preliminary study, more testing was recommended to further study the potential benefits and risks of this therapy.


Further Studies

Further support for an effect on atmospheric pressure in arthritis was published in the Proceedings of the Western Pharmacology Society in 2004. In this prospective, double blind study, 92 patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were compared to a control group of 42 subjects. The authors concluded that the osteoarthritis patients experienced increased joint pain with a low atmospheric pressure while low temperature increased the risk of joint pain in the rheumatoid group. Another study published in the Journal of Rheumatology in 2004 demonstrated that high humidity was unfavorable for arthritis patients. Based on these particular studies, it would seem that a location that tends to have a higher barometric pressure and lower humidity would represent a favorable environment for arthritis patients.


Best Place to Live?

For those patients who ask me where the best place for them to live in terms of climate, I suggest live where you will be happiest and certainly if you decide to move somewhere based on arthritis, make sure you try it out by spending plenty of time there during different seasons before making any move.

Answers provided by Scott J. Zashin, M.D., clinical assistant professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Division of Rheumatology, in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Zashin is also an attending physician at Presbyterian Hospitals of Dallas and Plano. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology and a member of the American Medical Association. Dr. Zashin is author of Arthritis Without Pain - The Miracle of TNF Blockers. The book is useful for anyone on one of the biologic drugs (Enbrel, Remicade, Humira) or considering the biologic drugs. Read my review of the book.

FAQ Index
Updated: December 14, 2006

Sorry,....rant coming!!!!

This morning my left shoulder was in extreme pain. I saw my pain doc in at 10 AM and I asked him for better pain control. I was a little worried about asking him because I have never asked him for this type of help before. I would have liked to have askd him for pain meds but nothing that I have to take all the time. Only when I needed it. I didn't want to be seen as a drug seeker (as we all have that fear) so I was worried about asking him.
Isn't a shame that us CPers have to worry about asking doctors for help?
Well, here is what happened....
I went to my appointment and I got my depo-medrol shots in my shoulder which helped and all he would give me is a medrol pak. He wouldn't help beyond that. Sigh. He all but said that the pain is in my head. Which made me upset...like I wasn't crying already from the pain.
Yes, it kinda shocked me that he said that. They (he and his nurse) kept going on about pondering why I was feeling so bad. It was anything from stress from the holidays, to being depressed (of course I was I was upset because I hurt so darn bad!), to the weather. They tried to get me to take neurontin again, but I said no way because I gained 50 pounds on it and was on 1800 mgs a day that did nothing. He then asked if I had been on Cymbalta, I said yes and it didn't work out for me. I think to get me out of his hair, he gave me the medrol pak. Sad huh. But he is the only pain doc that will see me. Don't know what to do next if I choose to stop seeing him.
I am having pain in my SI joint, which is causing the majority of my pain, and I think I need a doc that specializes in that area to take a look at me and see what is going on there.
UGH! Why is it when you feel the worst the doctors seem to become more of a hinderance than a help?
As time has gone on....here is where the rant begins.....
He juices me up twice a month with Depo-Medrol which is like a band-aid on a small piece of pain when my entire body is dying at times from it. For the first time since I have seen him which was a year in September, I have asked for this kind of help. And he gives me 7 days of oral steroids, which I am not sure will do anything right now. I have had 2 ESIs, 2 facet injections and one radio frequency ablation. Basically everything short of surgery. None of which has worked.
The ONLY meds he has prescribed for me are Lidoderm patches, baclofen, trazodone and now the medrol pak. He has in the past tried mexitil, which again didn't work. Everything just a band-aid he is doing. I feel that he is milking the system for money. Since I am on Medicare, he can string me along for as long as I let it happen.
Today has made me realize that he can do no more for me than he has already done. And won't do anymore. He made that perfectly clear on that account today.
What do I do??? Where do I go from here?
I know my pcp is uncomfortable with giving pain meds and usually refers me to my rheumy, who is in the same practice. Who also won't do pain meds. Living where I do, near a city where some of the best health care in the world is to be had, I can't get a doctor to help me!!!!! I am at a loss.
I have done everything they have asked of me. Did physical therapy twice in a year. Done a Functional Capacity Evaluation to show that I am unable to function at a "normal" level. Gone through immensely painful procedures to get a glimpse of a possibility of help with my pain. I don't complain. I never call the doctor's office and be a nuisance. I am kind, friendly and never skip an appointment.
All I want is to live in a resonably comfortable existance physically. I would like to function somewhat normally. Geez, listen to me....I would like this, I would like that.....I guess it is not meant to be. I am being forced to live in pain at levels that most people would go to the hospital or stay home from work for. They get the attention and medication they need. While I and some of you are here in pain crying for help. We can't even take an ibuprofen without getting a slap on the wrist for doing so. Some side effect or whatnot.
Okay, getting off my soapbox now! I don't feel better but at least I got it out!

The Many Emotions of Chronic Arthritis

This information can also go along with any type of chronic pain illness.

From Carol & Richard Eustice www.arthritis.about.com

Emotional Impact of Arthritis: One Emotion Leads to Another

Physical aspects of arthritis are manifested in pain and other symptoms. The gamut of emotions which coincides with the physical problems are equally important.

Arthritis affects a person's life and changes their reality on many levels. Physically, your body does not perform as it once did. You face everyday challenges such as:

chronic pain
chronic fatigue
limitation
loss of ability
other health problems

As it becomes necessary to find other ways of doing things and depend on other people for care and help, it becomes imperative to acknowledge the emotional aspects of arthritis.

The expectations of what you are able to do changes as the disease changes. As the disease evolves over time, it affects:

abilities
responsibilities
relationships
personal identity

Emotions Of Arthritis

Concern: As you first experience arthritis symptoms, there is concern over what is happening.

After consulting with a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in arthritis and related conditions), the concern is directed toward the results of your medical exam.

Fear: Concern can quickly turn into fear as the uncertainty of the illness becomes the focus. The long-term prognosis may be feared.

Denial: The most powerful emotion which attempts to take over other prevalent emotions is denial. Avoiding the reality of the situation and continuing to live life as if unaffected by the disease is used as a coping mechanism. In terms of coping, denial is used positively. However, harm can be done if denial leads to activities which exacerbate symptoms.

Relief: A definite diagnosis of your early symptoms can give you a sense of relief. You feel more in control, because you know what you are facing. This relief is temporary, since a diagnosis is not the precursor to a cure.

Frustration: Frustration is a common emotion for people living with arthritis. Frustration mounts when dealing with:

limitations
loss of ability
decreased mobility
increased fatigue
other changes

Lifestyle changes caused by arthritis are often difficult to accept.

Unfairness: Often regarded as jealousy, envy, or the "why me" syndrome. An overwhelming sense of loss from all the lifestyle changes can lead to feelings of unfairness and being shortchanged. You may look at other people and wonder why you and not them.

Anger: Many aspects of arthritis can lead to anger.Circumstances that may lead to anger include:

inconveniences caused by the illness
attitude of doctors and health care personnel
lack of understanding from family and friends

In contrast, angry feelings may occur when loved ones hover over you, try to control your life, or affect your need for independence. Anger is an emotion people encounter intermittently throughout the course of the illness.

Loss Of Control: At some point it is realized that arthritis is the determining factor in many situations. The disease must be respected because it is the reason for changes that are necessary. You no longer control every situation because the disease becomes a major factor.

Devastation: As plans and goals are forced to be altered, an air of devastation can be caused by:

financial loss
career loss
family disruptions

A person suffering so much loss often feels depleted and robbed by their ill-health.

Hopelessness: Self-destructive feelings such as hopelessness can surface if you become swallowed up by your sorrow. Sadness is a normal emotion that we all feel at times. It's not the same as depression. If you give up or surrender to the negative impact of arthritis without any regard to the remaining positive aspects of your life, hopelessness will prevail.

Mourning: An arthritis sufferer will go through a process of mourning from:

the realization that life has forever changed
the accumulation of personal loss

Just as the death of a loved one is met with a period of mourning, the loss of dreams and the loss of the person you once were must also be permitted a period of mourning.

Coping: A person living with chronic arthritis can develop a change in perspective. A special, humble camaraderie can develop among people coping with arthritis. Coping skills can be improved through:

mutual support
loved ones
patient education
being a partner in ones own health care

Solving difficult issues imposed by arthritis helps people "live with" the illness.

Acceptance: At the point when you learn to accept your arthritis and not fight the disease, you become liberated and begin to concentrate on:

treatment options
eliminating stress
prioritizing activities

With acceptance, you reap the benefits of living wisely "with" the disease.

Hope: Positive attitude can help you adjust to life with a chronic disease. The emotion of hope must also exist when searching for better treatment and a better quality of life.

Many FM & CFS patients in D-ribose study report quality of life improvements

Many FM & CFS patients in D-ribose study report quality of life improvements
by Editor
www.ImmuneSupport.com

12-06-2006

The natural dietary supplement D-ribose - a form of sugar essential to fuel cellular energy generation - "significantly reduced clinical symptoms in patients suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," a Texas-based research group reported recently. Their study - "The Use of D-Ribose in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia" - headed by internationally recognized FM/CFS Doctor Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, was published in the November 2006 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.*

Key Findings

Of 41 study participants diagnosed with CFS and/or FM who received D-ribose supplementation daily for four weeks, 66 percent achieved “significant improvements in quality of life," the report states. Change was measured using patients' before-and-after visual analog scale (VAS) scores for energy, sleep, mental clarity, pain intensity, and well-being, as well as global quality of life assessments.

Key findings for the patients who perceived significant change included:

* 45 percent average improvement in energy score

* 30 percent average improvement in overall well-being

These findings are considered statistically significant (P < 0.0001), meaning the probability they were owing to chance is less than 1 in 1,000. In particular, the report indicates, patients tended to perceive improved "ability to overcome fatigue," as well as less muscle soreness and stiffness. And supplementation with the natural substance D-ribose was "tolerated well."

Study Details

The study was open label and uncontrolled, meaning all participants took D-ribose, no patients were given a placebo, or "fake" dose as a means of comparison, and no subjects with normal health were included as a means of comparison. Termed a "feasibility" study, the research involved a small number of patients, as a possible preliminary to more extensive investigation. Of the 41 patients, 78 percent were female and their average age was 48. They took five grams of D-ribose by mouth three times a day for an average of 28 days.

What is D-ribose?

D-ribose, also called “ribose,” is a form of sugar containing five carbon atoms that all living cells require for creation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body's main source of energy. D-ribose is also a crucial component of other important molecules within our cells, such as RNA (ribonucleic acid), and DNA (deoxynbonucleic acid). DNA produces the proteins cells need to function and develop, while RNA provides the instructions for the job.

How is D-ribose Obtained?

Our bodies make D-ribose for use by the cells from glucose - a sugar that contains six carbon atoms, which plants manufacture by the process of photosynthesis. We obtain glucose, also known as "blood sugar," from the fruits, berries, vegetables, and honey we eat. In a glucose-deficient pinch - such as starvation, fasting, or extremely demanding exercise - our liver and even our kidneys may also synthesize glucose from other compounds to provide a source of D-ribose for the cells. But this is an energy-intensive process.

D-ribose has also long been available as a dietary supplement, produced by fermentation of corn syrup. And it can be obtained from some RNA-rich food substances such as brewer's yeast.

What's the Theory of Benefit?

How do the researchers think D-ribose supplementation supports improved CFS and FM patient quality of life? Many scientists have come to believe that "inefficient" or "disordered" cellular metabolism may account for the symptoms of fatigue and muscle pain associated with CFS and FM. Patients' muscles become "anaerobic" or depleted of oxygen faster than the muscles of normal healthy people. And supplementation with the nutrient D-ribose may represent one avenue for supporting faster regeneration of ATP and healthier metabolism in oxygen-deprived muscle cells.

Next Steps

Dr. Teitelbaum, the principal investigator of this D-ribose supplementation study, is Medical Director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, based in Dallas. He is the much-published author of such best-selling books as From Fatigued to Fantastic and Pain Free 1-2-3.

Dr. Teitelbaum reported that his organization is already pursuing follow-up studies of the benefits of D-ribose supplementation for CFS and FM patients, and he and his colleagues consider D-ribose supplementation so promising that they have made it a standard part of therapy for their patients.

* To review an abstract of the study report, go to http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7539

Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is very important that you never make any change in your health support plan or regimen without reviewing and discussing it collaboratively with your professional healthcare team.