try Yoga for fatigue - research suggests

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J Clin Psychiatry. 2005 May;66(5):625-32.

Prospective observational study of treatments for unexplained chronic

fatigue.

Bentler SE, Hartz AJ, Kuhn EM.

Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of

Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1097, USA.

BACKGROUND: Unexplained chronic fatigue is a frequent complaint in

primary care. A prospective observational study design was used to

evaluate whether certain commonly used therapies for unexplained

chronic fatigue may be effective.

METHOD: Subjects with unexplained chronic fatigue of unknown etiology

for at least 6 months were recruited from the Wisconsin Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome Association, primary care clinics, and community

chronic fatigue syndrome presentations. The primary outcome measure

was change in a 5-question fatigue score from 6 months to 2 years.

Self-reported interventions tested included prescribed medications,

non-prescribed supplements and herbs, lifestyle changes, alternative

therapies, and psychological support. Linear regression analysis was

used to test the association of each therapy with the outcome measure

after adjusting for statistically significant prognostic factors.

RESULTS: 155 subjects provided information on fatigue and treatments

at baseline and follow-up. Of these subjects, 87% were female and 79%

were middle-aged. The median duration of fatigue was 6.7 years. The

percentage of users who found a treatment helpful was greatest for

coenzyme Q10 (69% of 13 subjects), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (65%

of 17 subjects), and ginseng (56% of 18 subjects). Treatments at 6

months that predicted subsequent fatigue improvement were vitamins (p

= .08), vigorous exercise (p = .09), and yoga (p = .002). Magnesium

(p = .002) and support groups (p = .06) were strongly associated with

fatigue worsening from 6 months to 2 years. Yoga appeared to be most

effective for subjects who did not have unclear thinking associated

with the fatigue.

CONCLUSION: Certain alternative therapies for unexplained chronic

fatigue, especially yoga, deserve testing in randomized controlled

trials.