ME/CFS and oxidative stress

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Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and

are associated with clinical symptoms.

Journal: Free Radic Biol Med. 2005 Sep 1;39(5):584-9.

Authors: Kennedy G, Spence VA, McLaren M, Hill A, Underwood C, Belch

JJ.

Affiliation: Vascular Diseases Research Unit, The Institute of

Cardiovascular Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School,

Dundee, Scotland DD1 9SY, UK.

NLM Citation: PMID: 16085177

The aetiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unknown; however,

recent evidence suggests excessive free radical (FR) generation may

be involved.

This study investigated for the first time levels of

8-iso-prostaglandin-F(2alpha)-isoprostanes alongside other plasma

markers of oxidative stress in CFS patients and control subjects.

Forty-seven patients (18 males, 29 females, mean age 48 [19-63]

years) who fulfilled the Centres for Disease Control classification

for CFS and 34 healthy volunteers (13 males, 21 females, 46 [19-63]

years) were enrolled in the study. The CFS patients were divided

into two groups; one group had previously defined cardiovascular

(CV) risk factors of obesity and hypertension (group 1) and the

second were normotensive and nonobese (group 2).

Patients had significantly increased levels of isoprostanes (group

1, P = 0.007; group 2, P = 0.03, unpaired t test compared to

controls) and oxidised low-density lipoproteins (group 2, P = 0.02)

indicative of a FR attack on lipids. CFS patients also had

significantly lower high-density lipoproteins (group 1, P = 0.011;

group 2, P = 0.005). CFS symptoms correlated with isoprostane

levels, but only in group 2 low CV risk CFS patients (isoprostanes

correlated with; total symptom score P = 0.005; joint pain P =

0.002; postexertional malaise P = 0.027, Pearson).

This is the first time that raised levels of the gold standard

measure of in vivo oxidative stress (isoprostanes) and their

association with CFS symptoms have been reported.