July 1, 2016.
Chronic fatigue syndrome remains a great mystery to scientists today, who often associate it with psychosomatic causes. A study conducted by American researchers could shed new light on the subject.
Persistent fatigue, joint pain, memory impairment
Chronic fatigue syndrome, which in those who suffer from it results in persistent fatigue, joint pain, impaired vision and memory, but also headaches and muscle weakness, could be linked to a malfunction of the microbiota, a term that refers to all the bacteria that live in our intestines.
Researchers at Cornell University in the United States looked into the subject and published their findings in the journal Microbiome. To achieve these results, they conducted a study on 48 patients suffering from chronic fatigue.
Probiotics to treat chronic fatigue
Scientists analyzed the DNA of bacteria in the microbiota of these people to compare them to those of 39 healthy people. They then observed that in sick subjects, the bacteria are much less diverse than in healthy subjects. They also noted that bacteria that live in the intestines of people with chronic fatigue are more pro-inflammatory than anti-inflammatory.
” Our work shows that the gut microbiota of patients with chronic fatigue is not normally balanced, and can lead to gastrointestinal and inflammatory symptoms in sufferers of this disease. “, Notes Professor Maureen Hanson, co-author of the study, in a press release. It remains to be seen whether this intestinal imbalance is a cause or a symptom of chronic fatigue.. Further research must now be carried out, but this first discovery will already allow treating physicians to use prebiotics or probiotics to treat their patients.
To read also: What to do to fight against fatigue?
