NEWSBRIEF: A study published in the journal Clinical Biochemistry suggests that fibromyalgia patients have significantly low plasma levels of numerous amino acids, which are necessary for proper cellular activity. Researchers theorize this could be caused by gut malabsorption.
The study found low plasma levels of:
- Alanine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Taurine
- Threonine concentrations
- Tyrosine
- Valine
- Total essential amino acids
Researchers also say this study may have uncovered impairment of the catecholaminergic system. Catecholamines are substances, including dopamine and norepinephrine, that are derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Both dopamine and norepinephrine are frequently deficient in people with fibromyalgia.
We'll need more research to see whether supplementation with these amino acids or treatment for leaky gut are effective fibromyalgia treatments.
Related Content: What are Amino Acids?
Why is this being discussed now? It looks like study was done in 1998? If this was accurate information wouldn’t we have heard about it by now? Wouldn’t they have done further studies?
Actually, this is from the March 9, 2009 issue of Clinical Biochemistry.
Thanks Jodith! Do you or does anyone have a link for this study or any other articles about it? I’ve just spent 30 minutes looking for it and can’t find it anywhere. Maybe the information is buried in the middle of a piece about something else? I must say there is some seriously dry stuff in Clinical Biochemistry. Reaffirmed by belief that I could never have made it through medical school!
Does anyone know if appendicitis has anything to do with getting fibromyalgia? Just wondering…
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19281806?dopt=Abstract
Julie,
Thanks for providing the link, which I apparently forgot to include!
Nancy, I have seen numerous anecdotal accounts of fibromyalgia being triggered by a traumatic event like illness or surgery, so it would not surprise me if appendicitis could trigger the onset of FMS.
For the past 9 months I have been losing weight. I was already to small. Dr says she think it is a malabsorption disorder. My blood pressure also goes low. I have fibro, anxiety disorder, raynauds syndrome.