Question:
what supplements really help fibromyalgia and which don't? Many vitamins
and minerals are often needed in greater doses in fibromyalgia, due to
hormonal and chemical imbalances that are present. Taking supplements don't
necessarily help with pain levels, but they help with making you all around
healthier, and thus better able to function. I personally take a multi
megadose vitamin and mineral pill with each meal. I also add calcium and
especially magnesium. I've heard that many people need B12, either through
shots or taking it sublingual (I'm experimenting with a new version of B12,
methylcobalamin, which is supposed to be a more reduced form, and therefore
more potent).
People with fibromyalgia often need more amino acids. Taking extra protein,
or amino acid supplements can help. Some people I know actual have
gotten tested for which amino acids are low. Whey is a good amino acid
supplement, as it's especially high in branched chain amino acids, which a
study has shown to be low in people with fibromyalgia.
MSM has been found by many people without be helpful. This might also be due
it's ability to stimulate production of amino acids, since many amino acids
contain sulfur. One of those amino acids is taurine. Taurine is a natural
muscle relaxant, plus it can have some nerve inhibitory functions. It also
modulates intracellular functions, so it's a very useful amino acid. For that
reason, it might but useful to try extra. One can also find magnesium in the
form of magnesium taurate, so in that way you get both supplements at once.
I found the following interesting article on supplements for pain:
http://www.nutritionfocus.com/nutrition_library/pain_killers_germano....
In fibromyalgia, there is excess nitric oxide. Too much nitric oxide can
increase pain levels. Also, it can form other chemicals which are potent
oxidants. These can cause oxidation problems, resulting in inflammation and
tissue damage. Osteoarthritis can occur (there is a study which shows that
nitric oxide products degrade chondroitin sulfates). So you have to find ways
to decrease the danger of nitric oxide. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines
IL-6 and IL-8 have been found to be high in fibromyalgia, and these might also
increase pain levels. Luckily, studies don't show that fibromyalgia doesn't
have the huge amount of oxidation problems and immune problems that CFS has,
but we still have a certain amount of disfunction that makes supplements worth
trying. Some of the supplements listed on the above page might be especially
useful to try:
For pain:
Omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce IL-1 and IL-6.
Vitamin E, which when deficient, decreases levels of 11,6.
Standardized curcumin, which decreases IL-1 and IL,8.
(this is tumeric, often combined with OA supplements)
Pycnogenol, which decreases nitric oxide.
(you can find several people on the web who claim this helped their
fibromyalgia a lot. I've heard varying personally stories, but it's
definitely worth trying.)
Quercetin, which inhibits IL-8.
(I already take this myself, I recommend it. I got my wife to try it for
her allergies and sinus problems, and it greatly helped. Both Quercetin
and Pycnogenol are also antioxidants. And they also improve blood flow,
having anticoagulant properties.)
Repair Nutrients
- NAC (n-acetyl cysteine), which helps boost glutathione
levels that are reduced during inflammation.
(Actually, newer reports aren't as favorable to NAC as they used to be.
Most people with CFS take specially formulated whey, that
can increase glutathione much more efficiently, i.e. Immupro and Immunocal.
Vitamin C supposedly increases glutathione also.)
- Glucosamine, which helps rebuild hyaluronic acid and cartilage.
- Chondroitin sulfate, which rebuilds cartilage and is anti-inflammatory.
- SAMe (s-adenosyl-L-methionine), which is important for
cartilage synthesis, is analgesic and has antidepressant activity.
(If you are deficient in B12, your SAMe levels will be low, so if you
find SAMe to help, you might consider B12.)
- Niacinamide, which assists in chondrocyte activation, an
important element in cartilage synthesis.
(Didn't you say you just started taking this?)
More supplements to burn one's money on.
Does anyone else have a shelf filled with supplements that you stopped
taking?
Answer:
Before experimenting I would strongly suggest that you talk to your
pharmacist first. Some things just don't mix well with certain
medications and some vitamins and minerals shouldn't be taken at the
same time.
