Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that causes chronic fatigue and widespread pain throughout the body. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association pain related to fibromyalgia may be the cause of an abnormal amplification of pain by the central nervous system. The cause and etiology of fibromyalgia is not completely known. However, several studies have been done on vitamins and deficiencies present in individuals that have been diagnosed with the syndrome. There are many complementary and alternative ways to fight the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Certain vitamins can be used to help control fibromyalgia pain. Before beginning any type of complementary therapy, including vitamins, consult your doctor.
Magnesium
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, pain from fibromyalgia might be from a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium supplements may help you feel relief from fibromyalgia-related pain. In a study done by Guy Abraham in 1992, published in the "Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine," one group of participants was given magnesium-malate supplements and another group received a placebo. The group given the supplements reported pain relief within 48 hours, while the placebo group reported feeling the same amount of pain.
Vitamin A
A deficiency in vitamin A is common in those with fibromyalgia. A study done in 2009 by Selami Akkus and colleagues and published in "Cell Biochemistry and Function," studied the vitamin deficiencies of 30 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Blood plasma was drawn and analyzed after a 12 hour fast from women with fibromyalgia and women without the disease. The study found that vitamin A was significantly lower in women with fibromyalgia than those in the control group.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E deficiencies have been linked to women diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In a study published in the journal of "Complementary and Alternative Medicine" in 2001 by Michael S. Donaldson and colleagues, women with fibromyalgia were put on a strict vegetarian, raw diet. This diet contained large amounts of raw fruits, carrot juice, barley juice, grains, nuts and seeds. Vitamins, specifically antioxidants like vitamin E were emphasized in the diet. Quality of life and fibromyalgia pain was evaluated at the two and seven month marks. At the end of the study, participants reported a 46 percent improvement in fibromyalgia. Participants also reported improvement in emotional and mental well-being and physical functioning. Quality of life can be improved with a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.
References
- The National Fibromyalgia Association
- The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fibromyalgia
- Wiley Online Library: Levels of Lipid Peroxidation, Nitric Oxide, and Antioxidant Vitamins in Plasma of Patients With Fibromyalgia
- Bio Med Central: Fibromyalgia Syndrome Improved Using a Mostly Raw Vegetarian Diet: An Observational Study
- Informa Health Care: Use of Magnesium and Malic Acid
