Fatigue can be treated by addressing certain dietary needs. Scientific evidence shows support for incorporating nutrients such as coenzyme Q10 into the diet to reduce feelings of fatigue. However, the advice of a medical professional should be sought before trying to prevent, treat or cure fatigue.
CoQ10
CoQ10 is a compound that exists naturally in the body. It plays a role in cellular respiration, that is responsible for most of the conversion of energy from food. CoQ10 pills are also available for supplementation. They are sometimes made from fermented yeast or glucose. Meat and fish provide the richest food source of CoQ10. CoQ10 may make an effective treatment for people suffering from fatigue. Specifically, those who took CoQ10 had improved physical performance during strenuous work and reported less fatigue than those who received placebo, according to a study published in June 2008 in "Nutrition." Participants in the study took 300 mg of CoQ10 supplements daily.
Multivitamins and Multiminerals
Taking multivitamin and multimineral supplements may help reduce fatigue. A study published in August 2010 in "Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental" found that a group of women aged 25 to 50 who took a multivitamin and mineral supplement were less fatigued after extended tasks, including mathematical processing tasks, and also reported having a better mood.
Olive Extract
Olive extract is derived from the leaves of the olive plant. It has been used historically in many parts of the world as a treatment for a variety of ailments. In modern times, it is often used to treat colds. However, there is some evidence that olive extract may be useful for treating people with chronic fatigue syndrome. For example, a study published in May 2010 the "Journal of Neuroimmunology" found that olive extract helped to reduce sings of chronic fatigue syndrome in mice.
Chocolate
Eating chocolate may help to reduce fatigue. Eating chocolate with a high cocoa and polyphenol content improved fatigue in participants. Polyphenols, found in higher concentrations in dark chocolate, are chemicals that provide antioxidant activity within the body. This means that they can scavenge the free radicals, produced naturally as a byproduct of cellular metabolism, and prevent them from causing damage to cells of the body.
References
- Elsevier: "Nutrition": Antifatigue Effects of Coenzyme Q10 During Physical Fatigue: April 2008: Kei Mizuno, Ph.D., Masaaki Tanaka, Ph.D., Satoshi Nozaki, Ph.D., et al.
- Wiley Online: "Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental": Effects of a Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplement on Cognitive Function and Fatigue During Extended Multi-Tasking: August 2010: Crystal F. Haskell, Bernadette Robertson, Emma Jones, et al.
- Elsevier: "Journal of Neuroimmunology": Possible Role of Oxidative Stress and Immunological Activation in Mouse Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its Attenuation by Olive Extract: September 2010: Amit Gupta, Garima Vij, & Kanwaljit Chopra
- "Nutrition Journal": High Cocoa Polyphenol Rich Chocolate May Reduce the Burden of the symptoms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: November 2010: Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Stephen Beckett, Alan S. Rigby, et al.
