Fibromyalgia: Vitamins and Minerals

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by muscle achiness, stiffness, and exaggerated tenderness at 18 specified tender points.  It occurs in approximately 2% of the population mainly in women and does tend to run in families.  Fibromyalgia was actually described at the turn of the 20^th century but was not classified as a pain syndrome until the 1950s.  In 1990 the American College of Rheumatology established the following criteria for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia:  a history of widespread pain and mild or greater tenderness to pressure of at least 11 of 18 specified tender points.  Other symptoms accompany these criteria including fatigue, morning stiffness, poor-quality sleep, anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome.  Almost 19 years after this classification there is yet a consensus on the syndromes cause, treatment or even if it should be considered a true entity.

Those of us practicing holistic medicine know that there are defined causes of fibromyalgia and treatments that achieve complete resolution of this misunderstood disorder.  In this article we will cover published research regarding supplementation in Fibromyalgia patients.

A study published in Magnesium Research 1994 found elevated levels of intracellular magnesium in Fibromyalgia patients.  This indicates poor transport of magnesium from the cell to the muscle tissue which can lead to tense and stiff muscles that won’t relax. 

The trace mineral selenium was studied in Fibromyalgia patients in the journal Toxicology Letters 1998.  It was found that selenium levels were significantly lower in Fibromyalgia patients.  Selenium is very important in activating thyroid hormone and interestingly we know that Fibromyalgia patients have low thyroid function. 

There are many similarities between Fibromyalgia and thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency.  This was explored in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition 1998 where the researchers found Fibromyalgia patients did not metabolize thiamin efficiently.  In the same journal in 1994, Fibromyalgia patients were found to not have the ability to burn sugar efficiently providing more support that Fibromyalgia can result from abnormalities in metabolism.

It has been estimated that 93% of those with chronic muscle pain are deficient in vitamin D.  A paper published in the Journal of Rheumatology 2001 found that women with Fibromyalgia had insufficient levels of vitamin D.  And in the journal Clinical Rheumatology 2006 it was found that patients with Fibromyalgia with concomitant anxiety and depression had low levels of vitamin D.

Coenzyme Q10 and Ginkgo Biloba have been shown to improve the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.  In a paper publish in the Journal of International Medical Research 2002 it was found the 200mg of CoQ10 and 200mg of Ginkgo Biloba extract taken for 84 days resulted in significant improvement of symptoms and quality of life.  These two compounds are powerful antioxidants and CoQ10 is required for optimal metabolism.  Both of these mechanisms have been shown to be altered in patients with Fibromyalgia.

So as you can see there is plenty of research to support the use of specific vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help relieve the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.