The role of essential fatty acids in chronic fatigue syndrome. A case-controlled study of red-cell membrane essential fatty acids (EFA) and a placebo-controlled treatment study with high dose of EFA.

OBJECTIVE

To replicate the treatment study by Behan et al. (1990) using current research criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

METHOD

Fifty patients who fulfilled the Oxford Criteria for CFS were randomly allocated to treatment with either Efamol Marine or placebo for 3 months. They were seen monthly and completed a physical symptoms checklist and the Beck Inventory for Depression and reported if they were the same, better or worse at the end of the study.

RESULTS

Symptoms generally improved with time but not significantly and there were no significant differences between the treatment and placebo groups. Pretreatment red-cell membrane (RBC) lipids of patients compared with age-and sex-matched normal controls showed no significant differences.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study contrast sharply with the previous study where 85% of patients had a clinically significant improvement of symptoms with Efamol Marine over a 3-month treatment period.