GetIntoAdventures t1_itva1ic wrote on October 26, 2022 at 3:50 PM

Have there been any findings linking biome health and chronic fatigue and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (i.e., longer-term post-viral conditions)? And if so, is there any idea what the best solution/treatment plan is for it?

cucciaman OP t1_itvfghc wrote on October 26, 2022 at 4:26 PM

Thanks for the question!

Several studies have found altered, or ‘dysbiotic’, gut microbiomes in patients with Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). A review of these papers found little agreement between them on what the specific changes to the gut microbiome were though. The link between ME/CFS and the gut microbiome is also evident by the improvement in self-reported symptoms after a short course of antibiotics in some patients (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26779319/).

Despite evidence that the gut microbiome is linked with ME/CFS, it is unclear how to improve the disease with microbiome targeted treatments. Some of the treatments being explored include specific probiotics, fecal microbiota transfer (FMT), and dietary interventions. Further research is needed to determine what microbiome targeted treatment can improve these patients microbiome and their symptoms though.

-RM