A systematic review, summarising and evaluating the current research findings into the use of nutritional supplements and diet-based therapies in relieving fatigue in patients with ME/CFS.
Brito et al (July 2025)
Summary
- Research on certain nutritional supplements – (CoQ10, NADH, selenium, melatonin, AEO, DCA, zinc, Ginkgo, Cistanche, wasabi, and probiotics) – suggest a potential for improving fatigue and associated symptoms in ME/CFS.
- However, interpretation should be cautious due to methodological limitations, small sample sizes, and lack of standardisation across studies.
- Any future research should employ rigorous randomised controlled trials with diverse populations and standardised measures to clarify the efficacy of these interventions.
Extracts
The results of this review showed several supplements that suggest improvement in patients’ symptomatology, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), wasabi, and probiotics.
While these findings are encouraging, they must be interpreted with caution, given the considerable methodological limitations present in many of the included studies.
MEA Comment
This review of the possible benefits of nutritional supplements in the management of ME/CFS does not add anything new to what we already know from patient evidence and the very comprehensive review of safety and efficacy of nutritional supplements that was carried out as part of the preparation of the 2021 NICE guideline.
In other words….
There is some patient evidence to indicate that supplements such as Co-enzyme Q10 maybe of benefit.
But there is no sound research evidence from well conducted clinical trials to recommend the use of any of these nutritional supplements.
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association,
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS committee,
Member of the 2002 Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on ME/CFS
