Amino Acids in CFS/ME Treatment
Carnitine, Creatine and Other Supplements May Help Fatigue and More
Feb 13, 2009
We get amino acids from food and the body uses them to build proteins, but many amino acids also have therapeutical uses when used as supplements. Several of them have been used in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). They are generally safe, well-researched and tend to produce more noticeable changes than vitamin and mineral supplements.
Most amino acid supplements should be taken on an empty stomach for best results - those that improve sleep in the evening and the stimulating ones in the morning - but carnitine may have to be taken with food to avoid stomach upset.
L-Carnitine/Acetyl-L-carnitine
There are several studies about the use of carnitine in CFS/ME. Carnitine can relieve fatigue, muscle weakness and brainfog, sometimes other symptoms too. It may work particularly well when combined with coenzyme Q10 and R/alpha lipoic acid.
Acetyl-L-carnitine may be more bioavailable than normal L-carnitine and more likely to help cognitive problems. Propionylcarnitine is possibly even better, but is expensive and not always easy to find. Stomach upset is the most common side effect of carnitine. Dosage for all forms of carnitine is usually 1-3 grams a day.
Creatine
Creatine is well-known as a bodybuilder supplement, but it can also help muscle weakness in people with CFS/ME. Less known is its ability to reduce cognitive fatigue in neurological illness. Creatine is inexpensive and usually well-tolerated but should be avoided by those who have kidney problems. 2-5 g a day is a common dosage.
L-glutamine
Glutamine is another popular supplement among athletes, but besides muscles it is particularly useful for gut and stomach problems, whether IBS, leaky gut or ulcers. Doses as large as 30 grams a day have been used for IBS, but much smaller ones can be helpful. Luckily glutamine is cheap and rarely causes adverse effects.
Taurine
Taurine is not strictly speaking an amino acid, but close enough to be included here. It is a common ingredient in energy drinks, but it is not a stimulant but more of a mild tranquilizer, which acts on the neurotransmitter GABA.
Some people with CFS/ME find that taurine helps them sleep, especially in conjunction with other sleep-inducing supplements. It can also give a mild energy boost and act as a muscle relaxant. Taurine is inexpensive and side effects are rare. Dosages vary between 1-5 grams a day.
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid found in green tea. It has calming and relaxing properties without being sedative. It can help with anxiety and may even boost cognitive function. Many people find L-theanine very helpful and it is well-tolerated, but the downside is its price, which is why most people only take it intermittently.
L-tryptophan
L-tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and as such has been used in the treatment of depression. It may also alleviate headaches. It is fairly sedative for most people and usually taken in the evening. It should not be combined with prescription antidepressants without doctor's approval.
DL-phenylalanine
DL-phenylalanine (DLPA) has two effects that may be useful: it increases levels of dopamine (which may be low in CFS/ME) and slows down the breakdown of endorphins. As a result it can help with cognitive dysfunction, pain, tiredness, depression and fatigue. Dosage is usually 500-1,000 mg a day.
L-tyrosine
Tyrosine has the potential to increase dopamine levels in the brain, but DL-phenylalanine may be preferred, because it also offers the benefits of increased endorphin levels. Tyrosine, on the other hand, may also help increase levels of thyroid hormones.
Lysine
Lysine is an amino acid with antiviral, particularly antiherpesviral, properties. Because CFS/ME has been connected with several herpesviruses, some patients supplement with lysine. For best results it is often recommended that foods high in the amino acid arginine, such as nuts, be avoided. Dosage is usually 1-3 grams a day.
References
Vermeulen RC, Scholte HR. Exploratory open label, randomized study of acetyl- and propionylcarnitine in chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychosom Med. 2004 Mar-Apr;66(2):276-82.
