Effect of supplement with lactic-acid producing bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
2009

Probiotics and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sample size: 15 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Åsa Sullivan, Nord Carl E, Evengård Birgitta

Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet

Hypothesis

The study aims to evaluate the effect of specific probiotic bacteria on fatigue and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Conclusion

The study suggests that some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome may experience improvements in health after taking probiotics.

Supporting Evidence

  • Six out of 15 patients reported improvement in their symptoms after the treatment.
  • Neurocognitive functions showed significant improvement during the study.
  • Patients' health and physical activity were assessed using validated scales.

Takeaway

This study looked at whether taking certain good bacteria could help people who feel very tired all the time. Some people felt better after taking them.

Methodology

The study involved a pilot trial with 15 patients who took probiotics for four weeks after a two-week baseline observation period.

Potential Biases

The subjective nature of fatigue assessments may introduce bias.

Limitations

The small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

The participants included 10 females and 5 males, with a mean age of 43 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.040

Statistical Significance

p=0.040

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1475-2891-8-4

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