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Fibromyalgia is a condition known for widespread pain and fatigue, but what’s going on inside the body to cause these symptoms? Research points to a problem with how cells produce energy. Each cell has its own tiny power plant called the mitochondria, which converts food into energy using oxygen and nutrients. When this process breaks down, it’s called mitochondrial dysfunction, and it’s a key player in fibromyalgia.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction Explained
Under normal conditions, mitochondria use oxygen to produce a molecule called ATP, which acts like a battery to power all the cells’ activities. When there isn’t enough oxygen, or when the mitochondria don’t have the necessary nutrients, they switch to a less efficient method that produces lactic acid. This is the same process that causes muscle burn during intense exercise. Studies show that people with fibromyalgia have high levels of lactic acid in their muscles and brain, indicating that their mitochondria are struggling to produce energy.
Why It Matters
Mitochondrial dysfunction doesn’t just cause fatigue. It leads to the production of harmful substances called free radicals, which damage cells and make it harder for the body to detoxify and protect itself. This creates a vicious cycle of pain, fatigue, and poor health.
The Nutrient Connection
For mitochondria to work properly, they need a variety of vitamins and minerals, including:
Deficiencies in these nutrients can disrupt energy production and worsen fibromyalgia symptoms. Research shows that people with fibromyalgia often have low levels of several of these key nutrients.
Nutrient-Based Interventions
Some studies have shown promising results with nutrient supplementation:
Emerging research suggests that a functional deficiency in thiamine (Vitamin B1) might play an under acknowledged, yet significant role in fibromyalgia. Thiamine is crucial for converting food into energy. It acts as a cofactor for enzymes that drive the energy production process in our cells. Dysautonomia, a condition where the autonomic nervous system malfunctions, is frequently found in fibromyalgia. Thiamine deficiency can cause similar autonomic problems, such as poor blood pressure regulation and heart rate variability. When the body can’t use thiamine effectively, it can create a state known as “pseudohypoxia.” This means that even with enough oxygen present, cells act as if they’re oxygen-starved. This disrupts normal brain function and can lead to many of the symptoms seen in fibromyalgia, such as pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues.
What is Functional Thiamine Deficiency?
Even if there’s enough thiamine in the body, some people’s cells struggle to use it effectively. This is known as functional deficiency. It can mimic true thiamine deficiency, leading to symptoms like fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive issues.
Why Does This Matter for Fibromyalgia?
Some early studies showed that people with fibromyalgia had abnormal levels of energy markers, along with low levels of active intracellular thiamine, which suggested that their cells might not be using thiamine effectively. This could explain why fibromyalgia symptoms resemble those of thiamine deficiency in some cases.
Can High Doses of Thiamine Help?
Interestingly, some patients with fibromyalgia have experienced significant improvement in symptoms high doses of thiamine. Dr Antonio Costantini published research on this topic here.
For a more detailed overview of the research, see this article. Also consider checking out ThiaMega, Thiamax, or the Mega-Dose Thiamine pack, and always remember to consult a medical expert before adding medications or supplements to your diet.
You can also watch our video to discover how introducing Thiamax and other vitamin protocols can be highly beneficial in fighting Fibromyalgia, Brain Fog and Chronic Pain.
This Vitamin Protocol Fixed His SIBO, Chronic Fatigue, Brain Fog & Fibromyalgia
Many fibromyalgia patients have poor gut health, known as “dysbiosis,” where harmful bacteria outnumber the beneficial ones. This can lead to digestive issues, poor nutrient absorption, and increased inflammation. A condition called "leaky gut" often accompanies dysbiosis, allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream and potentially reach the brain, worsening symptoms. A substantial number of patients have "Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth."
How to Improve Gut Health
Improving gut health is crucial for managing fibromyalgia. This can involve:
Fibromyalgia patients often have compromised detoxification abilities, making them more susceptible to toxins from the environment. Heavy metals like mercury and lead, as well as common pollutants like BPA and phthalates, can accumulate in the body and worsen symptoms.
Detoxification Strategies
To improve the body's ability to clear toxins, consider:
Making conscious food and drink choices might help you feel better emotionally, lower stress levels, and possibly even ease some of the pain caused by fibromyalgia. According to a study done by the National Library of Medicine, 61.81% were females who were suffering from FMS. Excess body fat (adiposity) not only serves as a resevior for environmental toxins, but visceral fat is a hormonally-active source of inflammatory molecules. For this reason, it can contribute towards chronic inflammation, which is known to factor into the pathophysiology of FMS.
Poor sleep with a misaligned circadian rhythm is another common issue in fibromyalgia. The hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep, is often disrupted. Stress hormones can also be out of balance, either too high or too low, which further disrupts sleep and overall well-being. Restoring a healthy sleep pattern should be a priority for those with fibromyalgia.
Stress manifests itself in human beings in different ways. It is expected to experience physical pain as we are already stressed out about the condition and its accompanying symptoms. Being stressed makes the pain accompanying fibromyalgia even worse, as you are constantly on high alert and even overthinking the pain when it hasn’t been caused. Cortisol can amplify the body’s pain response, leading the individual to experience higher pain.
Stress management is an essential part of combatting the effects of fibromyalgia :
Exercise may be an extremely beneficial ally when managing FMS, but it's crucial to approach it methodically and carefully. Even though exercising could initially feel overwhelming, with time, strength and endurance can be steadily increased, reducing discomfort, improving mobility, and improving overall well-being.
While the physical experience of pain is inevitable, your reactions to it – self-criticism, resistance, and worry – can often escalate your suffering. There are specific simple steps that you can practice to inculcate a positive mindset-
This realization can be a game-changer in your journey to manage pain. It may take time to understand that your negative thought patterns and resistance contribute to your overall suffering. However, by internally analyzing your reactions and consciously practicing self-care, you can learn to decrease the accompanying stress with physical pain.
