Specific oxidative alterations in vastus lateralis muscle of patients withthe diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a poorly understood disease characterized by mental and physical fatigue, most often observed in young white females . Muscle pain at lest, exacerbated by exercise, is a common symptom. Althou gh a specific defect in muscle metabolism has not been clearly defined, yet several studies report altered oxidative metabolism. In this study, we det ected oxidative damage to DNA and lipids in muscle specimens of CFS patient s as compared to age-matched controls, as well as increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and transferase, and increases in total glutathione plasma levels. From these results we hypoth esize that in CFS there is oxidative stress in muscle, which results in an increase in antioxidant defenses. Furthermore, in muscle membranes, fluidit y and fatty acid composition are significantly different in specimens from CFS patients as compared to controls and to patients suffering from fibromy algia. These data support an organic origin of CFS, in which muscle suffers oxidative damage. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.