A study was done to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFB 1748 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 on fatigue and physical activity in ME/CFS patients.
The study included 15 people who met the criteria set by international researchers in the field at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 1994 for ME/CFS. These study participants had high disability scores and high fatigue severity scores.
During the first two weeks of the study, patients were assessed without treatment and baseline observations were made. The next four weeks patients were given a probiotic product and then there was a four-week follow up period. Fatigue, health and physical activity of the patients were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scales and the SF-12 Health Survey. Normal microflora in fecal matter of the patients were analyzed in these patients also.
Researchers noted during the study that neurocognitive functioning improved while the fatigue and physical activity scores did not improve. No major changes occurred in the gastrointestinal microflora. At the end of the study 6 of 15 patients reported that they had improved according to the assessment described.
The conclusion of the study determined that health improvement is possible in ME/CFS patients on probiotics and further studies are encouraged in CFS patients with probiotics.
Leave a Reply