Fatigue is a common complaint. Often, the fatigue is transient
or can be attributed to a definable organic illness. Some patients present with persistent
and disabling fatigue, but show no abnormalities on physical examination or screening
laboratory tests. In these cases, the diagnosis of
chronic fatigue syndrome should
be considered.
Fatigue may be due to
depression, lack of
exercise, poor diet with lack of adequate protein, anemia, diabetes, hepatitis, thyroid
disorders, cancer, occult infections, autoimmune disorders, sleep apnea or sleep
disturbances, or adrenal
insufficiency.
If a full medical evaluation is completed and
no major causes are found, certain supplements may be tried to increase energy levels.
There are many nutrients and herbs that help reduce fatigue, including:
B Vitamin and
coenzyme complex which you can find
Vitamin-B-Coenzyme here.
Carnitine
can fight fatigue, see
Carnitine
for more information.
Creatine can fight muscle
fatigue
Pantothenic acid is a
b vitamin that can help reduce fatigue
Trimethylglycine-tmg
can fight fatigue and improve mood
Ginseng is an herb used to
improve fatigue
Maca is an herb from South
America that helps fight fatigue, you can find
Maca
supplement here for sale.
Royal jelly can improve
fatigue
Spirulina can benefit
fatigue
Cause of fatigue
Anemia - Anemia is a common cause of
fatigue in women who have heavy menstrual
cycles, have fibroid tumors or uterine polyps. The blood loss may cause anemia
due to the loss of iron. Other causes of anemia include iron deficiency, low
levels of folic acid, or vitamin B12.
Low thyroid (hypothyroidism) - If you are generally sluggish, run down, and even
a little depressed, the cause could by a poorly functioning thyroid gland.
Poor quality sleep is a common cause of fatigue
Lack of exercise can cause fatigue
Overeating and obesity
Hidden food allergies
Excess use of caffeine or stimulants
Heart disease
Difference between fatigue
and tired
"It's important to recognize the difference between tiredness and
fatigue, because fatigue is a marker that the body is not able to keep up," says
Dr. Karin Olson, with the faculty of nursing at the University of Alberta. Olson
has studied fatigue in cancer patients, people diagnosed with chronic fatigue
syndrome and depression, as well as shift workers and athletes. These
populations were chosen because they experienced fatigue for different reasons
-- illness, work, or leisure activities. People who are tired still have a fair
bit of energy but are apt to feel forgetful and impatient and experience muscle
weakness following work, which is often alleviated by rest. People who have
fatigue experience difficulty concentrating, anxiety, a gradual decrease in
stamina, difficulty sleeping, and increased sensitivity to light. They also may
skip social engagements once viewed as important to them. People who suffer from
exhaustion report frank confusion that resembles delirium, emotional numbness,
sudden loss of energy, difficulty in staying awake as well as in sleeping and
complete social withdrawal. While exercise may relieve tiredness, it may
decrease the ability to adapt in people who are suffering from fatigue or
exhaustion. If it's fatigue or exhaustion, caffeine and other stimulants should
be avoided as these substances fool the body into thinking it has more energy
that it actually does. Oncology Nursing Forum 2007.
Fatigue study
L carnitine administration in elderly subjects with rapid muscle fatigue:
effect on body composition, lipid profile and fatigue.
Pistone G,. University of Catania, Catania,
Italy.
Drugs Aging. 2003;20(10):761-7.
AIM: L carnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy metabolism.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of carnitine supplementation on body
composition, lipid profile and fatigue in elderly subjects with rapid muscle
fatigue. This was a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind,
two-phase study. Eighty-four elderly subjects with onset of fatigue following
slight physical activity were recruited to the study. Prior to randomisation all
patients entered a 2-week normalisation phase where they were given an 'ad
libitum diet, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (Step 2).
Subjects were asked to record their daily food intake every 2 days. Before the
30-day treatment phase, subjects were randomly assigned to two groups (matched
for male/female ratio, age and body mass index). One group received carnitine 2g
twice daily (n = 42) and the other placebo (n = 42). Efficacy measures included
changes in total fat mass, total muscle mass, serum triglyceride, total
cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density
lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo)A1, and apoB levels. The
Wessely and Powell scale was used to evaluate physical and mental fatigue.
Subjects were assessed at the beginning and end of the study period. At
the end of the study, compared with placebo, the carnitine-treated patients
showed significant improvements in the following parameters: total fat mass,
total muscle mass, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, apoA1, and apoB. Wessely and
Powell scores decreased significantly by 40% (physical fatigue) and 45% (mental
fatigue) in subjects taking carnitine, compared with 11% and 8%, respectively,
in the placebo group. No adverse events were reported in any treatment group.
Administration of carnitine to healthy elderly subjects resulted in
a reduction of total fat mass, an increase of total muscle mass, and appeared to
exert a favourable effect on fatigue and serum lipids.
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Fatigue vitamins and
supplements questions
Q. What supplements do you suggest to help my adrenal fatigue symptoms? I am
tired of taking anti-depressants, ADD meds, etc., and would prefer products more
natural.
A. Firstly, the underlying cause of the fatigue has to be
determined, some people think their fatigue is due to the adrenal glands, but
there could be other causes. We suggest you discuss the natural treatment
options and supplements discussed on this page with your doctor.
fatigue chronic fatigue syndrome natural supplements for fatigue vitamins herbs fatigue