A map of metabolic phenotypes in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome by Fredrik Hoel, August Hoel, Ina Kn Pettersen, Ingrid G Rekeland, Kristin Risa, Kine Alme, Kari Sørland, Alexander Fosså, Katarina Lien, Ingrid Herder, Hanne L Thürmer, Merete E Gotaas, Christoph Schäfer, Rolf K Berge, Kristian Sommerfelt, Hans-Peter Marti, Olav Dahl, Olav Mella, Øystein Fluge, Karl J Tronstad in JCI Insight 2021;6(16):e149217 [doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.149217]
Research abstract:
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease usually presenting after infection. Emerging evidence supports that energy metabolism is affected in ME/CFS, but a unifying metabolic phenotype has not been firmly established.
Energy metabolism is the general process by which living cells acquire and use the energy needed to stay alive, to grow, and to reproduce. Da Poian et al
We performed global metabolomics, lipidomics, and hormone measurements, and we used exploratory data analyses to compare serum from 83 patients with ME/CFS and 35 healthy controls.
Some changes were common in the patient group, and these were compatible with effects of elevated energy strain and altered utilization of fatty acids and amino acids as catabolic fuels. In addition, a set of heterogeneous effects reflected specific changes in 3 subsets of patients, and 2 of these expressed characteristic contexts of deregulated energy metabolism. The biological relevance of these metabolic phenotypes (metabotypes) was supported by clinical data and independent blood analyses.
Metabolic phenotypes are the products of interactions among a variety of factors-dietary, other lifestyle/environmental, gut microbial and genetic. Holmes et al
In summary, we report a map of common and context-dependent metabolic changes in ME/CFS, and some of them presented possible associations with clinical patient profiles. We suggest that elevated energy strain may result from exertion-triggered tissue hypoxia and lead to systemic metabolic adaptation and compensation. Through various mechanisms, such metabolic dysfunction represents a likely mediator of key symptoms in ME/CFS and possibly a target for supportive intervention.
Comment:
Science Norway: ME/CFS may be linked to failure in energy supply to the cells
ME Association blog: Research Summary – A map of metabolic phenotypes in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
MEprecisely: John Duncan
