METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

摘要

Methods for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are disclosed based upon the finding that particular individual acylcarnitines are present in modified concentrations (ie decreased or increased concentrations) in CFS patients compared to healthy control subjects. In one form of the invention, a diagnostic method comprises determining a concentration of at least one individual acylcarnitine compound (eg oleyl-L-carnitine and linoleyl-L-carnitine) in a body sample from a test subject and comparing the concentration to a reference concentration, wherein a difference in the concentration of the at least one individual acylcarnitine from the test subject compared to the reference concentration is indicative of CFS. In another form of the invention, a method of treating CFS is provided which comprises administering an effective amount of a supplement comprising: at least one acylcarnitine compound selected from short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain acylcarnitines, L-carnitine (or an acylcarnitine that may be converted within a subject to L-carnitine) in combination with at least one fatty acid selected from short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain fatty acids, or at least one acylcarnitine in combination with at least one fatty acid selected from short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain fatty acids.