NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT IN A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT USING ULTRACLEAR PLUS ® AND ULTRACLEAR SUSTAIN®
IN A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

Purpose: To show how a targeted nutritional support program featuring UltraClear PLUS medical food for detoxification and UltraClear SUSTAIN medical food for gastrointestinal (GI)
support may be useful in some patients with long-standing chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Patient’s Presentation and History: A 42-year-old Caucasian female presented with CFS,
reporting unremitting fatigue, insomnia, chronic arthralgias and myalgias, post-exertion exhaustion, cognitive dysfunction, cyclical acne, recurrent sinus and strep infections, and
increasing sensitivity to environmental stimuli (e.g., tobacco smoke, perfumes, newsprint). At the time of presentation, she was on disability and unable to work. The patient primarily ate
organic foods, and noted some bloating with wheat and dairy. She had a history of hypothyroidism, mononucleosis, allergies, migraines, 6 weeks of “colitis -like” symptoms after
pesticide exposure, and multiple antibiotic courses.
Patient’s Objective Information
· BMI†: 22.8; BP: 120/80
· MSQ* score 129
· Results of HEENT exam: notable allergic shiners, lungs lear to auscultation
· Thyroid palpable, liver non-tender, abdomen soft with diffuse tenderness in right and left upper quadrants
· Along with dry skin, reddened vesicles in various stages of eruption, healing, and scarring noted on anterior arms, forearms, calves, and thighs
· Prescriptive medications and supplements included spironolactone (75 mg/day), desiccated thyroid (120 mg/day), and a variety of nutritional supplements
· Assessment: CFS, multiple chemical sensitivities, possible food allergies, and adrenal fatigue
Plan: In addition to continuing prescriptive medications and discontinuing supplements, the patient was instructed to begin taking:
· UltraClear PLUS medical food, 3 servings daily
· Licorice root extract, ¼ tsp qd
· Extract of 7 mushrooms, 30 drops bid
· Multivitamin/mineral supplement without iron, 2 tablets bid
1 and 3 Week Results
The patient’s laboratory results from week 1 showed altered intestinal permeability and detoxification. After 3 weeks on the program, the patient reported improvements in sleep, cognition, and energy and was instructed to:
· Continue UltraClear PLUS, licorice root, multivitamin/mineral supplement without iron
· Discontinue mushroom extract
· Add elimination diet, fiber supplement (1 scoop tid), glutamine (5 grams tid)
8 and 12 Week Results
The patient’s fatigue, energy, and sleep continued to improve. Prior to the program, she was sleeping 14-16 hr/day, decreasing to 8-10 hr/day after 8 weeks on the program. She was instructed to continue the protocol and add sodium sulfate (20 mg bid) to help manage chemical sensitivities. The patient indicated a 30% to 40% improvement overall after 12 weeks, and said she was better able to withstand chemical exposures. Intestinal permeability and detoxification laboratory values also improved. The patient was instructed to add a supplement to support mitochondrial energy production (2 capsules tid).
20 and 32 Week Results
The patient continued to do well and rated her overall improvement at 50% by the 20th week. She was instructed to:
· Continue the elimination diet, licorice root extract, multivitamin/mineral supplement, and fiber supplement
· Discontinue UltraClear PLUS, mitochondrial support supplement, and glutamine
· Begin taking UltraClear SUSTAIN medical food, 2 scoops bid
· Increase sodium sulfate, 400 mg bid
· Add N-acetylcysteine, 500 mg tid
After 32 weeks, the patient was no longer bedridden and continued to show improvement. She decided to remove mercury amalgams and had two chelation IV therapies. The patient noted that support for detoxification, particularly the sodium sulfate, helped her manage chemical sensitivities.
Conclusion
This case study suggests that a focused nutritional program featuring UltraClear PLUS for detoxification and UltraClear SUSTAIN to support healthy GI function may help address
CFS symptoms—including multiple chemical sensitivities associated with long-term CFS.
CASE STUDY #909
Figure 1
After 32 weeks, the patient’s Medical Symptoms Questionnaire* score decreased from 129 to 18 (reference range: <30>RESULTS
strong86% Improvement in MSQ Score
129
18
0
50
100
150
Before Program After 32 Weeks
MSQ Score 91% Reduction in Intestinal Permeability ("Leaky Gut")
0.338
0.031
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
Initial Lab Results After 32 Weeks
Lactulose-Mannitol Ratio
2X the Total
Acetaminophen Recovery
40.60%
83.20%
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
Initial Lab Results
After 32 Weeks
AIMS2: Physical Score
†BMI is the Body Mass Index and can be computed by the weight (kg) divided by the square of the height (m).
*The Medical Symptoms Questionnaire (MSQ) is a clinical tool for the evaluation of general physical symptoms. Total scores above 75 are generally associated with substantial symptomatology and disability; scores below 30 generally indicate few or low intensity symptoms.
© Metagenics, Inc. MET909 4/04
Note: The information provided in this case study describes the results of one patient under the care of a licensed healthcare practitioner and may not be a typical response. UltraClear PLUS medical food and UltraClear SUSTAIN medical food are to be used under the supervision of a physician or other licensed healthcare practitioner.
Case Study: Nutritional Support Using UltraClear PLUS and UltraClear SUSTAIN in a Patient with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Metagenics, Inc.; 016CFS1203.

Best Tummy-Soothing Teas

Mark A. Stengler, ND
La Jolla Whole Health Clinic

Herbal teas are great for digestive symptoms, but which tea is best for which symptoms?

Abdominal cramps and ulcers: Chamomile tea. Its essential oils are anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. Chamomile calms the nervous system, so it is good for digestive symptoms linked to stress.

Gas (flatulence): Fennel tea. Use when gas occurs after meals. Interestingly, fennel was once used in the US as a drug for the treatment of indigestion.

Bloating: Gingerroot tea. It also can help with gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and morning sickness.

Irritable bowel syndrome (characterized by alternating constipation and diarrhea): Peppermint tea. It also can help with cramps, gas and bloating. Peppermint can aggravate heartburn (acid reflux) in some people, so go easy at first.

If you frequently have digestive upset: Try one-half to one cup of tea just before each meal or with meals. For occasional upset, drink a cup as needed to reduce the symptoms. Tea bags work as well as loose tea -- use organic, if possible.

Hypnotherapy for IBS

Dr. Alan Inglis (House Calls)
Visualize an end to a stomach problem
Even though it's not fatal, irritable bowel syndrome can make life just about unbearable for people who suffer from it. In fact, research has shown that the psychological effects of this illness— such as anxiety and a fear of going out in public—can be downright crippling.

And for the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients who deal with chronic constipation, the hard-to-control diarrhea caused by the prescription medication they often have to take can make venturing out a really hard thing to do in the first place (anxiety or no anxiety).

But researchers are getting closer to finding drug-free ways of treating this problem. Some research that mainstream medicine may dismiss but that you should know about is hypnotherapy—it can have a profound effect on fixing IBS problems.

In a study of 75 IBS patients (both men and women), participants received between five and seven half-hour hypnotherapy sessions over a three- month period. During the sessions, the patients were asked to put their hands on the place where they felt the most abdominal discomfort to create feelings of warmth and comfort in that area. Then, the patients were told to imagine their guts as a river. Constipated patients were supposed to envision the river as freely flowing. Patients with diarrhea were supposed to imagine the river moving slowly.

When it was over, all the patients—regardless of which form of IBS they suffered with—reported reductions in pain and bloating. They also saw improvements in their emotional stability, energy levels, sleep, diet, anxiety levels, and in their overall physical health. Talk to your doctor about a referral to someone who practices hypnotherapy. It's worth seeing if it will work for you—and keep you from hiding in the house.