Dr. Mark Pellegrino has worked with more than 20,000 Fibromyalgia patients during his career as a physician and he has provided some great information on what he has found to be the common deficiencies in fibromyalgia patients and the treatments to help them.
Dr. Pellegrino says that over the years he has used a lot of supplements when treating Fibromyalgia patients and has found them to be effective in many patients. While all patients don’t benefit, they are generally safe to try and when they do work, they aren’t as expensive as prescription medications.
Today nutritional supplements are one of the most important treatments I recommend for fibromyalgia.
Dr. Pellegrino’s List of Common Deficiencies Seen in Fibromyalgia
Serotonin Deficiency – Serotonin is an important hormone that helps control food behavior, sleep, mood, energy, and neuroendocrine function. Symptoms from low serotinin are fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, and increased pain levels.
Supplements for Serotonin Deficiency – 5-HTP (100 – 300 mg. daily), St. John’s Wort (300 mg. up to twice a day), SAM-e (200 – 400 mg. twice daily on an empty stomach).
Magnesium Deficiency – According to Dr. P, “Magnesium is a common deficiency in the general population but even more so in patients with fibromyalgia. Intracellular magnesium is low, which interferes with the muscles’ ability to relax and make energy. Magnesium is needed to convert 5-HTP to serotonin.”
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency in Fibromyalgia patients include increased pain, fatigue, and spasms. People who are magnesium deficient are also more likely to injure their muscles when exercising. Exercise intolerance or increased pain/spasms after activity is another symptom for Fibromyalgia patients who are magnesium deficient.
Supplements for Magnesium Deficiency – Magnesium glycinate and Taking 5-HTP along with magnesium/malic acid will increase your odds of converting 5-HTP to serotonin. Anywhere from 300 – 500 mg. daily of extra magnesium supplement may be needed.
Low Amine ATP (Low Energy Efficiency) – Dr. Pellegrino states that studies have shown that FM patients have low ATP or energy molecules in their muscles due to a deficiency of the compounds that make ATP such as oxygen and magnesium.
A deficiency of ATP may contribue to fatigue, increased pain, and increased muscle spasms.
Supplements for Low Amine ATP – Magnesium, CoQ10 (100 – 300 mg. daily).
Part 2 up next!
Thanks for sharing this post! This can serve as one of my resources in the paper I am working right now. I am doing a paper on Fibromyalgia-its possible causes and treatment. I was inspired to work on this because until now, the underlying cause of this disease are unknown. So, I am really giving my best on this.
– Belinda Mcfetridge, researcher
Hi, Belinda, I am glad to no that someone is looking into fibromyalgia , I have been suffering since over 10 years and have tried many prescription drugs, none which has really worked, in fact causes more side effects .
I am off all meds right now , basically walking 3 times a day . Taking magnesium
And ginger water . Avoiding all white flour and sugar and any kind od preservatives.
I personally have to push myself to walk to get the oxygen, but some days my muscle spasm is bad and my body aches and not able to walk and that is when I feel worse.
Thanks for sharing this post! This can serve as one of my resources in the paper I am working right now. I am doing a paper on Fibromyalgia-its possible causes and treatment. I was inspired to work on this because until now, the underlying cause of this disease are unknown. So, I am really giving my best on this.
Thanks for the above info, I have done some personal research and am actually taking all of the above and other vits, mins and energy boosting supplements too and I am finding an improvement in mood, pain is managed but not gone, but I am not as fatigued as I was and I feel like I can cope a bit more on most days. I haven’t been able to work for 3 yrs now, but would like to try and see if I can do some part time again. I do however, fatigue easly as I have aplastic anemia too.
I would love too do research that would help others in this area, but not sure what prerequisites are. I do have a Science Degree, but a masters in this area would. be so useful.