European Journal of Medical Research (Mar 2024)

Clinical evidence of the link between gut microbiome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a retrospective review

  • Jing-Hua Wang,
  • Yujin Choi,
  • Jin-Seok Lee,
  • Seung-Ju Hwang,
  • Jiyeon Gu,
  • Chang-Gue Son

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-024-01747-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a heterogeneous disorder with elusive causes, but most likely because of clinical and other biological factors. As a vital environmental factor, the gut microbiome is increasingly emphasized in various refractory diseases including ME/CFS. The present study is aimed to enhance our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and ME/CFS through data analysis of various clinical studies. We conducted a literature search in four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) until May 31, 2023. Our analysis encompassed 11 clinical studies with 553 ME/CFS patients and 480 healthy controls. A comparative analysis of meta data revealed a significant decrease in α-diversity and a noticeable change in β-diversity in the gut microbiome of ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls. The notable ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroides was 2.3 times decreased, and also, there was a significant reduction in the production of microbial metabolites such as acetate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and some amino acids (alanine, serine, and hypoxanthine) observed in ME/CFS patients. The lack of comparison under similar conditions with various standardized analytical methods has impeded the optimal calculation of results in ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in understanding the role of the gut microbiome in ME/CFS patients. Additionally, we have also discussed the potentials of using microbiome-related interventions and associated challenges to alleviate ME/CFS.

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