Because there is no cure for Fibromyalgia Syndrome at this time, this leaves patients searching for ways to lessen the debiliating effects of Fibromyalgia's symptoms. It is important to understand that vitamins and supplements cannot treat Fibromyalgia. However, some researchers have determined that certain specific nutrients may be helpful in lessening the effects of some of Fibromyalgia's symptoms. Listed below are the most common nutritional supplements taken based on Fibromyalgia's primary symptoms:

Muscle Pain (myalgia)
Sleep Disturbances
Fatigue
Cognitive Impairment (fibro fog)

Muscle Pain (myalgia)
Evidence has accumulated to suggest that fibromyalgia is the result of local hypoxia to the muscles. For instance, patients with fibromyalgia have low muscle-tissue oxygen pressure in affected muscles, and to a lesser degree the same is true of other tissues. Muscle biopsies from affected areas showed muscle tissue glycolysis is inhibited, reducing ATP synthesis. This stimulates the process of gluconeogenesis, which results in muscle tissue breakdown and mitochondrial damage. Additionally, low levels of the high-energy phosphates ATP, ADP, and phosphocreatine were found. It is hypothesized that in hypoxic muscle tissue, glycolysis is inhibited, reducing ATP synthesis.

Products:
Malic Acid
Magnesium

Malic Acid
Malic acid is both derived from food sources and synthesized in the body through the citric acid cycle. Its importance to the production of energy in the body during both aerobic and anaerobic conditions is well established.

As a result of the compelling evidence that malic acid plays a central role in energy production, especially during hypoxic conditions, malic acid supplements have been examined for their effects on fibromyalgia. Subjective improvement in pain was observed within 48 hours of supplementation with 1200-2400 mg. of malic acid, and this improvement was lost following the discontinuation of malic acid for 48 hours.

Magnesium
Magnesium is a critical single supplement to energy production and mitochondrial function. Magnesium deficiencies could definitely disrupt ATP synthesis in both the glycolytic and mitochondrial pathways. Since ATP drives the membrane pumps which transport magnesium into the cell, a viscous cycles would arise in which lower ATP gives rise to even lower intracellular magnesium causing still further ATP reduction.

Although pure malic acid is available, there is strong evidence that malic acid and magnesium can work synergistically in aiding muscle pain.

	Malic Acid tablets
	Ultra ATP+ (Malic acid and Magesium in tablet form)
	Pro Energy (Malic acid and Magesium in capsule form)

Sleep Disturbances
Non-restorative sleep is a major problem with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Most fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This condition was discovered in a sleep lab with the aid of a machine which recorded the brain waves of patients during sleep. Researchers found that fibromyalgia syndrome patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (or stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity.

Products:
Melatonin
Valerian root

Melatonin
Your body's daytime and nighttime patterns are controlled primarily by the pineal gland, which produces the hormone melatonin in response to darkness and the hormone serotonin in response to light. First identified just four decades ago, melatonin is now recognized as one of life's most ubiquitous molecules. One of the most exciting aspects of the melatonin story-about which there have been 4,000 articles published-is that the substance is inexpensive, non prescription, and without any known toxic properties.

Valerian root
Valerian extract, derived from the dried rhizomes and roots of the plant, has been used for thousands of years as a folk remedy, tranquilizer and calmative for several disorders such as restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, hysteria, menstrual problems, and as a sedative for "nervous" stomach.

NOTE: Although Melatonin and Valerian root have not been individually studied for Fibromyalgia Syndrome, a study conducted and published by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum refers to their effectiveness with FMS. The study is:
Effective Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - A Report of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
JE Teitelbaum, M.D., B Bird, M.T., C.L.S, R Greenfield, M.D., A Weiss, M.D., L Muenz, P.h.D, L Gould

	Melatonin
	Valerian root

Fatigue
Although not as severe compared to CFS (some FMS sufferers may disagree), fatigue is still a basic symptom of FMS. Many patients equate their fatigue to having their "arms and legs tied to concrete blocks".

Products:
NADH
Coenzyme Q10
Malic acid & Magnesium
L-Carnitine

NADH
Known to scientists as coenzyme 1, NADH is considered the most important coenzyme in the human body for energy production. An invaluable part of the krebs cycle (the process from which the human body derives energy), NADH has been studied at Georgetown University Medical Center to determine its potential for lessening the debilitating fatigue of CFS.

Coenzyme Q10
Like NADH, scientists consider Coenzyme Q10 to be an important part of human energy production. Involved in the electron transport chain, Co Q10 appears to help maintain high-energy states in cells and is a potent anitoxidant.

Malic acid & Magnesium
Although primarily used to combat muscle pain, the combination of Malic acid and Magnesium is a potent energy producer for those suffering from FMS.

L-Carnitine
Used by many Americans for fat loss, L-Carnitine is also an energy provider. L-Carnitine is responsible for transporting fatty acids through the bloodstream to cells where they are converted to useful energy.

	Enada NADH
	Coenzyme Q10
	Ultra ATP+
	Pro Energy
	L-Carnitine

Cognitive Impairment
Mentioned as one of the most frustrating symptoms by many FMS patients, fibro fog is the gradual loss of cognitive functioning and short-term memory. Fibro fog can range from being unable to remember where you parked your car to the inability to complete a basic math calculation.

Products:
Ginkgo Biloba
Phosphatidyl Choline
Acetyl L-Caritine

Ginkgo Biloba
One of the most studied herbs, Ginkgo's effectivess has been chronicled in over 400 studies. Known for its unique ability to squeeze through the tiniest of blood vessel openings, Ginkgo Biloba increases blood flow to the brain. This increased oxygen flow equates to better overall cerebral functioning.

Phosphatidyl Choline
Most people who are not aware of Phosphatidyl Choline's benefits, are familiar with its predecessor - Lecithin. Phosphatidyl Choline is the result of Lecithin going through an extraction process, yielding a product that is equivilent to triple-strength Lecithin. Phosphatidyl Choline is a precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential to proper brain functioning.

Acetyl L-Carnitine
Known as Super L-Carnitine, the acetyl version of L-Carntine has the additional ability of crossing the blood-brain barrier and stimulating the production of acetlycholine, a neurotransmitter essential to proper brain functioning.

	Ginkgo Biloba
	Phosphatidyl Choline
	Acetyl L-Carnitine