aaemonline.org Blog

Rheumatol Int. 2008 Oct 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Serum antioxidants and nitric oxide levels in fibromyalgia: a controlled study.

Sendur OF, Turan Y, Tastaban E, Yenisey C, Serter M.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adnan Menderes University Medicine School Hospital, Aydin, Turkey.

We proposed to assess antioxidant status and nitric oxide in fibromyalgia (FM) patients in comparison to healthy controls. Additionally, the association between the serum antioxidant levels and clinical findings in FM patients was also investigated. Thirty-seven FM patients and 37 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Severity of fatigue and pain were determined by Visual Analogue Scale. Functional capacity in daily living activities was evaluated by fibromyalgia impact questionnaire. Serum NO, catalase and glutathione were measured. Serum glutathione and catalase levels were significantly lower in FM patients than controls. However, no significant difference was seen in serum NO levels between the two groups. A significant correlation was evident between serum NO level and pain. Additionally, the correlation between glutathione level and morning stiffness was found to be significant. These findings support other studies, we assume that these two antioxidants might have impact on the pathogenesis of FM disease.

PMID: 18853166 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18853166?dopt=AbstractPlus

The relationship between serum trace element levels and clinical parameters in patients with fibromyalgia.

Rheumatol Int. 2008 May 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Sendur OF, Tastaban E, Turan Y, Ulman C.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adnan Menderes University Medicine School Hospital, Aydin, Turkey.

PMID: 18496697

We examined the association between serum trace elements and clinical findings such as number of sensitive tender points, severity of fatigue and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Thirty-two patients diagnosed as having FM according to the ACR 1990 criteria and 32 normal healthy controls (NHC) were included in this study. The demographic data, disease duration, number of tender
points and accompanying symptoms (fatigue, sleep disorders, headache, paresthesia, irritable bowel syndrome, sicca symptoms, Raynaud’s phenomena) of the patients were noted. Visual analog scale (10 cm) was implemented to estimate daily severity of pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire was used for functional assessment. Serum selenium (mug/dL) and serum zinc (mug/dL) levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. Serum magnesium (mmol/L) level was measured by the original kits of Abbott Aeroset auto-analyzer.

The mean age of patients in FM group and NHC were calculated as 42.9 (SD = 7.7) years and 41.3 (SD = 9.7) years, respectively. Serum levels of zinc (P = 0.001) and magnesium (P = 0.002) were
significantly decreased by FM groups, whereas there was no
considerable difference with selenium levels of both groups (P > 0.05). Association between serum zinc level and number of tender points (P = 0.008) and that between fatigue and magnesium level (P =
0.003) was found as meaningful.

According to the results of this study, it was asserted that serum magnesium and zinc levels may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FM.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18496697?dopt=AbstractPlus