According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2005 data, fibromyalgia affects approximately 5 million adults in the United States. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that presents with widespread pain, abnormal pain perception, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and possibly psychological distress, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, numbness or tingling in hands and feet, and may appear with other rheumatic diseases. Currently, the cause of this disorder is unknown.
A new study examined the possible relationship between plasma amino acid levels and fibromyalgia. In this study, 20 amino acids were measured in the plasma in 34 fibromyalgia patients and 18 healthy control subjects. The study showed that patients with fibromyalgia had significantly lower levels of several amino acids, including taurine, alanine, tyrosine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, and threonine. Additionally, the sum of essential amino acids, which are amino acids required in the diet, was also significantly lower in the fibromyalgia patients. The study also showed that tyrosine competing amino acids (CAA), which are amino acids that compete for the same cerebral uptake mechanism, were lower in patients with fibromyalgia.
This study suggests that there may be deficient absorption of certain amino acids from the gastrointestinal tract in patients with fibromyalgia. As tyrosine is the precursor to the synthesis of catecholamines (stress hormones), the study authors also concluded, "given the reduced tyrosine CAA ratio in fibromyalgia patients, a possible impairment of cathecolaminergic system in the fibromyalgia syndrome may be suggested."
Reference:
Bazzichi L, Palego L, Giannaccini G, Rossi A, De Feo F, Giacomelli C, Betti L, Giusti L, Bombardieri S, Lucacchini A. Altered amino acid homeostasis in subjects affected by fibromyalgia. Clin Biochem. 2009 Mar 9. Published Online Ahead of Print.
Individuals who want to increase their amino acid intake can consume Amino EDGE protein drink.