Plant-Based Nutrients and Certain Supplements Show Promise in Fibromyalgia Relief
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 19, 2025 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
Medical News: Fibromyalgia and Its Complex Challenges
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, mood issues, and cognitive disturbances. It affects over 2% of the global population, with women being more commonly affected. Though the exact cause is still unclear, researchers believe the condition is tied to issues in the central nervous system, inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota imbalances.
Certain phytochemicals and supplements may help fibromyalgia symptoms by targeting
inflammation, gut health, and oxidative stress pathways
In a new comprehensive review led by researchers from Halic University and Hacettepe University in Türkiye, scientists explored how certain supplements as well as plant-derived nutrients, known as phytonutrients, could help relieve fibromyalgia symptoms. These phytonutrients include compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids, and organosulfur compounds found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, and legumes.
This
Medical News report highlights the key findings from this review, which was conducted using studies from both human trials and preclinical animal models.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants
A major focus of the review is oxidative stress, a harmful imbalance where the body’s ability to counteract damaging molecules called free radicals is weakened. Many patients with fibromyalgia show high levels of oxidative stress and low antioxidant capacity. Specific nutrients like coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, and thiamine have shown potential to restore this balance.
In one study, patients who received vitamin C and E supplements showed reduced levels of oxidative markers in their blood. Although the pain symptoms did not drastically improve in all cases, some small trials and animal models showed that antioxidant-rich diets could reduce discomfort, especially when combined with physical activity or other therapies.
Inflammation and Immune Balance
The researchers also examined the impact of phytonutrients on inflammation, another key factor in fibromyalgia. Patients often have higher levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6. Phytonutrients like curcumin (from turmeric), ginger compounds, and flavonoids like fisetin were found to reduce these inflammatory markers in animal models.
In a small clinical trial, women who followed a low-inflammatory, low-FODMAP diet experienced improvements in fatigue, sleep, and pain levels, even though blood inflammatory markers didn’t always show changes.
Gut Microbiota and the Brain Gut Connection
Many people with fibromyalgia have an altered gut microbiome. Beneficial bacteria that produce anti-inflammatory compounds like butyrate are often reduced. Preclinical and early clinical studies suggest that probiotics and specific diets—such as those high in fiber or including ancient grains like Khorasan wheat—can improve gut
health and fibromyalgia symptoms. In one trial, a probiotic supplement significantly improved pain and sleep quality.
Emerging research even indicates that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) may hold promise, as patients receiving healthy microbiota reported better sleep, less pain, and improved mood.
The SIRT1 Connection
The protein SIRT1 has been highlighted as a key regulator of inflammation, oxidative stress, and energy balance. Several phytonutrients, such as resveratrol and curcumin, can activate SIRT1 in animal studies, leading to reduced inflammation and improved pain outcomes. While more human research is needed, this link between phytonutrients and SIRT1 presents a promising new direction.
What the Findings Suggest
Although the current evidence is mixed and still in early stages, especially for human studies, many plant-based compounds appear to positively affect pain, inflammation, and oxidative stress in fibromyalgia. The researchers emphasize that phytonutrient-rich diets and supplements should not replace conventional treatments but can serve as valuable additions to overall care.
They call for larger, well-controlled human trials that focus on biomarkers and patient subtypes to identify who benefits the most from these interventions.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Medicina
https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/12/2211
For the latest on fibromyalgia, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-finds-that-mild-covid-19-is-causing-the-sudden-new-onset-of-fibromyalgia-symptoms
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-evidence-shows-that-fibromyalgia-could-be-caused-by-blood-dysfunction-and-poor-oxygen-supply-to-tissues
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/an-updated-pharmaceutical-guide-to-treating-fibromyalgia
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