Nutritional Therapy in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Case Study

The Optimum Health Clinic (OHC) is a specialist, private tertiary healthcare provider that offers psychological, nutritional and combined interventions for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia. A single biomarker has not been identified for this illness and therefore more complex and multidisciplinary models have been suggested, for instance the biopsychosocial model 1-3 and psychoneuroimmunological model 4 . The OHC has also developed a model in an attempt to describe the development and maintenance of this condition; this integrative model takes into account predisposing factors, triggers, perpetuating factors and clinically-defined subtypes (please see Howard and Arroll 5 for a full discussion of this model). An important aspect of the treatments on offer at the OHC is the nutritional therapy. Indeed, for some of the OHC's clients, this will be their chosen route and they will receive this type of intervention in isolation. This article aims to outline the nutritional approach used at the OHC and link the nutritional interventions with the existing evidence base. To achieve this, we present the case study of 'Darren', a 37 year old gentleman who had been experiencing the symptoms of ME/CFS for 15 years and for which he had a medical diagnosis, who first consulted the OHC