People with fibromyalgia have higher levels of two specific proteins in their blood—zonulin-1 and anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgG antibodies—than people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
People with fibromyalgia have a more damaged gut lining than those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, letting more bacterial and food particles leak into the blood. This triggers a stronger immune reaction, producing more antibodies that can be detected in blood tests, helping...
Most probable mechanism
In people with fibromyalgia, the lining of the gut becomes more damaged than in those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, allowing more bacterial proteins and food particles to leak into the bloodstream. This triggers a stronger immune response, producing higher levels of antibodies against these leaked substances, which can be measured in the blood and help distinguish the two conditions.
Intestinal epithelial tight junctions are more severely disrupted, increasing permeability of the gut barrier
Bacterial components, including lipopolysaccharide, and dietary antigens such as beta-lactoglobulin, translocate across the compromised barrier into systemic circulation
Circulating bacterial and dietary antigens activate B cells to produce specific IgG antibodies, including anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgG
Elevated levels of these antibodies and barrier disruption markers reflect a greater degree of intestinal barrier failure in fibromyalgia compared to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Contradicting (0)
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