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Exercise reduced fatigue faster in lean patients with fibromyalgia
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Performing aerobic exercise reduced fatigue in lean women with fibromyalgia more quickly than patients of greater weight, according to study results.
In a longitudinal study, researchers in Sweden evaluated 48 women (median age, 52 years) with fibromyalgia who were lean (n=9; body mass index [BMI], 18.5-24.9), overweight (n=26; BMI, 25-29.99) or obese (n=13; BMI≥30). Patients were randomly assigned to either a moderate-to-high intensity or low-intensity walking program for 15 weeks.
Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured for free and total insulin-like growth-factor 1(IGF-1), neuropeptides and adipokines at baseline, after 15 weeks and 30 weeks. Serum leptin (r=–0.345; P=.016) and nerve growth factor (NGF; r=–0.412; P=.037) were negatively correlated with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) fatigue at baseline. Serum resistin was negatively associated with baseline Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory Subscale of General Fatigue (MFIGF; r=–0.694; P=.038) in lean patients.
Overall, regardless of aerobic programs, FIQ fatigue decreased after 15 weeks in lean patients (P=.046), while response was delayed but also significantly reduced in overweight and obese patients after 6 months. There was a significant decrease in MFIGF in lean (P=.017), overweight (P=.001) and obese patients (P=.016) at 30 weeks.
Lean patients increased total IGF-1after 15 weeks (P=.043), and this change was substantial between lean and obese patients (P=.010). Overall change in FIQ fatigue correlated negatively with the change in NGF (r=–0.463; P=.034) after 30 weeks in all patients, but positively with the change in neuropeptide Y (NPY; r=0.469; P=.032).
After 30 weeks, resistin increased (P=.034) collectively across all patients. There was a negative correlation in the change in MFIGF and the change in resistin (r=–0.346; P=.031) that was strongest in obese patients (r=–0.815; P=.007).
“Aerobic exercise reduced fatigue in all FM patients, an effect that was achieved early in lean patients,” the researchers concluded. “The long-term reduction of fatigue following exercise correlated with increased levels of resistin.
“The results also indicate the involvement of leptin, adiponectin and NPY, although it is not clear how these signals may interact with each other in chronic fatigue.”
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