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- Title
Association between fatigue, peripheral serotonin, and L-carnitine in hypothyroidism and in chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Authors
Raij, Tommi; Raij, Kari
- Abstract
Background: Fatigue of unknown origin is a hallmark symptom in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and is also found in 20% of hypothyroidism patients despite appropriate levothyroxine treatment. Here, we suggest that in these disorders, peripheral serotonin levels are low, and elevating them to normal range with Lcarnitine is accompanied with reduced fatigue. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of follow-up clinical data (CFS N=12; hypothyroidism with fatigue N=40) where serum serotonin and fatigue levels were compared before vs. after 7 weeks of oral L-carnitine supplementation. Results: After L-carnitine, serotonin increased (8-fold in CFS, Sig. = 0.002, 6-fold in hypothyroidism, Sig. < 0.001) whereas fatigue decreased (2-fold in both CFS and hypothyroidism, Sig. = 0.002 for CFS, Sig. < 0.001 for hypothyroidism). There was a negative correlation between serotonin level and fatigue (for CFS, rho = -0.49 before and -0.67 after L-carnitine; for hypothyroidism, rho = -0.24 before and -0.83 after L-carnitine). Conclusions: These findings suggest a new link between low peripheral serotonin, L-carnitine, and fatigue.
- Subjects
CHRONIC fatigue syndrome; FATIGUE (Physiology); CARNITINE; SEROTONIN; HYPOTHYROIDISM
- Publication
Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2024, p1
- ISSN
1664-2392
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3389/fendo.2024.1358404