Explaining how Changes in Energy Production might cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
A possible cause of CFS or ME could be related to variations in how the body produces and uses energy.
Our bodies require energy to function, and it gets this energy from the food we consume. Digestion breaks this food into glucose, amino acids and fat which are then utilized by our body’s cells during a process called cellular respiration.
In people with CFS, there might be an issue with this energy production process. Research suggests that the cells of individuals with CFS have abnormalities in mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the parts of the cells responsible for turning glucose and other nutrients into energy the body can use.
If the mitochondria don’t work as well as they should, the cells might not get all the energy they need. This can cause many of the symptoms associated with CFS, like extreme fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
