Altered amino acid homeostasis in subjects affected by fibromyalgia

Clin Biochem. 2009 Mar 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Altered amino acid homeostasis in subjects affected by fibromyalgia.

Bazzichi L, Palego L, Giannaccini G, Rossi A, De Feo F, Giacomelli C, Betti L, Giusti L, Bombardieri S, Lucacchini A. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate plasma amino acids (AA) concentrations in patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) and to study the relationships between their levels and FM clinical parameters.

DESIGN AND METHODS: 20 AA were assessed in 34 FM patients and in 18 healthy volunteers by means of a modified version of the Waters picotag method.

RESULTS: Significant lower plasma taurine, alanine, tyrosine (Tyr), valine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine concentrations and sum of essential AAs were observed in FM patients vs healthy controls (P<0.05). Tyr CAAs ratio and the sum of AAs competing with tryptophan for brain uptake resulted significantly reduced in FM (p<0.05). Significant correlation were found between FM clinical parameters and certain AAs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a probable defects of gut malabsorption of certain AAs in FM patients. Moreover, given the reduced Tyr CAAs ratio in FM patients, a possible impairment of cathecolaminergic system in the FM syndrome may be suggested.

PMID: 19281806 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]