Orem Chiropractor - Supplements To Help End Fibromyalgia and Other Chronic Diseases

This article is the final of four articles on how you can decrease pain and inflammation and minimize your risk for chronic disease through your diet.

In this article we’re going to talk about the role supplements should play in this process.

There is a lot of science behind what we’ve previously discussed about diet and inflammation.  The same does not hold true for supplements.  Every year there is a new, magical supplement that will save the world.  In most cases when they work, it is by placebo mechanisms.  We’re going to discuss supplements that have a known anti-inflammatory effect.

Pathology text books now tells us that disease is promoted by a reduction in ATP synthesis, an increase in free-radical generation, and a state of chronic inflammation created by excessive production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, cytokines and growth factors.

With this in mind we want to take supplements that counteract these processes.

Magnesium, coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, and the nutrients in a multivitamin/mineral are involved in ATP synthesis and the reduction of free radicals. Fish oil, borage oil, and vitamin D supplementation help to reduce the expression of chronic inflammation.

Supplementation with garlic, ginger, turmeric, and boswellia, are also beneficial, as they function as natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Minimally, I would recommend taking at least a multivitamin/mineral, magnesium, and fish oil. 

For people on multiple medications and especially for those taking coumadin, it is important to make sure there are no inappropriate interactions. Several texts discuss drug-nutrient interactions; this information is available on a number of Web sites, such as www.medlineplus.com.

Please understand there are no specific conditions that alert us to the need for these supplements. They should be recommended and taken for the purpose of reducing the expression of the chronic inflammatory state. With this in mind, I have seen numerous pro-inflammatory conditions improve, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, fatigue, psoriasis, eczema, obstructive sleep apnea, radicular pain, and joint & muscle pain.

To read more about the supplements you should be taking and the amounts go here.


Go to the official website of Orem Fibromyalgia Doctor - R. Ned McArthur, D.C. to learn more about ending your chronic health condition.