Scientists from Japan have linked chronic fatigue to a deficiency of B vitamins

A research team from the research division of Osaka Metropolitan University, led by Professor Hiroaki Kanouchi, has established a link between a deficiency of water-soluble vitamins and the development of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The results of the study were published in the journal Medical Xpress.

The scientists formulated a hypothesis according to which a deficiency of folic acid (B9) and vitamin B12 has a direct correlation with a person's overall well-being. The key subject of the study was homocysteine — a biomarker whose blood levels increase when the intake of these substances is insufficient. Approximately 600 healthy residents of Japan were recruited to participate in the experiment, who underwent blood tests and had their levels of motivation and fatigue assessed using specialized scales.

The analysis results demonstrated that participants with elevated homocysteine concentrations consistently showed reduced levels of vitamins B12 and B9 regardless of sex. However, the manifestation of fatigue differed between men and women. In men, elevated biomarker levels were associated with physical exhaustion, while in women, nutrient deficiency was expressed as a decline in motivation.

"The discovered relationship between vitamin B12, folic acid, and fatigue in healthy individuals is probably the first such scientific observation," Kanouchi stated.

The head of the research group explained that in medical practice, homocysteine levels have traditionally been assessed exclusively in relation to the risks of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and fractures. As he noted, the new data suggest the need to also take fatigue and motivation indicators into account going forward. To prevent an increase in homocysteine concentration, it is critically important to avoid deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folic acid. Maintaining a balanced diet on a consistent basis, according to Kanouchi, plays a decisive role.

During the analysis, the researchers took into account accompanying factors that influence well-being, including the subjects' age, sleep duration, work intensity, and dietary habits. The authors of the study emphasized that the problem of chronic fatigue in modern society has gone beyond being a purely individual matter.