Abstract
IntroductionSevere fatigue is a major health problem in fibromyalgia (FM). Obesity is common in FM, but the influence of adipokines and growth factors is not clear. The aim was to examine effects of exercise on fatigue, in lean, overweight and obese FM patients.MethodsIn a longitudinal study, 48 FM patients (median 52 years) exercised for 15 weeks. Nine patients were lean (body mass index, BMI 18.5 to 24.9), 26 overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9) and 13 obese. Fatigue was rated on a 0 to 100 mm scale (fibromyalgia impact questionnaire [FIQ] fatigue) and multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) general fatigue (MFIGF). Higher levels in FIQ fatigue and MFIGF indicate greater degree of fatigue. Free and total IGF-1, neuropeptides, adipokines were determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).ResultsBaseline FIQ fatigue correlated negatively with serum leptin (r = -0.345; P = 0.016) and nerve growth factor (NGF; r = -0.412; P = 0.037). In lean patients, baseline MFIGF associated negatively with serum resistin (r = -0.694; P = 0.038). FIQ Fatigue associated negatively with CSF resistin (r = -0.365; P = 0.073). Similarly, FIQ fatigue (r = -0.444; P = 0.026) and MFIGF correlated negatively with CSF adiponectin (r = -0.508; P = 0.01). In lean patients, FIQ fatigue (P = 0.046) decreased after 15 weeks. After 30 weeks, MFIGF decreased significantly in lean (MFIGF: P = 0.017), overweight (MFIGF: P = 0.001), and obese patients (MFIGF: P = 0.016). After 15 weeks, total IGF-1 increased in lean (P = 0.043) patients. ∆Total IGF-1 differed significantly between lean and obese patients (P = 0.010). ∆Total IGF-1 related negatively with ∆MFIGF after 15 weeks (r = -0.329; P = 0.050). After 30 weeks, ∆FIQ fatigue negatively correlated with ∆NGF (r = -0.463; P = 0.034) and positively with ∆neuropeptide Y (NPY) (r = 0.469; P = 0.032). Resistin increased after 30 weeks (P = 0.034). ∆MFIGF correlated negatively with ∆resistin (r = -0.346; P = 0.031), being strongest in obese patients (r = -0.815; P = 0.007). In obese patients, ∆FIQ fatigue after 30 weeks correlated negatively with ∆free IGF-1 (r = -0.711; P = 0.032).ConclusionsExercise reduced fatigue in all FM patients, this effect was achieved earlier in lean patients. Baseline levels of resistin in both serum and CSF associated negatively with fatigue. Resistin was increased after the exercise period which correlated with decreased fatigue. Changes in IGF-1 indicate similar long-term effects in obese patients. This study shows reduced fatigue after moderate exercise in FM and indicates the involvement of IGF-1 and resistin in these beneficial effects.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00643006
Highlights
Severe fatigue is a major health problem in fibromyalgia (FM)
The effects of Nordic walking on body function were reported previously [63], showing that NW resulted in better improvement in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and aerobic capacity, when compared with low-intensity walking (LIW)
Patients with normal body mass index (BMI) (18.5 to 24.9) had higher baseline fatigue (97 mm) compared to overweight patients with BMI 25 to 29.9 (74 mm; P = 0.008), while no significant differences were found compared to obese patients with BMI ≥30 (88 mm; P-value not significant.) (Table 1)
Summary
Severe fatigue is a major health problem in fibromyalgia (FM). Obesity is common in FM, but the influence of adipokines and growth factors is not clear. Together with pain, is a major health problem in fibromyalgia (FM) [1,2] and is considered to be important to pain [3] in causing impaired work ability and restricted social participation [4] In FM patients we have recently reported a beneficial role of IGF-1 and exercise with regard to pain [17]. These results were in line with previous findings indicating that IGF-1 has a protective role in FM [18,19] and that IGF-1 promotes resilience to stress and pain in the central nervous system (CNS) [20,21]. Adiponectin is negatively correlated with depression [27,28] and has antidepressant-like effects in both lean and diet-induced obese mice [29]
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