The Pep Pill

Sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) easily grow weary, and not just because of their tiring illness. Because there is no reliable treatment for the disease, whose causes are still unknown, patients are hard-pressed to find relief. A supplement may provide the energy boost they need.

Some scientists believe that people with chronic fatigue have lowered levels of ATP, a chemical energy source that powers all cells in the body. Joseph Bellanti, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and microbiology-immunology at the Georgetown University Medical Center, wondered if giving CFS patients a coenzyme called NADH, a natural ATP-generator, would restore the energy they were sorely lacking.

After asking 26 CFS patients to take 10 mg of NADH every morning for one month, Bellanti found that 31 percent of patients felt less sluggish after four weeks on the supplement, compared with only 8 percent of those taking a placebo pill. Reenergized patients' pain decreased and quality of life increased as well, reports Bellanti in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Healthy people who want more pep in their step may also benefit from the pill. Says Bellanti: "Anyone suffering from fatigue should consult their physician first, but it's a safe supplement that is found in the diet."