Vitamins and Supplements for Fatigue

If you suffer from persistent fatigue, many vitamins and supplements are available to help you boost your energy levels. Together with a healthy and balanced diet, vitamins and supplements can ensure that you're getting all the nutrients your body needs to function. A general multivitamin is a great place to start, and many health supplements are specifically intended to fight fatigue. Make sure to discuss any vitamins and supplements you plan to take, along with any other changes to your diet, with your doctor or nutritionist.

The Best Vitamins for Fatigue

Many people who suffer from fatigue find that a multivitamin helps them feel more alert throughout the day and improves immune function. When looking for a multivitamin, choose one with vitamin A, vitamin C and a B-vitamin complex.

The best vitamins for immune function are vitamin A and vitamin C. Both vitamins A and C may help fight viral infections, and vitamin C also helps the body heal from trauma more quickly. Vitamin C can relieve the exhaustion and muscle pain associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

B vitamins, particularly thiamine (B-1) and niacin (B-3), are some of the best vitamins that fight against fatigue, as they help convert the glucose in your diet into energy. Vitamins B-5 and B-12 are also important in creating energy, but are commonly found in most diets and therefore rarely need to be supplemented. However, some chronic fatigue patients can benefit from vitamin B-12 injections. Vitamins B-2 and B-6 can help fight stress.

Fatigue can also be caused by a vitamin D or E deficiency, so supplementation with those vitamins may help. Talk to your doctor about any vitamins you plan to take. Even the best vitamins can react negatively with certain medications, or cause adverse side effects if taken in excess.

Other Health Supplements for Fatigue

Outside of vitamins, some of the best supplements for fatigue are magnesium, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. Magnesium and calcium aid in muscle and nerve function, while omega-3 fatty acids provide high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, and reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol. Some other health supplements used to treat chronic fatigue include:

• Chromium: Chromium aids in immune function, and people with high stress levels or immune problems may need extra chromium in their diets to stay healthy.
• Coenzyme Q-10: Coenzyme Q-10 is both an antioxidant and a natural energy booster.
• Digestion enzymes: Enzymes, including lipase, amylase and protease, aid in digestion, helping the body process and absorb nutrients from the diet. They can also improve concentration and blood flow.
• Iron: Red blood cells use iron to carry oxygen throughout the body, so iron health supplements may be required for optimal oxygen transport in some patients.
• Melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that regulates the sleep cycle. If a lack of quality sleep is contributing to your fatigue, melatonin may be one of the best supplements to add.
• Zinc: One of the best supplements for immune function, zinc can be diminished by high iron consumption, so zinc health supplements are especially important for those taking iron supplements.

Resources

Meyer, S. (2010). How vitamins and supplements can help chronic fatigue syndrome. Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://healthnew.org/2010/09/how-vitamins-and-supplements-can-help-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/

Saul, A. (2005). Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS): Alternative approaches. Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://www.doctoryourself.com/fatigue.html