Trial Report Relationships Between Fatigue, Cognitive Function, and Upright Activity in a Randomized Trial of Oxaloacetate for [ME/CFS], 2025, Vernon et al

forestglip

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Now published, see post #6
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Relationships Between Fatigue, Cognitive Function, and Upright Activity in a Randomized Trial of Oxaloacetate for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Suzanne D Vernon, Candace Rond, Yifei Sun, Shad Roundy, Jennifer Bell, Bella Rond, David Kaufman, Alan Brian Cash, Brayden Yellman, Lucinda Bateman

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Background
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating condition characterized by fatigue, cognitive impairment, and reduced physical function.

Oxaloacetate (OAA), a metabolic compound with potential mitochondrial and neuroprotective effects, has shown promise in reducing fatigue symptoms in ME/CFS. However, the interrelationships between fatigue, cognitive performance, and physical activity and their responsiveness to treatment remain poorly understood in ME/CFS.

Methods
This 90-day randomized, double-blind, controlled trial evaluated the effects of 2,000 mg/day OAA or a control of 2,000 mg rice flour in 82 adults with ME/CFS. Self-reported fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire), cognitive function (DANA Brain Vital), and upright activity time (UP Time) were assessed at baseline and three follow-up visits.

Linear mixed-effects models examined associations between fatigue severity and cognitive/physical function, with treatment group interactions. Responder status at the last visit (Visit 4) was classified based on ≥15% fatigue reduction and/or ≥10% cognitive improvement.

Results
The OAA group showed greater cognitive improvement over time, with a significant between-group difference at Visit 3, 60 days into the trial, (p = 0.034) and trends at other visits. Higher fatigue was significantly associated with reduced cognitive gains in the OAA group (β = –0.34, p < 0.0001), but not in controls.

UP Time increased modestly in the OAA group, reaching significance at Visit 2, day 30 (p = 0.044), though fatigue was not a strong predictor of UP Time in either group. At Visit 4, day 90, Global and Fatigue Only Responders were more frequent in the OAA group, while Cognitive Only Responders were more frequent in controls, though group differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.10).

Conclusions
OAA supplementation was associated with improved cognitive performance and small improvement in UP Time in ME/CFS participants receiving OAA. Fatigue– cognition coupling was particularly strong in OAA-treated participants, suggesting a potentially targetable phenotype.

These findings underscore the importance of multidimensional outcome measures in ME/CFS clinical trials and support the need for more research and trials of metabolic interventions in ME/CFS.

Web | Frontiers in Neurology | Abstract only ahead of publication
 
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:unsure:For what its worth a mid section MRI with report currently costs $4000.00 in nz.
Naltrexone in minute,liquid suspension,dosage cost $98 per month plus script , plus pharmacist fee (and from what I understand here thats a relatively easily accessed medication).
While I hear you, !, costs worldwide are on the rise … its frightening to me what a simple meal now costs in NZ.
Just saying.
 
I am very skeptical of this one. Anyways 2,000mg a day is $600 USD for 22.5 days; so $2,400 for the 90 day course. This is an outrageous price for such cherry-picked data. It is unfortunate they are selling this to sick people.
see above… re costs… sorry, tough week.
 
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Five of the Krebs cycle reactions convert the glutamate metabolite α-ketoglutarate into oxaloacetate. My a-ketoglutarate is at 1 (ref range 5-80) so it's not going to make the conversion.

The conversion of α-ketoglutarate to succinyl-CoA is the next step after α-ketoglutarate is formed, which then continues to become oxaloacetate through a series of reactions: oxidation of succinyl-CoA to succinate and then the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate. This entire process of converting α-ketoglutarate back to oxaloacetate is the final part of the citric acid cycle.

My CAC is low.
 
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