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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
Published on: January 5, 2024
Altered amino acid homeostasis in subjects affected by fibromyalgia
Laura Bazzichi1, Lionella Palego, Gino Giannaccini
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy. l.bazzichi@int.med.unipi.it
Objectives:
To evaluate plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations in patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) and to study the relationships between their levels and FM clinical parameters.
Design And Methods:
20 AAs were assessed in 34 FM patients and in 18 healthy volunteers by means of a modified version of the Waters picotag method.
Results:
Significant lower plasma taurine, alanine, tyrosine (Tyr), valine, methionine, phenylalanine and threonine concentrations, and the sum of essential AAs were observed in FM patients vs healthy controls (P<0.05). Tyr CAA' ratio and the sum of AAs competing with tryptophan for brain uptake were significantly reduced in FM (P<0.05). A significant correlation was found between FM clinical parameters and certain AAs.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest probable defects of gut malabsorption of certain AAs in FM patients. Moreover, given the reduced Tyr CAA' ratio in FM patients, a possible impairment of the cathecolaminergic system in the FM syndrome may be suggested.
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