Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Professor Öckerman is a Medical Doctor and Professor of Biochemistry and has more than 35 years experience in medical research. A few years ago he retired from his engagement at the  University of Lund and since he develops new diagnostic and therapeutic methods for special diseases.

Professor Öckerman some years ago had received one of our computer controlled models of PAP IMI Device - a Magnetic Pulse Generator at 60 Joules per pulse, via the Jason s.r.l., acting at that time as distributor for PAP IMI Devices. The PAP IMI Device delivered by Jason s.r.l., incorporated a copper screen between the main PAP IMI Device and the treating bed, allowing passage of the connecting cable between the device and the treating probe via a hole on the copper screen. Jason s.r.l. called the PAP IMI Device equipped  with a control computer and the copper screen IMI-System (IMIS).

In an examination of the copper screen at the JASON s.r.l., we estimated no differences between the Jason s.r.l. installation and a plane PAP IMI Device as far the patient and the treatments were concerned. In our opinion the copper screen had no effect on the patient who received the bulk of magnetic exposure by the exposing him/her probe. On the contrary, the copper screen protected the computer control of the device from a possible technical interference feed back from the probe lying on the other side of the screen.

Firstly, due to the general importance and value of the study, incorporating the PAP IMI Device which provided the core of the physiological results of the referred magnetic treatments; Secondly, due to the free radicals decrease during the treatments as reported in the study and their simultaneous management by Professor Öckerman; Thirdly, for the benefit of science and public health, we present the study of Professor Öckerman below in its original form.

Note - Free radicals is the result of oxygen's oxidation and in this sense, free radicals may be said to be due to oxygen.

Theoretically, the PAP IMI Device generally known to increase oxygenation of blood and tissue, may theoretically reflect a similar result of oxygen with respect to free radicals. Therefore, the suggestion of Professor Öckerman to provide antioxidants with PAP IMI treatments and to achieve like this an actual enhanced decrease of free radicals, seems, in principle, to be correct and generally valuable for all PAP IMI treatments.

We acknowledge and thank Professor Öckerman for his contribution to Science and Medical knowledge.

PTP
August 4, 1999.

TREATMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME BY HIGH DOSE,
BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIOXIDANTS AND PULSED MAGNETIC FIELDS.

Per-Arne Öckerman, MD, Ph.D..
Emeritus Professor of Clinical Biochemistry S-430 94 Bohus-Björkö, Sweden
 

Introduction

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease of unknown etiology with no effective treatment. Spontaneous recovery is rare. Prevalence in the population is in the order of 1-3 %, with a domination of females over males. Only recently has there been reports of consistent deviations in assays of physiological parameters (1).

Own earlier studies demonstrated increased activity of free radicals in CFS, with higher values in females as compared to males (2). In a pilot study it could be shown that treatment with a broad spectrum antioxidant preparation counteracted this free radical activity and improved the clinical condition (3).

In the present study a combined treatment using high dose broad spectrum, antioxidants, as well as pulsed magnetic fields, was introduced, since it had been noted in some patients, that combination with pulsed magnetic fields was more effective than antioxidants alone.

Materials and methods

Patients

Thirty-two patients were included, one male, age 64 and 31 females, age 18 - 65.

Diagnostic criteria

Diagnosis was made according to internationally accepted criteria for clinical symptoms (4). These state that a diagnosis must involve a condition of severe fatigue with less than half the normal capacity, present for at least six months. Thorough medical examination must have failed to find any other reason for this. In addition, the patient must have at least six other symptoms, involving the brain, intestines and muscles.

Analyses

Analysis was made at time zero and after two months of treatment of clinical symptoms, erythrocyte fragility (free radicals) and mobility of white blood cells.

Clinical symptoms

were estimated by the patients themselves according to a subjective scale: zero indicating no symptoms at all and ten indicating extremely severe symptoms. Values were noted for each six hour period of the day and night. Highest possible score for a 24 hour period was 40 arbitrary units.

Free radical activity

was estimated as damage to erythrocyte membranes by a method - described in detail elsewhere (5 and 6). An arbitrary scale was used from 0 ( no damage) to 50 (maximum damage).
 

Mobility of white blood cells

was estimated on fresh capillary blood in dark field microscopy. Full, normal activity was called 6 arbitrary units. For this was required the existence in most cells of a clearly visible activity in the form of movements of the granulae, vesicular changes of the membranes and change of the form of the cells. Zero units denoted that all cells were completely inactive and had a stable, circular form.

A more detailed account of the scales used is given in table 1.

Treatment

Treatment was given by antioxidants, pulsed magnetic fields, minerals, Acetyl-cystein, Melatonin and Gamma-Linolenic acid.

Antioxidants
involved two different preparations:

1. Polbax (Pharmacia-Upjohn-Allergon, S-262 92 Ängelholm, Sweden), 7 tablets. This is an extract from pollen, not containing pollen grains, proteins or any material from bees. lt is a registered preparation and has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties (7). The dose given in the present study was 200 % of the dose recommended on the package for the consumer and slightly higher than the dose used in ref. 7.
2. Antioxidant-Professor Öckerman, giving the following daily doses: beta carotene 50 mg, vit. A 8750 IU, vit. B-1 175 mg, vit. B-2 25 mg, vit. B-3 60 mg, pantothenic acid 175 mg, vit. B-6 120 mg, vit. B-12 0.60 mg, biotin 3.0 mg, vit. C 600 mg, vit. D 600 IU, vit. E 350 mg, inorg. selenium 375 ug, organic selenium 120 ug, chromium 450 ug, zinc 18 mg, copper 1.8 mg, manganese 28 mg.

Pulsed magnetic fields by IMIS
(Ion Magnetic Induction System) was given on 10 - 12 occasions. Each treatment involved liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, kidneys, thymus and neck for altogether 30-36 min. This equipment gives four magnetic pulses per second, each pulse about one microsecond. The fields have a very broad spectrum of frequencies, from about 150 kHz to about 250 MHz and are about 10 000 times stronger than those coming from an ordinary PC or the computer in the IMIS.
For further details of IMIS, including address is referred to ref. 8.

Minerals
were given in the form of Cellbalans (Carls-Bergh Pharma AB, 402 58 Göteborg, Sweden), 5 tablets. This is also a registered preparation, giving the following daily doses: calcium 320 mg, potassium 370 mg and magnesium 170 mg. Cellbalans was given to counteract possible deficiencies and to promote alkalinity, since many individuals tend to have a diet that is more acidic than optimal.

Acetyl-cystein
200 mg three times daily, was given to promote liver function (detoxification). lt is a registered drug.

Melatonin
3-6 mg was given at bedtime. Medication was discontinued after 2 weeks, if sleep was not improved. This is also a registered drug.

Gamma-Linolenic acid 
was given as Superglandin (Internordic AB, 216 22 Malmö, Sweden), 3 capsules, containing 1.8 ml of oil from Borago officinalis, of which 25 - 26 % is gamma-Iinolenic acid. Superglandin is a registered preparation and was given in order to promote production of anti inflammatory prostanoids.

Results

All patients completed the combined treatment without side effects. Subjective well-being improved highly significantly, symptoms decreasing from severe to slight, as shown in table 1.

Mobility of white blood cells also improved significantly from moderately decreased to normal (table 2).

Erythrocyte fragility improved significantly, i.e. there was a significant decrease of damage from moderate to slight caused by activity of free radicals (table 3).

Discussion

In view of the fact that CFS is considered not available to treatment (9), the present results are notable. Since the double-blind technique cannot be used in such a complex study as this, it must be discussed, whether the results were caused by a placebo reaction or were real.

The placebo concept has recently been strongly attacked (10), the author demonstrating that the underlying support for the placebo concept is very fragile and open to much criticism. Furthermore, stress has never been shown to induce free radicals in humans and a decrease of stress caused by the active taking care of the patient's, would thus not have caused decreased activity of free radicals. lt is , therefore, reasonable to consider it probable that the results obtained are real and caused by the treatment itself, not by a placebo effect.

Our results may be further supported by recent, very positive results by treating CFS patients with sanitation of their teeth, taking out all metals, and in addition giving antioxidants (11).

Acknowledgments

Financial support was given by Cancer och Allergifonden.

Summary

Thirty-two patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were treated for two months by a combination of high dose, broad spectrum antioxidants, pulsed magnetic fields, minerals, Acetylcystein, Melatonin and GammaIinolenic acid. Significant improvement was noted for symptoms, from severe to slight, as measured by self evaluation. Free radical activity, as measured by erythrocyte fragility decreased significantly from moderate to slight. Mobility of white blood cells as measured by dark field microscopy improved significantly from a moderate decrease to normal.

References

	Streeten DHP, Bell DS. Circulating blood volume in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Chron Fatigue Syndrome 1998; 4: 3 - 11.
	Öckerman PA. A gender difference in erythrocyte fragility caused by free radicals. Heavy Metal Bulletin 1997; 4: 22 - 23.
	Öckerman PA. Free radicals in chronic fatigue syndrome. A method for assay and treatment. In manuscript.
	Fukuda K, Straus SE, Hickie I et al. The chronic fatigue syndrome: a comprehensive approach to its definition and study. Ann Intern Med 1994; 121: 953 - 959.
	Öckerman PA. Free radicals in electromagnetic hypersensitivity. A simple and sensitive method for assay of damage to erythrocytes caused by free radicals. In manuscript.
	Öckerman PA. Monitoring free radicals by the erythrocyte fragility test. 5th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care. Exeter, UK, Dec. 10 - 12, 1998.
	Krotkiewski M, Belboul A, Palm S et al. The effect of SOD-active plant substance (Polbax) on oxygen free radical (OFR) Generation in blood cell rheology. Clinical Hemorheology 1995; 15: 641 - 647.
	Ion Magnetic Induction System. http://www.jason-health.com
	Hamre HJ. Chronic fatigue syndrome - a review of the literature. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 1995; 115: 3042 - 3045.
	Kienle GS. Der Sogenannte Placeboeffekt. Schattauer Verlag, Stuttgart 1995. ISBN 3-7945-1687-7.
	Lindh U, Danersund A, Hudecek R, Lindvall A, Olsson G.
	Nuclear microscopy reveals consequences of heavy-metal exposure in humans. Proceedings of the XXXII Zakopane School of Physics.
	Eds. EA Göhrlich and K Latka, Wydawnictwo Universytetu Jagioellonskiego, Kraków, 1997, p. 116 ff.

Table A
Arbitrary units for analyses.

Table B
Results of combined treatment of CFS patients

Number of patients = 32. Treatment time = 2 months. 
All figures denote arbitrary units as described in Methods.

November 1998

Table 1
List of 32 patient reports of SYMPTOMS

Nov. 98

Diagram 1
Graphic view of 32 patient reports of SYMPTOMS
at start of treatments (blue) and after two month of treatment (red)

Nov. 98

Diagram 11
Graphic view of patient reports of SYMPTOMS
at start (left) and after two month of treatments (right)

Nov. 98

Table 2
Mobility of white blood cells of 16 patients at Start and after two month of treatments

Diagram 2
Mobility of white blood cells of 16 patients
at Start and after two month of treatments (graphic view of Table 2)

Table 3
Report of 19 patients showing the activity of free radicals (erythrocyte fragility)
at the start and after two month of treatments.

Diagram 3
Activity of free radicals (erythrocyte fragility)
at the start and after two month of treatments. (Graphic view of table 3)

November 1998