Clinical effects of wasabi extract containing 6-MSITC on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an open-label trial.
Oka, Takakazu, Yamada, Yu, Lkhagvasuren, Battuvshin et al. · BioPsychoSocial medicine · 2022 · DOI
Quick Summary
Researchers tested whether wasabi extract—specifically a compound called 6-MSITC that has anti-inflammatory properties—could help people with ME/CFS. Fifteen patients took the supplement daily for 12 weeks, and many reported improvements in headaches, muscle pain, brain fog, and cognitive problems like word-finding difficulties. The study found measurable improvements in pain sensitivity and thinking speed, though overall fatigue scores did not change significantly.
Why It Matters
ME/CFS lacks established pharmacological treatments, and cognitive dysfunction and pain are particularly disabling features. This preliminary study identifies a natural compound with anti-inflammatory properties that showed measurable benefits across multiple symptom domains and objective measures, warranting controlled investigation and potentially offering a low-risk therapeutic avenue.
Observed Findings
Performance status improved significantly (p=0.001) after 12 weeks of treatment.
Headache frequency decreased from 4.1 to 3.0 times per week (p=0.001) and myalgia decreased from 4.1 to 2.4 times per week (p=0.019).
Cognitive processing speed improved: Trail Making Test-A scores decreased from 53.0 to 38.1 seconds (p=0.007).
Pressure pain threshold increased from 17.3 to 21.3 kPa at the right occiput (p=0.01), indicating reduced pain sensitivity.
Brain fog severity (NRS) decreased from 5.7 to 4.5 (p=0.011) and photophobia decreased from 4.8 to 3.5 (p=0.008).
Inferred Conclusions
6-MSITC improves overall performance status and reduces the frequency of key symptoms including pain and headache in ME/CFS patients.
The compound enhances cognitive function and increases pain thresholds, potentially addressing two prominent ME/CFS symptoms.
6-MSITC may be a promising therapeutic option particularly for cognitive dysfunction in ME/CFS, with an acceptable safety profile.
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of 6-MSITC may address underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in ME/CFS.
Remaining Questions
Would improvements persist beyond 12 weeks, and is there a dose-response relationship?
What This Study Does Not Prove
This study does not prove 6-MSITC is effective for ME/CFS because it lacked a control group and blinding; observed improvements may reflect placebo effect, natural variation, or other unmeasured factors. The small sample size and open-label design severely limit the strength of evidence. The study cannot establish causation or whether benefits would persist beyond 12 weeks.