The, Gerard K H, Bleijenberg, Gijs, van der Meer, Jos W M · PLoS clinical trials · 2007 · DOI
Researchers tested whether a food supplement called Acclydine could help people with ME/CFS by increasing levels of a growth factor called IGF1. They compared 57 ME/CFS patients to healthy controls and found no difference in IGF1 levels between the groups. After 14 weeks of treatment, Acclydine did not improve fatigue, function, or IGF1 levels any better than placebo.
This study directly tests a hypothesis from the ME/CFS patient and advocacy community about IGF1's role in disease pathophysiology. A well-designed negative trial can redirect research efforts away from ineffective interventions and prevent unnecessary use of unproven supplements.
This study does not prove that IGF1 is not involved in ME/CFS pathophysiology—absence of difference in cross-sectional baseline levels does not exclude dynamic or context-dependent IGF1 dysfunction. The study cannot establish whether other mechanisms or subgroups of patients might respond to similar interventions. It does not address whether longer treatment duration or higher doses might have different effects.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
Spotted an error in this entry? Report it →