A retired chiropractor named Dr. Brice Vickery found that his fibromaylgia patients were deficient in systemic protein even though they were eating dietary protein. He deduced that their pancreatic ability to produce digestive enzymes was inhibited to the point that complete digestion of protein, carbohydrates and fats was impossible and therefore they did not have the materials to maintain, protect and repair their body functions. Dr. Vickery developed a particular blend of amino acids, which enable the pancreas to manufacture the necessary enzymes needed to break down food. Subsequently he found that fibromyalgia patients were also deficient in organic sulfar and he added extra sulfur and molybdenum to his blend. Dr. Vickery's amino acid blend includes the branch-chain amino acids - valine, isoleucine and leucin - the amino acids that are used to provide energy directly to muscle tissue. A medical study in the Netherlands published in 2000 found low levels of branch chain amino acids in patients with fibromyalgia. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11104853
In his website www.supernutrient.com Dr. Vickery discusses the coexisiting conditions of various bacteria and viruses, heavy metal toxicity and candida that often accompany fibromyalgia. He designed a treatment plan that includes a candida diet and other nutritional supplements with his amino acid blend to facilitate recovery of these conditions. He states "We have this simple plan for life and wellness: First there is air; second there is water (and salt); and then there is protein. Everything comes after these and in that order including the most deficient, sulphur, and iodine, and the rest of the minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids." Dr. Vikery also recommends a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
I took "Platinum Plus Essential Amino Acids" for nine months. After the first week I noticed an improvement in my muscle function which continued for several weeks and then plateaued. Other "fibro friends" I know who took the amino acid formula had a similar experience. I was unable to tolerate the other supplements on Dr. Vickery's fibromyalgia program. His high protein diet is pretty similar to the one I had personally arrived at as being most. I discontinued taking the amino acids after nine months and experienced no change. In other words I gained the maximum benefits of taking the amino acids in the first couple of weeks - a slight bump in my recovery that was not set back by discontinuing taking them nine months later.
Several years later I did a couple of amino acid laboratory analysis - a blood spot through Metrametrix and 24 hour urine test through Doctor's Data and the results were similar - significant deficiencies in many amino acids including the branch chained amino acids. Interestingly the amino acid formula recommendations by both labs was very similar to Dr. Vickery's formula. The process of assembling amino acids to make protein is a continuous one and in the case of CFS and FMS the body may become so depleted of its reserves of essential amino acids that it can no longer obtain them from food. However there is no evidence either scientific or antidotal that I know of that supplementation with amino acids provides a significant means of addressing these deficiencies. I think this is because with supplementation especially in the case of persons with CFS and FMS one is treating a symptom of the disorder.