Final Paper Hw205-04

Final Project –Supplement

Amber Dyer

Kaplan University

HW205-04

Professor Oleksowicz

May 24, 2010

The Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (n.d.) defines “fibromyalgia as a chronic disorder that is characterized by fatigue and widespread pain involving the fibrous tissues of the muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as by abnormal tenderness around other points of the body.” Other well documented symptoms pf the disorder are sleeplessness, anxiety and or depression (Levesque, 2009).

Diagnosing fibromyalgia is often difficult and the condition is often misdiagnosed or not understood (Levesque, 2009). There are no definitive tests to diagnose the condition and there is no cure. Given the absence of curative measures, treatment of fibromyalgia is usually multifaceted and is focused on symptom management (Friedberg & Jason, 2001).

Given the many symptoms seen in patients suffering from the condition such as bone and muscle pain, fatigue, depression and anxiety, and insomnia, the development of a supplement that could address the management of these symptoms in a combined form, could be very beneficial. The supplement would include Vitamin D, Vitamin B6 and B12, Iron, SAM-E and Melatonin. The combination of these vitamins, mineral and herbs address a wide variety of the issues associated with fibromyalgia and could potentially ease if not completely alleviate many of the symptoms.

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among people who do not spend a lot of time outdoors in the sunlight or do not get an adequate supply in their diet. A deficiency in this vitamin can cause incapacitating muscle weakness and pain (Severe Muscle Weakness, 2001) and according to Holick (2003), many patients who are misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia may be suffering from a deficiency in Vitamin D.

Even for patients who are not misdiagnosed and are not currently suffering from a deficiency in Vitamin D, the debilitating pain and depressive aspects of the condition may hinder...