So: they found big differences in several measures of cellular energy production.



"Results showed that CFS patients can only increase their respiratory capacity 47% (±37%) from baseline when maximally stimulated by FCCP, which is significantly (p<0.001) lower than the 98% (±32%) increase in respiratory capacity achieved by control PBMCs"



The differences got even bigger when they stressed the cells by depriving them of glucose.



" A higher maximal respiration in low glucose conditions was only observed in the control cohort but not the CFS cohort, while basal respiration did not increase significantly in either cohort in the low glucose conditions. Additionally, the control cohort increased ATP production, non-mitochondrial respiration and coupling efficiency, and decreased proton leak, in low glucose conditions. The CFS cohort showed no differences between low and high glucose conditions in any of the parameters. This may be due to the control cells being more adaptable to their environment and possessing an ability to increase their ATP production via mitochondrial respiration when required–something the CFS cells may not be able to do ."



This is a big clear finding of something being wrong. decent sample size, some very low p values, and correction for multiple comparisons. Should hopefully focus brains on metabolism.



Couple of notes though- they used the Fukuda definition, which many people think is too broad. They had no data on the patients severity, symptoms etc so correlating severity with the data wasn't possible.

Also, they measured cells outside of serum. Previous research suggested that 'something in the serum' was affecting cells, rather than the cells themself being faulty. We need to figure out which is true.

Also, they found glycolysis working normally, which contradicts some previous research.