Fibromyalgia (FM) was once considered a mental disorder, but is now considered a real physical condition. Fibromyalgia can stem from many different biological facets. Although the main biological causes are still being investigated by researchers, science has come a long way since. As described from one of the articles from the Vitoli blog, FIBROMYALGIA, ARTICLE 2: THE CAUSES, there are three well described causes of this condition:

  1. Central hypersensitivity: a chronic source of pain (different types possible) which eventually cause dysregulation of pain management by the brain which then begins to interpret different stimuli (often perceived) as being pain.
  2. Too much pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid.
  3. Destruction of small peripheral fibers (peripheral neuropathy).

According to the Arthritis Society of Canada, “FM is a relatively common condition, affecting 2% of Canadians.  Although FM primarily affects women (80 to 90% of people with FM are women), it is also seen in men, teenagers and children”. The figure below depicts the many symptoms suffered from this condition.

version anglophone du graphique des symptômes de la fibromyalgie

Figure credit: Fibromyalgia Canada, The Arthritis Society, and Canadian Spondylitis Association
https://www.spondylitis.ca/complications/fibromyalgia/

Fortunately, there are aggravating factors associated to fibromyalgia such as antioxidant deficits, mitochondrial dysfunctions, inflammatory factors, etc., which have highlighted areas in which finding a targeted treatment could one day be derived from. A recent scientific article explored these aggravating factors further in finding a possible treatment for fibromyalgia: Hydroxytyrosol as a Promising Ally in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia (Ramírez-Tejero et al., 2020).

Ramírez-Tejero and associates speculated these aggravating factors, those specifically tied to inflammatory factors and antioxidant deficits. They hypothesized that a diet that replenishes an antioxidant deficit would have potential to restore the effects of fibromyalgia. In this article, they specifically took interest in the Mediterranean diet, due to its high antioxidant content as well as high consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). EVOO has been reported to have a great benefit to health, due to its polyphenol content – most notably, hydroxytyrosol.

Hydroxytyrosol is considered the most important polyphenol in quantity and in terms of its health benefits. Be sure to check out the following Vitoli blog titles for more information on aging and hydroxytyrosol:

Through the research of Ramírez-Tejero and associates, it was found that the doses of hydroxytyrosol could reverse cells back to their homeostasis state, or at least partially. Just note that before you run to your nearest grocery store and start devouring bottles of EVOO and containers of olives, remember that the majority of olive polyphenols remain in the olive during its pressing. It is estimated that approximately 95% of the polyphenols remain in the fruit and merely 5% are found in the pressed oil. Upon consuming the fruit, however, the potential of the polyphenols being extracted and absorbed through digestion is not guaranteed. Therefore, to obtain a desired health benefit, it would not be enough to have the presence of a particular ingredient; it would have to be of good quality and in sufficient quantity. It would be relevant here to consider the amount consumed within the Mediterranean diet as a starting point for the use of hydroxytyrosol for fibromyalgia. The European Union has established a dose of 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives, in order to be considered as a health claim allowed in Europe for the reduction of the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

It was for this specific reason that Vitoli formulated the exclusive Provitol Complex, which is present in all Vitoli products, from patented technology, which contains the dose recommended by the European Union of hydroxytyrosol. In this way, a pure and standardized extract of olive polyphenols could be incorporated into the diet in a safe and effective manner.

Overall, in regards to hydroxytyrosol being used as a recommended treatment/therapy for fibromyalgia, more research must be done in order to fully conclude this statement, but the results are very promising. This may explain the positive results that people have achieved using Vitoli Joints. This product combines the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories and hydroxytyrosol from the Exclusive Provitol Complex. With more and more evidence and results being provided each day, one can only feel optimistic!

I hope you enjoyed this article and I look forward to writing more on other relevant health topics! Feel free to message us with any comments or enquiries you may have. info@vitoli.com

 

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References:

  • Ramírez-Tejero JA, Martínez-Lara E, Peinado MÁ, Del Moral ML, Siles E. Hydroxytyrosol as a Promising Ally in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia. Nutrients. 2020;12(8):E2386. Published 2020 Aug 9. doi:10.3390/nu12082386
  • Dong YZ, Li L, Espe M, Lu KL, Rahimnejad S. Hydroxytyrosol Attenuates Hepatic Fat Accumulation via Activating Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Autophagy through the AMPK Pathway. J Agric Food Chem. 2020;68(35):9377-9386. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03310
  • D’Angelo C, Franceschelli S, Quiles JL, Speranza L. Wide Biological Role of Hydroxytyrosol: Possible Therapeutic and Preventive Properties in Cardiovascular Diseases. Cells. 2020;9(9):E1932. Published 2020 Aug 21. doi:10.3390/cells9091932
  • Menendez JA, Joven J, Aragonès G, et al. Xenohormetic and anti-aging activity of secoiridoid polyphenols present in extra virgin olive oil: a new family of gerosuppressant agents. Cell Cycle. 2013;12(4):555-578. doi:10.4161/cc.23756
  • de Pablos RM, Espinosa-Oliva AM, Hornedo-Ortega R, Cano M, Arguelles S. Hydroxytyrosol protects from aging process via AMPK and autophagy; a review of its effects on cancer, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, immune-mediated and neurodegenerative diseases. Pharmacol Res. 2019;143:58-72. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.03.005
  • Fibromyalgia Canada, The Arthritis Society. Canadian Spondylitis Association. Website. Accessed September 4, 2020. https://www.spondylitis.ca/complications/fibromyalgia/,
  • Mary-Ann Fitzcharles. Artritis Society. Website. Last updated September 2017. Accessed September 4, 2020. https://arthritis.ca/about-arthritis/arthritis-types-(a-z)/types/fibromyalgia