Integrative Lifestyle Medicine Approaches to Fibromyalgia and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia (FM) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), represent a significant global health burden. Their etiology is complex and multifactorial, encompassing central sensitization, autonomic dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and mitochondrial abnormalities. Lifestyle medicine emphasizes predominantly plant-based nutrition, physical activity, nocturnal restorative sleep, stress regulation, and social connectedness. It offers a structured evidence-based strategy for managing fibromyalgia and ME/CFS. First, anti-inflammatory, nutrientdense diets modulate systemic inflammation, mitochondrial function, and neuroimmune activity. Then, graded exercise and mind–body practices alleviate widespread pain, persistent fatigue, and impaired functional capacity. Next, sleep optimization combined with cognitive-behavioural strategies effectively targets non-restorative sleep; and finally, peer support enhances social connectedness. Integrating these elements into individualized, multidisciplinary programmes, offers a holistic framework to address the core mechanisms of FM and ME/CFS while empowering patients to improve function and quality of life. This mini-review synthesizes contemporary evidence and identifies research and clinical opportunities, focusing on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant diets, neuro-nutritional approaches, nutraceuticals, the gut–brain axis, graded exercise therapy, mind–body practices, and cognitive-behavioural interventions.

Keywords: Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, lifestyle medicine, plant-based diet, gut-brain axis.