Condition

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition of widespread pain, fatigue, and foggy thinking, in which the nervous system seems to amplify pain signals. The evidence is moderate for coenzyme Q10, where a trial found pain and fatigue eased, and limited for D-ribose, where fatigue improved. Those D-ribose results came from only 36 people, so they are early findings, not settled ones.

Sources: PMID 23458405; PMID 17109576

Supplements studied: 12
Graded outcomes: 7
Trials: 26
People studied: 2,185

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

12 supplements

Saffron

Saffron: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	6 studies	54 people
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms Crocus sativus L. versus Citalopram in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder with Anxious Distress: A Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical TrialPharmacopsychiatry · PMID 27701683 The effects of alcoholic extract of saffron (Crocus satious L.) on mild to moderate comorbid depression-anxiety, sleep quality, and life satisfaction in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trialComplement Ther Med · PMID 30477839 A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the treatment of anxiety and depressionJ Complement Integr Med · PMID 27101556 and 3 more on the Saffron page
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		18 studies	54 people
Studies that measured depression symptoms Crocus Sativus L. (saffron) versus sertraline on symptoms of depression among older people with major depressive disorders-a double-blind, randomized intervention studyPsychiatry Res · PMID 31669837 Saffron improved depression and reduced homocysteine level in patients with major depression: A Randomized, double-blind studyAvicenna J Phytomed · PMID 29387573 Crocus sativus L. (petal) in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trialPhytomedicine · PMID 16979327 and 15 more on the Saffron page
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			54 people
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			54 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)			54 people

Creatine

Creatine: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Creatinine Moderate Increase	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	3 studies	32 people
Studies that measured creatinine Effects of creatine supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers after repeated-sprint exercise in humansNutrition · PMID 23800565 Creatine has no beneficial effect on skeletal muscle energy metabolism in patients with single mitochondrial DNA deletions: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 31P-MRS crossover studyEur J Neurol · PMID 15804248 Effects of long-term creatine supplementation on liver and kidney functions in American college football playersInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab · PMID 12500988
	Strength	Improves (the measure goes up)		5 studies	32 people
Studies that measured strength Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Muscle Mass in Older Females: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients · PMID 34836013 Creatine Supplementation and Lower Limb Strength Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysesSports Med · PMID 25946994 Creatine Supplementation and Upper Limb Strength Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports Med · PMID 27328852 and 2 more on the Creatine page
	Oxygen Uptake	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	32 people
Studies that measured oxygen uptake Role of creatine supplementation on exercise-induced cardiovascular function and oxidative stressOxid Med Cell Longev · 2009 · PMID 20716911 Creatine supplementation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialArthritis Care Res · PMID 23554283
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	62 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms An open-label study adding creatine monohydrate to ongoing medical regimens in patients with the fibromyalgia syndromeAnn N Y Acad Sci · PMID 19758235
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	32 people
Studies that measured memory Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Nutr Rev · PMID 35984306
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)			30 people
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			32 people
	Sleep Quality	Improves (the measure goes up)			30 people

Coenzyme Q10

Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile: improves
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: improves
Fatigue Symptoms: improves

Coenzyme Q10: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile Small Increase	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	2 studies	11 people
Studies that measured anti-oxidant enzyme profile Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant enzymes activity and oxidative stress of seminal plasma: a double-blind randomised clinical trialAndrologia · PMID 23289958 Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and increase antioxidant enzyme activity in patients with coronary artery diseaseNutrition · PMID 21996047
	Oxidative Stress Biomarkers	Improves (the measure goes down)		9 studies	31 people
Studies that measured oxidative stress biomarkers Oxidative stress correlates with headache symptoms in fibromyalgia: coenzyme Q₁₀ effect on clinical improvementPLoS One · PMID 22532869 Coenzyme Q10 supplementation alleviates pain in pregabalin-treated fibromyalgia patients via reducing brain activity and mitochondrial dysfunctionFree Radic Res · PMID 31387429 Reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction by coenzyme Q10 supplement improves endothelial function in patients with ischaemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a randomized controlled trialAtherosclerosis · PMID 21388622 and 6 more on the Coenzyme Q10 page
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		3 studies	20 people
Studies that measured fatigue symptoms The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on performance during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise in sedentary menJ Strength Cond Res · PMID 19644406 Antifatigue effects of coenzyme Q10 during physical fatigueNutrition · PMID 18272335 Coenzyme Q10 as a treatment for fatigue and depression in multiple sclerosis patients: A double blind randomized clinical trialNutr Neurosci · PMID 25603363
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		3 studies	81 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms Increased oxidative stress and coenzyme Q10 deficiency in juvenile fibromyalgia: amelioration of hypercholesterolemia and fatigue by ubiquinol-10 supplementationRedox Rep · PMID 23394493 Coenzyme q10 regulates serotonin levels and depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia patients: results of a small clinical trialJ Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 24525646 Can coenzyme q10 improve clinical and molecular parameters in fibromyalgia?Antioxid Redox Signal · PMID 23458405
	Inflammation	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	11 people
Studies that measured inflammation Mediterranean Diet Supplemented With Coenzyme Q10 Modifies the Expression of Proinflammatory and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Genes in Elderly Men and WomenJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci · PMID 22016358 Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on plasma adiponectin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in menJ Med Food · PMID 20136458
	Total cholesterol	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	10 people
	Anxiety Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			31 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)			31 people
	Sleep Quality	Improves (the measure goes up)			20 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			20 people

Cannabis

Anxiety Symptoms: improves
Pain: improves
Depression Symptoms: improves

Cannabis: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		18 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		6 studies	288 people
Studies that measured pain An open-label extension study to investigate the long-term safety and tolerability of THC/CBD oromucosal spray and oromucosal THC spray in patients with terminal cancer-related pain refractory to strong opioid analgesicsJ Pain Symptom Manage · PMID 23141881 Comparison of the analgesic effects of dronabinol and smoked marijuana in daily marijuana smokersNeuropsychopharmacology · PMID 23609132 Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of THC:CBD extract and THC extract in patients with intractable cancer-related painJ Pain Symptom Manage · PMID 19896326 and 3 more on the Cannabis page
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured depression symptoms Evaluating the Suitability and Potential Efficiency of Cannabis sativa Oil for Patients with Primary Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Prospective, Open-Label, Single-Arm Pilot StudyPain Med · PMID 33123730
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	43 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms An experimental randomized study on the analgesic effects of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgiaPain · PMID 30585986
	Motor Control	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	614 people
Studies that measured motor control Systematic review and meta-analysis of cannabis treatment for chronic painPain Med · PMID 19732371
	Myotonia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	6 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	18 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			18 people

D-Ribose

Fatigue Symptoms: improves
Subjective Well-Being: improves
Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

D-Ribose: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Fatigue Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		36 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	36 people
Studies that measured subjective well-being The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot studyJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 17109576
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			36 people

DHEA

Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Quality of Life: improves

DHEA: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	52 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms A randomized controlled trial of dehydroepiandrosterone in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgiaJ Rheumatol · PMID 15996074
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)			52 people

Magnesium

Arterial Stiffness
Serum Magnesium: improves
Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

Magnesium: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Arterial Stiffness No effect		NoneNo effect		75 people
	Serum Magnesium	Improves (the measure goes up)		6 studies	75 people
Studies that measured serum magnesium Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.Diabetes Metab · PMID 15223977 Short-Term Magnesium Therapy Alleviates Moderate Stress in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.Nutrients · PMID 35631229 The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trialJ Res Med Sci · PMID 23853635 and 3 more on the Magnesium page
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	80 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms Is magnesium citrate treatment effective on pain, clinical parameters and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia?Rheumatol Int · PMID 22271372
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	75 people
Studies that measured pain The effect of preoperative oral magnesium oxide on the severity of postoperative pain among women undergoing hysterectomy.Ir J Med Sci · PMID 35022952
	Quality of Life	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	75 people
Studies that measured quality of life The effects of magnesium supplementation on abnormal uterine bleeding, alopecia, quality of life, and acne in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.Reprod Biol Endocrinol · PMID 35918728
	Sleep Quality	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	75 people
	Stress Signs and Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	75 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			75 people

Vitamin D

Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

Vitamin D: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		4 studies	176 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms Effects of vitamin D on patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trialPain · PMID 24438771 Vitamin D Supplementation Seems to Improve Fibromyalgia Symptoms: Preliminary ResultsIsr Med Assoc J · PMID 29911760 Effects of Vitamin D Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with FibromyalgiaEurasian J Med · PMID 28638253 and 1 more on the Vitamin D page

S-adenosylmethionine

Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

S-adenosylmethionine: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	44 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms Oral S-adenosylmethionine in primary fibromyalgia. Double-blind clinical evaluationScand J Rheumatol · PMID 1925418

Iron

Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

Iron: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	81 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms A Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Ferric Carboxymaltose in Iron-Deficient Patients with FibromyalgiaRheumatol Ther · PMID 29149437

Chlorella

Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

Chlorella: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot studyPhytother Res · PMID 10815009

L-Carnitine

Fibromyalgia Symptoms: improves

L-Carnitine: outcomes studied for Fibromyalgia
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Fibromyalgia Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	102 people
Studies that measured fibromyalgia symptoms Double-blind, multicenter trial comparing acetyl l-carnitine with placebo in the treatment of fibromyalgia patientsClin Exp Rheumatol · PMID 17543140

Key findings

Anxiety SymptomsSaffronImproves (the measure goes down)
CreatinineCreatineImproves (the measure goes up)
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileCoenzyme Q10Improves (the measure goes up)

The Fibromyalgia protocol

2 primary supplements · 2 supporting supplements

Coenzyme Q10300 mg daily
Magnesium300–600 mg daily (citrate or glycinate)

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Fibromyalgia. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

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Studies cited

5 studies from PubMed

Vegan diet alleviates fibromyalgia symptomsScand J Rheumatol · PMID 11093597
A low fermentable oligo-di-mono saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet reduced pain and improved daily life in fibromyalgia patientsScand J Pain · PMID 28850525
Low-Level Laser Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Pain Physician · PMID 31151332
Efficacy of different exercises in women with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomised controlled trial.Clin Exp Rheumatol · PMID 39946182
Efficacy of Theta Binaural Beats for the Treatment of Chronic PainAltern Ther Health Med · PMID 26773319

Evidence by supplement

Key findings

The Fibromyalgia protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related conditions

Supplement stack for Fibromyalgia