Effect of Vitamins C, E and Nigella sativa Seeds on Antioxidant Activity in Fibromyalgia Patients

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by musculoskeletal pain of unknown etiology and is often accompanied by many psychological symptoms. This study is aimed at evaluating the importance of antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C and Nigella sativa seeds) therapy in management of this disease. Fifty female patients having mean age of 37.87 +/- 1.68 years suffering from FM were enrolled in the study. Role of oxidative stress was determined by measuring antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), antioxidant capacity by ABTS (2,2'- azinobis-(3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulphonic diammonium salt) and ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP) assay in plasma and catalase in erythrocytes. The FM patients were also supplemented with antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Nigella sativa seeds) for two months to assess the impact on activity of FM with the help of VAS (visual analogue scale) (0 being no pain and 100 being severe pain). It was found that FM patients had low activity of SOD, GPx and low antioxidant capacity (AOC) than healthy controls. It was further observed that after two months supplementation with antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E and Nigella sativa seeds) the level of SOD, GPx and AOC increased and their mean VAS 90.30 +/- 1.52 at baseline decreased to mean VAS of 77.80 +/- 1.65 after supplementation with antioxidants.The antioxidant supplementation for two months resulted in significant improvement in FM patients and it may help in minimizing the effects of the oxidative stress.