Abstract
The linkage between oxidative stress and idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF) has not been explored in detail. This study thoroughly compared the serum levels of biomarkers for oxidative stress and antioxidants from 103 subjects with ICF (20 men and 83 women) to those of 82 healthy volunteers (27 men and 55 women). Oxidative parameters, which included reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and F2-isoprotan, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were significantly elevated, while antioxidant parameters, which included total antioxidant activity (TAC), catalase, superoxide dismutase, SOD and GSH activity, were decreased compared to those of healthy subjects (by approximately 1.2- to 2.3-fold, p < 0.05 or 0.01). Our results confirmed that oxidative stress is a key contributor in the pathophysiology of ICF, and firstly explored the features of oxidative stress parameters in ICF subjects compared to a healthy population.