Dr J Greensmith's Reply re Chocolate

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Hull Daily Mail Letters

I don't suppose there will any shortage of volunteers for Professor Steve Atkin's study,
at Hull Royal Infirmary (Chocolate's good for you - It's official, Hull Daily Mail, 16 December 2006),
which suggests that a bar of chocolate will help with symptoms of chronic fatigue.

And I do think there are good reasons for believing that chocolate will boost energy levels.

But this most serious flaw of this study - as with so many others worldwide - would be to assume
that Chronic Fatigue (with or without Syndrome added) and M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
are synonymous or interchangeable. They are not.

The overwhelming exhaustive experience of M.E., disproportionate to energy expended, is
qualitatively and quantitatively different and it is not refreshed by any amount of sleep. In addition,
there is a range of symptoms, including muscle pain and cognitive dysfunction, not present in
mere tiredness.

So, while there may be a limited positive effect of chocolate for people with chronic fatigue, my
advice to people with M.E. would be not to take sweets from these strangers, since I think you
will still have the M.E. and a few extra pounds to resolve to shed in the New Year.

Yours sincerely
drjohngreensmith@mefreeforall.org
ME Free For All.org
Bristol