According to the Office on Women’s Health1, fibromyalgia affects roughly 4 million Americans (Harvard estimates put it closer to 6 million2) and the average person is diagnosed between age 35 and 45.
A separate study by the Veterans’ Health Office3 found that women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men (thanks, that’s one more thing we have going for us us). The National Fibromyalgia Association even estimated that 75%-90% of people with the condition are women.
But what is fibromyalgia and why does it affect mostly middle age women?
Turns out, there are 3 common causes associated with the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Hormonal Transitions – Women frequently experience hormonal fluctuations but the two key hormonal transitions in life are pregnancy and menopause.
During menopause (including perimenopause and postmenopause as well as surgical menopause – which refers to menopause that occurs right after hysterectomy or cancer treatment), estrogen levels decline generally. Estrogen is a really important hormone in women as it protects our body from inflammation.
Although fibromyalgia research is still in its early days, two studies found strong association between fibromyalgia and menopause.
The first study saw a significant increase in fibromyalgia symptoms among women who just entered menopause.4
The second study published by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) also found that pain sensitivities in women increase during menopause. They believe that mood changes and poorer sleep quality likely amplify the symptoms and lower pain tolerance5.
Here is one story submitted by a reader about her fibromyalgia diagnosis:
“I was given a diagnosis in 2018 of Fibromyalgia and put on many different anti-depressants, none of which ever really helped, but kept my ''mental state'' numb. I had to reduce my work hours, I lost confidence in myself and the anxiety at times had me house bound and unable to work. I rang the Dr's for an appointment and asked to speak to a Dr that specializes in women’s health as I wanted to discuss menopause symptoms. She thankfully listened and she also said my Fibromyalgia diagnosis could be wrong as the symptoms do overlap. After taking menopause supplements, my fibromyalgia symptoms have gone, so I do wonder if I was misdiagnosed with that."
Genes – An important risk factor for fibromyalgia is a family history of the disorder. It is sometimes known to affect multiple members of the same family.
In fact, a 2004 study in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology found that first-degree relatives of a person with fibromyalgia were 8.5 times more likely to have fibromyalgia than first-degree relatives of people with rheumatoid arthritis2.
Chronic conditions – According to Cleveland clinic7, chronic conditions are also major risk factors for fibromyalgia. Some of these conditions include osteoarthritis, depression, anxiety disorder, and IBS.
An interesting observation we can make is that many of these chronic conditions or symptoms are also observed among women during menopause.
There is no cure for fibromyalgia today, so doctors usually recommend pain relievers, antidepressants, therapy, and rest.
However, if you suspect your fibromyalgia could have to do with hormonal changes such as menopause, addressing menopause symptoms and the decline in estrogen levels can help to manage the pain.
If your fibromyalgia symptoms appeared due to menopause, it is likely that HRT can help as many menopause symptoms such as fatigue and chronic pain can be traced back to the decline in estrogen levels,
HRT works by reintroducing estrogen into your body through pills or topical applications.
However, HRT carries well-documented risks and it is not recommended for women who have either a family history of cancer or other pre-existing conditions.
Studies also show9,10 HRT increases risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.
HRT is also not covered by most insurance policies, so it’s best for you to check with your insurer if you intend to use HRT as it can be costly.
If you prefer taking a more natural approach to addressing your fibromyalgia symptoms and staying away from pharmaceutical drugs, then dietary supplements could be an effective option for you.
As more research studies and clinical trials are conducted on natural ingredients and herbs, there are several new supplements made from natural ingredients that can help to address fibromyalgia symptoms.
Taking the right supplement daily can support better sleep, ease body pains, and help you get your life back on track.
Our team independently reviewed 33 fibromyalgia supplement brands using data from independent consumer testing laboratories, Labdoor and ConsumerLab, combined with our internal ratings system to determine the top 5 supplements to address fibromyalgia symptoms.
We discovered there’s ONE thing that makes or ‘breaks’ a high-quality supplement – its blend of ingredients.
Here are some popular ingredients in dietary supplements that can help with fibromyalgia & we’ll tell you which are the ‘must-haves’ and which you should avoid.
Curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric) is an anti-inflammatory phytoestrogen (a plant source of estrogen) that helps women by supporting hormonal balance healthily and naturally11.
In one research study of 62 people with fibromyalgia, participants took four 42 mg tablets of a purified curcumin extract for six weeks12.
Symptoms of widespread pain, dizziness, cramps, and paresthesia (a burning, tingling, or prickly feeling) in the extremities were significantly reduced.
There was also improvement in levels of fatigue.
Natural phytoestrogens like curcumin have been recommended for its ability to manage estrogen levels without other side effects.
Probiotics regulate and support nearly every vital function including mood, mental performance, bone density, joint inflammation, weight management, and more.
They may be common these days, but they are still underrated by most people.
Canadian researchers found a connection between fibromyalgia and abnormal gut microbiome for the first time in a study published in the journal Pain13.
Although the cause-and-effect relationships between our gut microbiome and fibromyalgia requires further research, the study concluded that fibromyalgia patients tend to have 5 times less secondary bile acid (alpha-muricholic acid (aMCA)) than healthy individuals.
Probiotics are found to have an influence on the bile acid levels and metabolism in our body14.
In addition, two separate studies15 also demonstrated the positive impacts of probiotics on the anxiety and inflammatory processes that fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients experience.
CoQ10 is an antioxidant produced by our body naturally.
It is less well-known compared to the likes of probiotics and curcumin, but it can have a profound effect on fibromyalgia symptoms.
A group of 20 women suffering from fibromyalgia took 300 mg daily of CoQ10 for 40 days and showed a significant easing of fatigue, morning tiredness, and pain16.
Another study also found an improvement in headache symptoms for another group of 20 women who took 300 mg of CoQ10 each day17.
Vitamin D is a nutrient your body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones, but according to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 4 Americans suffer from Vitamin D deficiency18. This could contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms.
A 2014 study examined the effect of Vitamin D consumption on 30 fibromyalgia patients and found marked reduction in pain over 20 weeks19, which shows that it could be an effective supplement to help fibromyalgia patients manage chronic pains.
As supplements can be sold without approval by FDA, reliable supplement manufacturers get third-party certifications to distinguish their products as trustworthy. These certifications verify the ingredients and quantities claimed on the product label, and that the product meets stringent manufacturing and performance standards. Established certifications to look out for include GMP, USP, NSF, Certified Organic, Non-GMO certified, etc.
Clinical trials help substantiate the efficacy of ingredients through proper tests. Look for a supplement with clinically-tested ingredients for real benefits, and avoid those based on anecdotal evidence. Even better if there are multiple studies backing the product. We based our top 5 supplements on clinically studied ingredients supported by a solid body of evidence.
Sadly, according to the New York Times20, one in four products sold on Amazon is fake. This is especially true of nutritional supplements. When buying from Amazon, ensure you do so from the brand’s Amazon store. Otherwise, purchase directly from the brand’s official website. Consuming fraudulent products may cause nasty side effects — so be extra cautious.
A risk-free guarantee lets you try supplements without fear of losing your money. If you try the product and don’t experience results, simply contact the manufacturer for a refund. A 60- or 90-day guarantee is the minimum a manufacturer should have as a show of confidence in their products. Also, avoid companies that make you jump through hoops. One common strategy that companies use is “bottle return” – they require you pay for return shipping and return the empty bottles before they process your refund.
One of the most important reasons women develop fibromyalgia is because of the decline in estrogen levels during all stages of menopause.
Provitalize is the only supplement formula that addresses estrogen-related fibromyalgia effectively through:
Provitalize contains 350mg of curcumin formulated with Bioperine® per serving, a patented version of black pepper extract known to help our body absorb curcumin more effectively. It also contains 350mg of moringa leaves and 150mg of curry leaves per serving.
In addition, it also contains 68.2 billion CFUs of premium probiotic strains with anti-inflammatory and weight-management properties.
The probiotics in Provitalize also help to improve gut health and address gut dysbiosis, enabling the gut to perform its function of regulating the estrogen levels in our body and supporting hormonal balance.
According to their official website, over 1,200,000 women have tried Provitalize and over 100,000 women subscribe to it monthly. The tens of thousands of glowing reviews on TrustPilot, Amazon, and Okendo are undeniable proof that Provitalize is worthy of our top spot.
Want faster relief and energy from Provitalize? Then add Previtalize into the mix. Previtalize is a prebiotic formula combining 4 prebiotics – FOS, GOS, XOS, inulin – and burdock root.
The probiotics in Provitalize feed on these fibers to multiply faster in the gut. This means women can see faster visible results such as faster pain relief.
Several clinical studies21,22,23 of FOS, inulin, and burdock root also show anti-inflammatory benefits for people experiencing body pains.
We listed the bundle 2nd only because it costs more than Provitalize alone. Fortunately, they provide an 18% discount on the prebiotic when you get the bundle. Other than that, we believe it’s the best-value-for-money bundle in the market right now.
This product contains only curcumin and it is made from 1,350mg of organic turmeric root, 150mg of turmeric root extract, and 10mg of BioPerine®.
It is rated 4.5 stars on Amazon and the product seems to be well liked by customers.
We like that the product does not contain unnecessary ingredients, just like Provitalize.
Overall, we think this is a good product that can benefit fibromyalgia patients, but lacks the other ingredients that can help women in menopause or support general gut health which could help with other fibromyalgia symptoms.
For this reason, we think it best deserves the third place among our top five.
NatureMade Vitamin D3 contains 125 mcg of Vitamin D3 and it does not contain any other main ingredients.
NatureMade Vitamin D3 could be useful for individuals with Vitamin D deficiency.
It is also rated quite highly on Amazon with 4.8 stars, although the majority of customers are likely not rating it for fibromyalgia symptoms, but for the quality of the product.
Personally, I’d prefer if NatureMade Vitamin D3 did not include soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, water, and corn oil. Some of these ingredients like corn oil are not healthy.
Overall, the popularity of the product gives us confidence that it could be the best Vitamin D option if you suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.
inergyPlus is an anti-fatigue supplement containing 7 vitamin Bs, 50mg of CoQ10, 300mg of Greater Galangal Extract, 150mg of Rhodiola rosea Extract, 150mg of Cordyceps Extract, 140mg of Acetyl L-Carnitine HCI, and 5mg of PQQ.
This is a formulation designed to support healthy mitochondria functions in our body.
We like that it doesn’t contain sugar, stimulants, caffeine, or any unnecessary ingredients.
In a Healthline article, experts studied galangal root and its clinical studies and found that it is closely related to turmeric and it may offer comparable benefits24.
Separately, a Colorado physical therapy practice believes that Rhodiola rosea can help fibromyalgia patients who suffer from brain fog25.
Unfortunately, inergyPLUS contains a lower dosage of CoQ10 than the amounts of CoQ10 used in the fibromyalgia studies, so we placed it in the fifth position.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic (long-lasting) disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping. Scientists do not fully understand what causes it, but people with the disorder have a heightened sensitivity to pain.
If OTC pain meds don’t work for you, we suggest checking out the supplements recommended above.
- 8.4/10