Metal allergy and fibromyalgia: small study has interesting results

Metal allergy is frequent in people with fibromyalgia, says a small study published in Neuro Endocrinology Letters.

A total of 15 women with fibromyalgia were tested for metal allergy and compared to 10 healthy age-matched women. All of the women with fibromyalgia were found to be allergic to at least one of the metals tested. The most frequent reactions were to nickel, followed by inorganic mercury, cadmium and lead. Some healthy women were allergic to inorganic mercury but most of the tests were negative.

The scientists reduced the metal exposure of the fibromyalgia patients by replacing metal dental fillings and asking them to avoid known sources of exposure.

Five years later, half of the women who had previously had fibromyalgia no longer fulfilled the diagnostic criteria. A further 20% had improvement in symptoms and the remaining 30% still had fibromyalgia.

“This suggests that metal-induced inflammation might be an important risk factor in a subset of patients with fibromyalgia,” the study authors conclude.