Controlled Trial of Hydrogen Water as a Treatment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This is a 16-week controlled treatment trial of an over-the -counter supplement, hydrogen water, for individuals with ME/CFS patients. An active treatment condition will be compared to a placebo-control condition. The study will also seek confirmation of heart rate variability (HRV) as a biomarker, that is, as a predictor of improvement vs. non-improvement to be assessed at treatment termination. The HRV biomarker hypothesis is based on a finding that High Frequency HRV (cardio-parasympathetic measure) biologically separated improvers and non-improvers in my previous ME/CFS observational study.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18-65 of both sexes * considered physically capable and willing to perform the study tasks * Meet validated phone-screen eligibility for ME/CFS criteria * Participant has internet and computer Exclusion Criteria: * Cases of fatigue clearly attributable to self-report medical conditions such as untreated hypothyroidism, unstable diabetes mellitus, organ failure, chronic infections, and chronic inflammatory diseases, or AIDS. Kidney disease/renal failure is also an exclusion * Exclusionary psychiatric disorders include any psychosis, or alcohol/ substance abuse within two years prior to illness onset and any time afterward, and current or past depression with melancholic or psychotic features within 5 years prior to onset of ME/CFS or anytime afterward * Pregnancy is an exclusion. * Patients with BMI\>35 \_\_\_\_Patients regularly taking therapeutic magnesium. * Patients at significant risk of suicide or in need of urgent psychiatric treatment. As much as possible, appropriate medical and psychiatric referrals to facilities local to subjects will be provided.