454 | id == 454
454 | category_id == 27
454 | category_order == 24
454 | category_name == Fatigue
454 | category_color == #C47AC0
454 | slug == OPRM1-fatigue
454 | title == Opioid Involvement in Fatigue (OPRM1)
454 | meta_description == OPRM1 codes for an opioid receptor. A variant of OPRM1 has been associated with fatigue. Read more here.
454 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>OPRM1</em> gene codes for a receptor that can induce a variety of effects upon activation by opioids. Can a variant of <em>OPRM1</em> elevate levels of fatigue? Read more to find out.</strong></p>
454 | overall_score_text == Your Fatigue Score (based on OPRM1 gene)
454 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/OPRM1-Fibromyalgia.jpg
454 | author_id == 14
454 | author_name == Shany Lahan
454 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
454 | author_order == 5
454 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
454 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
454 | reviewer == None
454 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
454 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
454 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
454 | publish_date == 2020
454 | publish_date == 11
454 | publish_date == 4
454 | avg_rating == 5.0
454 | tags_id == 68
454 | tags_name == Fatigue
454 | tags_id == 7
454 | tags_name == Fibromyalgia
454 | tags_id == 598
454 | tags_name == Opioids
454 | tags_id == 651
454 | tags_name == OPRM1 Gene
454 | tags_id == 71
454 | tags_name == Pain
454 | permissions_favorite == False
454 | permissions_rate == False
454 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">OPRM1 is a receptor that has been suggested to relieve pain and reduce fatigue when activated by opioids. A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OPRM1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in elevated levels of fatigue by decreasing activity, production, and/or sensitivity of this receptor. Lifestyle modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by elevating levels of opioids that are naturally made within the body.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>OPRM1</em></strong><strong> and Fatigue</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/oprm1/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OPRM1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for mu opioid receptor 1 (OPRM1). As its name suggests, OPRM1 can be activated by opioids made within the body (such as beta-</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/why-the-ice-bucket-challenge-is-so-popular-it-functions-like-heroin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">endorphins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), as well as opioids derived from external sources (such as morphine) [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/OPRM1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Activation of OPRM1 may give rise to a variety of effects, including pain relief and reduced fatigue. In this manner, the body&rsquo;s natural opioids may act to regulate levels of pain and energy, while externally-derived opioids might induce these effects in times of need [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4014005/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3508653"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The rs1799971-G variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">OPRM1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has been reported to decrease OPRM1 production, sensitivity, and/or activity. Due to decreased opioid efficacy, individuals carrying this variant may be at greater risk of pain disorders (such as fibromyalgia) and heightened levels of fatigue [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5828244/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22406240/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interestingly, individuals with fibromyalgia and elevated fatigue have also been reported to have decreased levels of beta-endorphins [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12131069/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>OPRM1 </em></strong><strong>Results for Fatigue</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*1763105721907856*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>OPRM1 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1799971/"><strong>rs1799971</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5828244/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Increased levels of fatigue, relative to &lsquo;A&rsquo;&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Decreased levels of fatigue, relative to &lsquo;G&rsquo;</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*3590980940643642*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Fatigue</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*3272808981060715*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While increasing production or sensitivity of OPRM1 may lower general fatigue levels (as well as reduce pain), doing so may increase the risk of developing an addiction to opioids [<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15194118/">R</a>]. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">An alternative strategy for lowering fatigue would be to mildly increase OPRM1 activity, either by increasing the amount of natural opioids that the body makes, or by stimulating the release of chemical messengers that have the ability to activate this receptor.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Exercise</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have shown that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can stimulate production of the body&rsquo;s natural opioids. One study suggested that this effect may lower general levels of fatigue [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104618/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6091217/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indeed, a sedentary lifestyle is a common cause of persistent fatigue, and several studies have reported that exercise may reduce fatigue in healthy individuals. Paradoxically, being &lsquo;too tired&rsquo; was the most common excuse for not exercising in a study focused on middle-aged and elderly people [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23783259/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18277063/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4816334/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24154584/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with chronic fatigue syndrome are at especially high risk of not meeting physical activity requirements. In people with this condition, engaging in regular physical exercise may help reduce fatigue </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&mdash; </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">even more than in healthy controls, according to one meta-analysis</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21166613/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419524/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5026555/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have reported that exercise may help with fatigue from other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, lupus, ALS, fibromyalgia, muscle disease, and heart failure [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068865/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5931245/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6168432/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6937526/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28477898/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32452880/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20091552/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16713337/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, over-exercising can lead to fatigue and several health issues. Experts recommend moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Exercise may reduce fatigue by increasing the body&rsquo;s natural opioids.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Massage</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/massage-health-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massage</a> has been reported to stimulate the release of the chemical messenger </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/the-social-chilled-out-and-empathetic-genes-oxytocin-receptor-snps/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxytocin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Studies have shown that some of the effects of oxytocin may be due to its ability to activate mu (and kappa) opioid receptors [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23251939/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4276444/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A handful of clinical trials found </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">massage</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> effective at reducing post-exercise localized muscle fatigue and soreness. However, </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/12-reasons-embrace-cold/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cold</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> water immersion seems to be more effective for generalized fatigue [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27025688/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27011305/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC134459/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25892379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16398602/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22935028/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27503712/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A small clinical trial found a combination of massage chairs and brain massage (</span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/binaural-beats/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">binaural beats</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) effective at reducing mental fatigue and improving cognitive function [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30057053/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis concluded that massage, especially myofascial release, may reduce fatigue from fibromyalgia. In a clinical trial on women with this condition, massage was more effective when combined with physical exercise [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25457196/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28840379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although another meta-analysis found massage interventions effective at reducing fatigue from breast cancer, a Cochrane review concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support massage for cancer-related fatigue due to the low quality and small size of most studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24275985/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27258432/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">More limited evidence suggests that massage may also help with fatigue from chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, low-back pain, hemodialysis, spinal cord injury, bone marrow transplantation, and Parkinson&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19514184/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27091583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23828184/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30955910/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27502815/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15136963/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27897186/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10517036/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22385078/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Massage may reduce fatigue by stimulating the release of oxytocin, which has been reported to activate opioid receptors.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Acupuncture</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/acupuncture-benefits-mechanisms-risks/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acupuncture</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a form of alternative treatment developed by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine. During acupuncture, thin metal needles are inserted at acupuncture points, or acupoints [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458928/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22106073"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stimulation of acupoints is believed to promote the release of natural opioids in the body [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15135942/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Acupuncture has been mainly applied to fatigue from chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer (especially breast cancer), and fibromyalgia. Meta-analyses concluded that it may be effective, but warned about the low quality of most studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31204859/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29128952/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4105202/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">More limited evidence suggests that acupuncture may also help with fatigue from conditions such as insomnia, Parkinson&rsquo;s disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and end-stage kidney disease [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29229613/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6910189/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5853635/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27028133/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18285429/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32186030/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21721925/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14670399/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Acupuncture may reduce fatigue by promoting the release of natural opioids in the body. </span></p>
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454 | content_learn_more_3590980940643642_key == 3590980940643642
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454 | content_learn_more_3590980940643642_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your OPRM1 gene somewhat increases your risk of elevated levels of fatigue. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of elevated fatigue; it’s just one gene related to it. Adequate exercise, massage, and acupuncture may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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454 | content_recommendation_3272808981060715_blur == True
454 | content_recommendation_3272808981060715_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1799971
rsStatus = rs1799971,OPRM1,chr6,154039662,A,G,,,32,0,Normal
