Common vitamin could bring relief from long COVID symptoms, study suggests

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Vitamin D supplementsmay offer researchers a new clue about lingering COVID symptoms that persist after infection, according to a new study.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham examined whether high doses of vitamin D could influence COVID-19 outcomes, including the risk of developing long COVID, a condition in which symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and brain fog continue weeks or months after theinitial infection.

The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition.

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The randomized clinical trial included 1,747 adults who had recently tested positive for COVID-19, along with 277 members of their households.Participants were assigned to receive either vitamin D3 supplements or a placebo for four weeks.

Person taking yellow softgel vitamin or supplement capsules from their hand while sitting on a couch at home.

A new study suggests vitamin D may help researchers better understand and possibly prevent long COVID.(iStock)

Dr.com/category/health/healthy-living" target="_blank" rel="noopener">possible benefitrelated to long-term symptoms.

“A key takeaway is that vitamin D supplementation looks promising for reducing the risk of developing long COVID but does not appear to affect the severity of the acute infection,” Manson said.

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Researchers found that vitamin D supplementation did not significantly change short-term outcomes such assymptom severity, hospital visits or emergency care.

The study also showed no difference between the vitamin D and placebo groups in the likelihood that household contacts would contract the virus.

Middle-aged man sitting on a couch with his head in his hand, looking stressed or fatigued at home.

Long COVID is a condition where symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog last for weeks or months after the initial infection.(iStock)

However, when researchers analyzed participants who closely followed the supplement regimen, they observed a possible difference in lingering symptoms.

Manson said vitamin D may influence longer-term complications becausethe nutrientplays a role in regulating inflammation in the body.

Researchers say vitamin D may affect inflammation in the body, which could play a role in long COVID symptoms.

Researchers say vitamin D may affect inflammation in the body, which could play a role in long COVID symptoms.(iStock)

Study limitations

The researchers noted several limitations in the trial.The study had to be conducted remotely during the pandemic, and participants began taking vitamin D several days after their COVID diagnosis.

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Ideally, Manson said, supplementation would begin before infection or immediately after diagnosis.

She added thatlarger studieswill be needed to confirm whether vitamin D could reduce the risk or severity of long COVID symptoms.

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Researchers are planning additional trials to examine whether vitamin D supplementation may help treat people already experiencing long COVID.

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