Impact of Micronutrients on Recovery and Rehabilitation Strategies in Long COVID, 2025, Saidov

[forestglip]

Impact of Micronutrients on Recovery and Rehabilitation Strategies in Long COVID

Saidov F.A.

Abstract
Long COVID, or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, is characterized by persistent symptoms and functional impairment following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Micronutrients such as vitamins and trace minerals are crucial for immune function, inflammation modulation, and tissue repair, suggesting a potential role in improving recovery outcomes for Long COVID patients. This study investigated the impact of micronutrient status and supplementation on the rehabilitation of Long COVID patients.

We conducted a randomized, placebo- controlled trial in 150 adults with Long COVID to assess whether correcting micronutrient deficiencies and providing targeted supplementation improves symptom resolution, physical function, and quality of life.

Baseline nutritional assessments revealed a high prevalence of deficiencies (approximately 30% for vitamin D, 25% for zinc, 40% for iron, and 25% for selenium) in this cohort, consistent with emerging data on Long COVID populations.

Participants were randomized to receive a comprehensive micronutrient supplement (vitamin D₃, vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, zinc, selenium, magnesium, and others) or placebo, alongside standard rehabilitation care, for 8 weeks. Outcomes included fatigue scores, 6-minute walk distance, muscle strength, symptom burden, inflammatory markers, and health-related quality of life.

Web | PDF | Экономика и социум (Economy and Society) | Open Access

 

[forestglip]

Russian journal. One author.

The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (Protocol #2023-110) and registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05555555).

There's no registration on ClinicalTrials.gov with that number.

After 8 weeks of intervention, the micronutrient-supplemented group showed significantly greater improvements in primary outcomes compared to placebo (Figure 1). Fatigue, as measured by the Chalder Fatigue Scale, improved (decreased) by an average of 8.5 ± 5.0 points in the Intervention group versus 4.1 ± 4.8 points in Controls (p<0.001 for between-group difference). This corresponds to a 30% reduction in fatigue severity from baseline in the treated group, effectively moving many from moderate-severe fatigue to mild levels.

In practical terms, 60% of supplemented patients reported that their energy levels were “much better” than at baseline, whereas only 35% of control patients reported such improvement (p=0.003). Similarly, the 0–10 fatigue impact rating fell by 3.2 points with supplementation vs 1.1 points with placebo (p<0.01).

It refers to a figure 1, but I don't see any figures.

That seems like a very significant result [Edit: I just mean low p-value], assuming there was good blinding. Is it because so many of them are deficient in micronutrients?

Baseline nutritional assessments revealed a high prevalence of deficiencies (approximately 30% for vitamin D, 25% for zinc, 40% for iron, and 25% for selenium) in this cohort, consistent with emerging data on Long COVID populations.

 

[Utsikt]

There is no data for these outcomes:

Physical performance was measured via the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for endurance and the handgrip dynamometry and 30-second sit-to-stand test for muscle strength/endurance. We also performed pulmonary function tests (spirometry) given the prevalence of breathing difficulties in Long COVID.

These primary endpoints were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention. Fatigue and 6MWD were expected to directly reflect improvements (or lack thereof) in patient stamina and functional status attributable to the interventions. Secondary outcomes included: - Muscle strength and endurance: handgrip strength (kg) and 30-second sit-to-stand repetitions, to gauge improvements in muscular function. - Neurocognitive symptoms: a cognitive function composite score combining a short Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screening

There is no assessment of blinding.

All of them went through an 8-week rehab programme:

All participants, irrespective of group, engaged in a standardized multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for Long COVID, following current best practices. This program – supervised by physiatrists and rehabilitation specialists – included: tailored exercise training (aerobic conditioning and resistance exercises gradually advanced as tolerated), breathing exercises for respiratory muscle training, energy conservation techniques, and cognitive rehabilitation strategies for those with concentration/memory issues.