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Vitamin D May Cut Long COVID Risk, Study Suggests
15 Mar
Summary
- Vitamin D may reduce long COVID symptoms post-infection.
- High doses did not affect acute illness severity.
- Further research needed to confirm benefits for long COVID.
A new randomized clinical trial has explored the potential of vitamin D supplements in mitigating lingering COVID-19 symptoms. Researchers from Mass General Brigham investigated whether high doses of vitamin D3 could influence outcomes, including the development of long COVID.
The study, involving 1,747 adults recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and their household contacts, found no significant effect on the severity of acute infection or hospital visits. However, analysis of participants who adhered closely to the regimen indicated a promising signal for long COVID.
Approximately 21% of those taking vitamin D reported at least one ongoing symptom eight weeks post-infection, versus 25% in the placebo group. This suggests vitamin D's role in regulating inflammation may impact longer-term complications, warranting additional research.
Limitations included remote trial conduct and delayed supplementation initiation. Future trials aim to assess vitamin D's efficacy in treating existing long COVID cases. The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition.
