Tag Archive for: long COVID

Vitamin D vs. Long COVID

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Returning to the vitamin D study, the rest of the headline suggested that taking vitamin D upon getting COVID may reduce symptoms of long-term COVID (LTCOVID), a serious aftereffect of a COVID infection that can impact the nervous and muscular system. Brain fog, chronic fatigue, and pain are some of the common symptoms.

The reason for hope with LTCOVID symptoms is that those subjects who continued to supplement with vitamin D showed a lower propensity for LTCOVID symptoms than the placebo group. It was not statistically significant with 21% of the vitamin D group showing symptoms of LTCOVID versus 25% in the placebo group, but it provided hope for further research; there were no differences in serious adverse events between the placebo and vitamin D groups.

Two things I found interesting: first, those subjects in either group who had normal vitamin D levels in their blood didn’t have an advantage over those who had very low or low levels of vitamin D. That surprised me as one would think that having a good baseline would be protective in some way. Maybe not.

Second, whether vitamin D impacted COVID as to length of symptoms, it showed that vitamin D supplementation at the first symptom of COVID may be protective. The amounts used in the study were two days at 9,600 IU and then 3,200 IU daily for eight weeks or more, based on the length of the study.

Why would vitamin D be beneficial after a person contracted the virus? Speculation by two researchers, one of the authors and a scientist from another lab, was that vitamin D boosts the immune system by reducing inflammation during the infection. The only way we’ll know for sure is by doing more research.

For now, it’s up to you and your healthcare professionals how best to deal with your next COVID infection. Vitamin D seems to be a viable option.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: J Nutr. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101398

Does Vitamin D Beat COVID?

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My Monday morning news feed contained at least three referrals to a recent article published in the Journal of Nutrition. The headlines were all about the same: vitamin D supplementation is ineffective in the short term as a treatment for COVID but provides insight into how to reduce the risk of long-term COVID symptoms. I think it deserves a look.

Researchers selected a large group of potential subjects in the US and Mongolia. Subjects were notified of the trial by the testing companies within seven days after a positive COVID test. If the subjects passed criteria for inclusion in the trial, they were assigned to a placebo or vitamin D supplement group. The subjects were required to perform surveys periodically about symptoms with the primary outcome being further professional treatment or death. There were a number of secondary criteria related to worsening symptoms requiring more than a single visit to a healthcare professional or hospital.

In short, there were no observable differences between those who used vitamin D supplements for the four-week trial or the placebo group in those who required additional treatment. A disappointment for vitamin D users? We’ll dig a little deeper on Saturday.

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What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: J Nutrition. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101398

Long COVID and Possible Solutions

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I had a talk with someone who had a question about a skin condition, something that’s been a minor issue but suddenly got much worse. I happened to mention that sometimes when you deal with the flu or COVID, your immune system is weakened and it can impact other conditions; people report their symptoms began to get worse after a bout of COVID, almost to the day after recovering. Cause and effect? No way to know for sure. But long COVID is a reality; long COVID is a smorgasbord of illnesses that have been somehow triggered by COVID.

Coincidentally, an article was published on the development of treatments for long COVID. While there isn’t complete agreement exactly why it happens to some but not all those who’ve had COVID, physicians and scientists are looking at combinations of medications and supplements for possible solutions. While the article focused on using the antiviral Paxlovid, I was interested in the nutrient approach—specifically, the nutrients that focus on helping the mitochondria. Whatever else may be going on in long COVID, fatigue seems to be the worst side effect of the long COVID symptoms. That has to include an impact on the mitochondria regardless of whether it’s neurological or hormonal or even genetic in nature.

While other supplements were discussed, my experience is with N-acetyl cysteine and the amino acid glycine. Research has shown that when taken together, they help with repair and recycling of mitochondria. The typical amounts are about 600 mg of each per day; I’ve taken it regularly for a few years and I’ve noticed a difference in energy levels. Talk with your physician if you have long COVID or just have fatigue. There are also meds being tested for long COVID. The rest you know: eat less, eat better, move more.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Paxlovid, Vitamin Supplements Show Promise With Long COVID – Medscape – July 29, 2024.