Vitamin D May Help with Long COVID Symptoms, Study Suggests
A new study suggests that vitamin D supplements might help researchers understand lingering COVID-19 symptoms. This research was conducted by experts at Mass General Brigham, who looked into whether high doses of vitamin D could affect COVID-19 outcomes, particularly the risk of long COVID—a condition where symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and brain fog last for weeks or even months after the initial infection. The findings were shared in The Journal of Nutrition.
The study included 1,747 adults who recently tested positive for COVID-19, along with 277 family members. Participants received either vitamin D3 supplements or a placebo for four weeks.
Dr. JoAnn Manson, the study’s senior author and a physician at Mass General Brigham, highlighted the potential benefits of vitamin D for long-term symptoms. She stated, “A key takeaway is that vitamin D supplementation looks promising for reducing the risk of developing long COVID, although it does not seem to impact the severity of the acute infection.”
While the researchers found that vitamin D did not significantly change short-term outcomes like symptom severity or hospital visits, a closer look at those who strictly followed the supplement regimen revealed some interesting results. Approximately 21% of the vitamin D group reported ongoing symptoms eight weeks after infection, compared to 25% of those in the placebo group.
Manson emphasized the growing interest in vitamin D’s role in managing COVID-19. She noted that although high-dose vitamin D did not reduce COVID severity, it showed promise for long COVID, warranting further investigation.
Vitamin D may influence long-term complications because it plays a crucial role in managing inflammation in the body.
However, the researchers acknowledged some limits to the study. The trial was conducted remotely due to the pandemic, and participants began taking vitamin D a few days after their COVID diagnosis. Ideally, supplementation would begin right before or immediately after infection.
Manson mentioned that larger studies are needed to better understand whether vitamin D could help reduce the risk or severity of long COVID symptoms. Researchers plan to conduct further trials to see if vitamin D supplementation can aid people already dealing with long COVID.
