According to a new study, vitamin D supplements might give researchers insights into persistent symptoms from COVID-19 that linger after initial infection.
Scientists at Massachusetts General Brigham looked into whether high doses of vitamin D could influence COVID-19 outcomes, including the potential risk of developing long-lasting symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, and brain fog.
The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition.
Fast-Spreading Virus Concerns
The randomized clinical trial involved 1,747 adults, along with 277 household members, who had recently tested positive for COVID-19. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin D3 supplements or a placebo for four weeks.
Dr. Joan Manson, a senior author and physician at Brigham General Hospital, commented that the results might indicate long-term effects related to symptoms.
“The main takeaway is that vitamin D supplements seem promising in lowering the risk of developing long-term COVID-19 but don’t seem to impact the severity of the infection at its onset,” Manson noted.
Potential Benefits Over Time
The researchers did not find a notable difference in immediate outcomes like symptom severity or emergency care between those taking vitamin D and those on placebos. Moreover, there was no difference in the infection rates among household contacts in both groups.
However, when focusing on participants who adhered closely to the supplement regimen, there seemed to be a difference in ongoing symptoms after infection.
About 21% of those taking vitamin D reported at least one lingering symptom eight weeks post-infection, compared to 25% among those who received the placebo.
“There’s been significant interest in the impact of vitamin D on COVID-19, and this study is one of the largest randomized trials looking into it,” Manson said in a release.
“While we didn’t observe a reduction in severity of infection or hospitalization due to high doses of vitamin D, the signs regarding prolonged COVID-19 symptoms are promising and warrant more research,” she added.
Manson mentioned that vitamin D is important in regulating inflammation, which might influence long-term complications arising from COVID-19.
Recognizing Study Limitations
The researchers acknowledged several limitations of the trial. Conducted remotely due to the pandemic, participants began taking vitamin D shortly after their COVID-19 diagnosis.
Ideally, Manson suggested, supplementation should start either before or soon after infection.
She further emphasized the need for larger studies to validate whether vitamin D could indeed lessen the risk or severity of lasting COVID-19 symptoms.
Plans for further trials are underway to explore whether vitamin D supplements can assist in treating individuals already experiencing long-lasting effects from the virus.
