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Clinical Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P25-026-25) The Effectiveness of Nutritional Interventions on Long COVID Symptoms, inflammatory Markers and Physical Function in Long COVID patients

Monday, June 2, 2025
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board D-79

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Zhaoping Li, PhD, MD (she/her/hers)

    Professor
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, California, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • OL

    Onkei Lei

    University of Macau, China (People's Republic)

  • JY

    Jieping Yang, PhD

    Associate project scientist
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, California, United States

Disclosure(s):
Jieping Yang, PhD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition-based interventions in improving symptoms of post-COVID syndrome, including fatigue, mental health disturbances, inflammation, and cognitive impairments.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2024. Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with long COVID who received nutrition-based interventions. Outcomes assessed included fatigue, mental health, inflammation, and cognitive function. Data were synthesized using a random-effects meta-analysis model, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic.

Results: A total of 804 participants from nine randomized controlled trials were surveyed. Interventions that included probiotics or vitamin D led to a significant overall improvement in mental health outcomes (standardized mean difference [SMD] −0.99, 95% CI −1.76 to −0.23, p = .01). Anxiety symptoms were significantly reduced (SMD −1.00, 95% CI −1.49 to −0.51), whereas the effects on depression (SMD −1.49, 95% CI −3.92 to 0.94) and cognitive function (SMD −0.53, 95% CI −1.19 to 0.13) were not significant. The binary measure of fatigue showed a robust improvement (odds ratio 2.36, 95% CI 2.03 to 2.75, p < .0001), while there were no significant effects on continuous fatigue (SMD −0.97, 95% CI −2.41 to 0.47, p = .19) or inflammatory markers (SMD −1.82, 95% CI −4.68 to 1.04, p = .21).

Conclusions: Probiotics and vitamin D demonstrate potential for addressing mental health disturbances and binary measures of fatigue in long COVID patients. However, high heterogeneity across studies, along with variable results under different meta‐analytic models, underscores the need for standardized protocols and more rigorous research designs. These findings support integrating nutrition‐based strategies into long COVID management, highlighting the importance of personalized approaches tailored to individual patient profiles.

Funding Sources: Center for Human Nutrition; USDA