Research has shown that even three months after COVID-19 onset, over half of patients continue to suffer fatigue. A small, preliminary study in Italy, however, suggests that patients may be able to find some relief through a supplement containing a specific combination of amino acids, B vitamins, and other nutrients, if the findings can be validated by larger studies.*

Nutritional status important in COVID-19

In the study, published in the journal Nutrients, researchers at Rome’s Fondazione Policlinico Universitario explain that a person’s nutritional status is a critical factor in fighting COVID-19 at both the initial and long-term stages. This is especially true for high-risk groups, including frail, older adults and people with underlying medical conditions. 

Low levels of nutritional status indicators in the blood (albumin protein, for example) have been linked to poor COVID-19 outcomes, and hospitalization is a well-known risk factor for malnutrition.

In addition, following initial infection, high levels of continued inflammation can cause appetite loss, leading to significant malnutrition. Malnutrition has been linked to:

• The longest patient recovery times, 
• Reduced physical performance, and 
• Poor health-related quality of life. 

Because of this, the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) created nutritional management guidelines for COVID-19. These guidelines state that nutritional screening, analysis, and treatment should be a principal part of care at all disease stages.

What the researchers did

The researchers incorporated nutritional assessment into their own Long COVID clinic, which had been lacking. For this study, they measured changes in body composition, physical performance, and quality of life, along with making nutritional recommendations to aid post-COVID recovery. 

In particular, they observed the effect of an oral dietary supplement containing:

• The nine (9) essential amino acids, which humans can’t make on their own, and which form the basis of protein in food (leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, threonine, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan), plus the non-essential amino acid cysteine
• Vitamins B1 (thiamine) and B6 (pyridoxine)
• Malic, succinic, and citric acids (natural organic compounds)

The research team recruited 66 Long COVID patients experiencing persistent fatigue; 33 were given the treatment and another 33 acted as controls (given no treatment) for comparison.

What they found

After two months, patients taking the supplement showed improvement across all measures: body composition, physical performance, and life quality, compared to the control group. Significant improvements were specifically seen in:

• Skeletal muscle
• Handgrip strength
• The 1-minute sit-stand test
• The 6-minute walk test

What it means

The researchers suggested the amino acids and three organic acids may have an anti-inflammatory effect and improve cellular mitochondrial function, which produces energy. The amino acids are also known to regulate immune function.

The authors concluded that nutritional intervention can be beneficial for adult and senior COVID-19 survivors. “The hypothesis that the nutritional supplement…may have had a positive impact on nutritional status and functional recovery,” they wrote, “is corroborated by the scientific evidence and by a strong biological plausibility.”

Given the prevalence of Long COVID, the researchers said, it’s important to advocate for specific nutritional assessment and treatment support. Though more research is needed, “It is important to highlight that the assessment of nutritional status and the treatment with adequate multicomponent nutritional support is advised in all patients in the acute stage of COVID-19 and in the post-acute phase as well.”

*Daniels, S. (2022, June 13). Multi-component supplement may help post-COVID fatigue recovery: Data. NutraIngredients-USA.com. https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2022/06/13/Multi-component-supplement-may-help-post-COVID-fatigue-recovery-Data