Trial Report Effects of an 8-week high-dose vitamin D supplementation on fatigue and neuropsychiatric manifestations in [long COVID]: [RCT], 2024, Charoenporn+

[forestglip]

Effects of an 8-week high-dose vitamin D supplementation on fatigue and neuropsychiatric manifestations in post-COVID syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Veevarin Charoenporn, Parunkul Tungsukruthai, Pitchapa Teacharushatakit, Sirashat Hanvivattanakul, Kusuma Sriyakul, Sophida Sukprasert, Chuntida Kamalashiran, Sucharat Tungsukruthai, Thammanard Charernboon

Published: October 2024

Aim
This study evaluated the effectiveness of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in alleviating fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms in post-COVID syndrome.

Methods
In an 8-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 80 patients with post-COVID fatigue or neuropsychiatric symptoms were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 60,000 IU of vitamin D weekly (n = 40) or a placebo (n = 40) for 8 weeks. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the 11-item Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ-11); 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE); and Trail Making Test A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B). Baseline and 8-week measurements of inflammatory markers, including interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were also collected.

Results
Significant improvements were found in the vitamin D group for CFQ (coefficient -3.5, P = 0.024), DASS-anxiety (-2.0, P = 0.011), and ACE (2.1, P = 0.012). No significant differences were observed in PSQI, DASS-depression, TMT, IL-6, or CRP levels. The incidence of adverse events was comparable between groups, with no serious adverse events reported.

Conclusion
High-dose vitamin D supplementation may benefit patients with post-COVID syndrome by reducing fatigue, alleviating anxiety, and improving cognitive symptoms, with minimal side effects.

Link (Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences) [Paywall]

 

[Utsikt]

Did they measure vit-D levels before and after?

Also, 8 weeks might not be long enough to cause damage through too high levels, we probably need longer safety studies.

 

[Eleanor]

When they say there were improvements in the treatment group but choose not to mention whether the control group also improved, do we take that to mean the control group also improved?

 

[Mij]

60,000 IU of vitamin D weekly

that's a crazy high amount

 

[Arnie Pye]

that's a crazy high amount

It's about 8,500 iU per day. I wouldn't want to take that dose myself (I take 4000 iU when I remember) but a lot of people take 10,000 iU per day and feel it benefits them.

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

The results indicated statistically significant reductions in fatigue symptoms (CFQ, coefficient — 3.5, P 0.024), anxiety (DASS–anxiety, coefficient — 2.0, P = 0.011), and improvements in cognitive function (ACE, coefficient 2.1, P = 0.012), favoring the vitamin D group. Conversely, no statistically significant differences were identified in PSQI, DASS–depression, or TMT.

Vitamin D seems to have had no effect on inflammatory markers, as there were no statistically significant mean differences observed in IL-6 (coefficient —1.1, P = 0.519) or CRP (coefficient 0.2, P = 0.794) levels. However, as expected, the treatment group exhibited significantly higher vitamin D levels compared with the control group at the 8th week (42.4 vs 21.0 ng/mL; coefficient 19.9, P < 0.001).

Our study observed that vitamin D supplementation did not demonstrate superiority in its treatment for depression or insomnia compared with placebo, despite an insignificant reduction in DASS–depression scores and PSQI scores.

 

[PrairieLights]

It's about 8,500 iU per day. I wouldn't want to take that dose myself (I take 4000 iU when I remember) but a lot of people take 10,000 iU per day and feel it benefits them.

I was taking 4000 daily for 5 months, now my level is perfect so reduced. Will retest im march to make sure I haven't reduced too much to maintain.

I don't feel any difference from being low to being ideal.

 

[Mij]

When my D levels were low(32) twenty years ago I started taking 2500iu every day for 4 months. I redid my tests( 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D) and they were 'high' out of range and I was told to stop.

I didn't feel any benefits except my immune system got worse with reactivating everything. Might have been a coincidence. Who knows.

 

[Dolphin]

I saw a thread on this on Twitter that highlighted this trial used vitamin D2 rather than the more commonly used vitamin D3. I'll have to leave it to others how significant or otherwise this might be.

 

[Arnie Pye]

this trial used vitamin D2

I haven't seen that on sale in the UK for many years. I do remember taking a combined D3 and D2 supplement many years ago and my D2 level didn't move, while my D3 only increased a tiny amount. Most info I've seen on D2 has suggested it is inferior to D3, but I suspect the people organising the research wanted something that could be taken by vegans and non-vegans. D3 almost always comes from animal sources.

There are sources of D3 suitable for vegans nowadays. Some forms of lichen have been found to contain D3.

 

[Spartacus]

Endless research about the benefits of Vitamin D. Am I the only person who can't take this stuff? After 3 days of even a low dose I develop terrible brain fog.