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Preventive Intake of a Multiple Micronutrient Supplement during Mild, Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection to Reduce the
Teresa Maria Tomasa-Irriguible1, Ramon Monfà2, Cristina Miranda-Jiménez2
1Intensive Care Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
Insights
Multiple micronutrient supplements did not prevent post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC) in outpatients. Micronutrient deficiencies were common, but supplementation did not reduce PCC incidence or improve status after 180 days.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Patients with COVID-19 often exhibit low micronutrient levels, potentially contributing to post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC).
- PCC can significantly impair a patient's quality of life, highlighting the need for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the baseline micronutrient status in patients with acute COVID-19.
- To determine if a 2-week multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) regimen initiated at symptom onset could reduce the incidence of PCC.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial involving 246 adult outpatients with acute COVID-19 in Spain (2021-2023).
- Participants received either MMS or placebo for 14 days, with follow-up at 180 days to assess PCC incidence and micronutrient status.
Main Results:
- Over 54% of patients had micronutrient deficiencies at baseline.
- The incidence of PCC at 180 days was 26.2% overall and did not differ significantly between the MMS (27.7%) and placebo (25.0%) groups.
- Neurological symptoms were the most common PCC manifestation; age over 50 and female sex were risk factors, while SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was protective.
Conclusions:
- A 14-day MMS intervention did not prevent PCC in this cohort of predominantly middle-aged women with non-hospitalized acute COVID-19.
- The study did not find evidence that MMS improved micronutrient status at 180 days post-infection.
- Identifying risk factors like age and sex is crucial for managing PCC, with vaccination showing a protective effect.
Abstract:
Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have low levels of vitamins and trace elements. This could lead to a post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC) that can worsen a patient's quality of life. We aimed to study the baseline micronutrient status of patients and assess whether a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) taken for 2 weeks at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms would be able to reduce the incidence of PCC. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted in adult outpatients with acute COVID-19, recruited between 2021 and 2023 in Spain. Of the 285 patients assessed for eligibility, 267 were randomized and 246 were included in the intent-to-treat population. The mean age was 46.8 years, and 68% were female. Overall, 54.6% had micronutrient deficiencies in the acute phase of COVID-19 at baseline, and 26.2% had PCC after 180 days of follow-up (D180). The most frequently recorded PCC symptoms were neurological (14.1%), with 24% patients scoring worse in the cognitive tests compared to their baseline status. The rate of PCC at D180 was similar between the placebo (25.0%) and intervention (27.7%) groups, without significant differences (p = 0.785). Age over 50 years was the most relevant risk factor for developing PCC, followed by female sex. The most important protective factor against PCC was SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In this population of predominantly middle-aged, white women with acute COVID-19 not requiring hospital admission, MMS intake for 14 days at symptom onset did not prevent PCC nor improve their micronutrient status at D180.
