A Comprehensive Scoping Review on Diet and Nutrition in Relation to Long COVID-19 Symptoms and Recovery

Background/Objectives: Long COVID-19 is characterized by persistent symptoms lasting three months or more following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nutrition has emerged as a modifiable factor influencing recovery trajectories and symptom burden; however, existing evidence remains fragmented across diverse study designs and populations. This scoping review synthesized global evidence on the role of diet and nutrition in managing long COVID-19 symptoms and supporting recovery. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews, we searched major biomedical databases for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies examined dietary intake, nutritional status, or nutrition-related interventions in adults with long COVID-19. Results: After duplicates were removed, 1808 records were screened, resulting in 50 studies that met the inclusion criteria-27 intervention studies and 23 observational studies. Nutritional exposures included micronutrients (e.g., vitamins D, K₂), amino acids (e.g., L-arginine), multinutrient formulations, microbiota-targeted therapies (e.g., probiotics, synbiotics), nutritional status, diet quality, and whole-diet patterns (e.g., the Mediterranean diet). Approximately 76% of studies reported improvements in long COVID-19-related symptoms such as fatigue, mood disturbances, physical function, and markers of inflammation. Conclusions: Diet and nutrition may support long COVID-19 recovery by targeting inflammation and the gut microbiome to alleviate symptoms and improve functional outcomes. Well-powered trials of whole-diet approaches, combined with targeted supplementation, are needed to confirm their potential as scalable, accessible tools for post-COVID-19 recovery and management.