Clinical Trial to Test Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Treating Long Covid
By Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com
In a groundbreaking clinical trial, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) are investigating whether an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce the symptoms of long Covid. Long Covid, which affects more than 20 million Americans, is a condition characterized by lingering symptoms such as shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue, and depression that persist for weeks or even years after recovering from the virus.
The clinical trial will enroll 50 long Covid patients being treated at USC’s Covid Recovery Clinic. Half of the participants will follow a 30-day anti-inflammatory diet plan, while the other half will stick to their normal eating habits. At the end of the month, the researchers will measure each patient’s inflammatory markers and assess their long Covid symptoms. If the patients show a reduction in symptoms and tolerate the dietary intervention well, the trial will be expanded to include a larger population.
The trial is based on recent research that suggests long Covid may be caused by a hyper-inflammatory response that persists even after the body has fought off the virus. Currently, there is no proven treatment for long Covid, which has sparked debate about the true scale and severity of the condition. Some studies have suggested that the symptoms associated with long Covid would have been present regardless of whether the individual had contracted Covid or not.
Dr. Nuria Pastor-Soler, the principal investigator and associate professor of USC’s Keck School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of research in expanding the understanding of long Covid and finding effective treatments. Dr. Adupa Rao, the medical director of the Keck Medicine Covid Recovery Clinic, expressed hope that the trial would determine whether food choices could quiet the body’s inflammatory response and alleviate long Covid symptoms.
The trial, which will be the first to examine the effects of specific foods on long Covid symptoms, is significant in light of the increasing number of individuals experiencing long-term effects from Covid-19. While there is still much to learn about the condition, previous studies have shown the benefits of anti-inflammatory foods in reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Some examples of anti-inflammatory foods that may be included in the diet plan are berries, fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, spices like turmeric and ginger, and aromatics like garlic and onions. These foods have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and can potentially provide relief for long Covid patients.
The results of this clinical trial could potentially pave the way for new treatment options for long Covid, offering hope to millions of individuals suffering from this debilitating condition. As research continues, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of long Covid and effective interventions will ultimately improve patients’ quality of life.