Regrettably, the complications of Covid are still with us. This week Derek Draper died of multiple organ failure following a prolonged battle with the complications of an infection in 2020.

The cause of long covid remains uncertain,. Theories include a persistent, lingering virus that failed to clear adequately after the acute infection and a chronic abnormal immune response that attacks the host’s own body cells—a form of autoimmune disease. Similar occurrences can arise after other viral infections, such as the flu and shingles, termed Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome.

Common Symptoms of Long Covid:

  • Fatigue, weakness, and low energy levels affecting work, exercise, and daily activities.
  • Low mood, depression, and anxiety, insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns.
  • Shortness of breath and a persistent cough.
  • Poor concentration, memory issues, and reduced cognitive function (Brain Fog).
  • Aches and pains in joints and muscles, and chest resembling fibromyalgia or arthritis.
  • Heart palpitations elevated blood pressure leading to medication or heart damage.
  • Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and persistent diarrhea or constipation.
  • Skin rashes and an exacerbation of other conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

Lifestyle Factors Increasing the Risk of Long Covid:

It is crucial to emphasise that no individual is to blame for the suffering caused by Covid-19. Many fit men and women have been affected, and the blame should not be placed on them. However, it is a reality that individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease chest problems or have poor levels of fitness  have significantly increased odds of developing serious long-term consequences of this virus.

Research conducted in the height of the pandemic and afterward. in particular, clearly suggested that overall risks could be reduced by self-initiated lifestyle strategies, particularly in the areas of gut health, vitamin D, and phytochemical-rich foods: The evidence for which are now highlighted which can help you reduce the impact of long covid:

Poor Gut Health:
Screenshot 2024 01 05 at 13.35.02Around the world, scientists started finding that healthy strains of gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus were depleted in the majority of patients with Covid expressing gastrointestinal symptoms and especially those with persistent ongoing problems. Individuals with a history of symptoms suggested poor gut health, also did significantly worse. The authors of these studies postulated that an imbalance of gut bacteria (microfloral dysbiosis) contributed to worse Covid damage via increased gut inflammation, impaired gut wall integrity, which correspondingly leads to systemic inflammatory dysfunction and reduced immune surveillance. About this time, research generated from the UK Zoe app team also reported that people taking probiotics, which aimed to improve gut health, had fewer covid symptoms.

This link between the severity of the disease and gut health did not just apply to gut symptoms but for general symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and joint pains. At first, doctors did not understand how gut health could affect the lungs, but in the same way, there is a gut-brain axis, there is a gut-lung axis. Overgrowth of “bad” gut bacteria has been found in the systemic circulation and within pulmonary aspirates leading to an increased and inappropriate inflammatory response to the virus. This excess inflammatory response further damages the lung and causes pulmonary exudates (sludge), both features of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a term later coined the Inflammatory storm.

Vitamin D Deficiency:
The Zoe app team also reported that people taking regular vitamin D had less severe Covid. Other studiesfrom China and the USA found that people with below normal levels of vitamin D3 had higher risks. This relationship was confirmed by the massive prospective UK Biobank study, which found a strong association between low serum vitamin D with Covid-19 severity, even considering and adjusting for obesity and ethnicity. This information led to official management guidelines, eventually changing to include the correction of vitamin D deficiency.

Phytochemical-Rich Foods:
Screenshot 2022 11 25 at 19.00.12Phytochemicals provide the colour, aroma and taste of plants but also have enormous health benefits. The biggest group called polyphenols, are abundant in vegetables, salads, herbs, spices, teas, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, seeds and legumes. The typical western diet, is often deficient in polyphenols, meaning we need to think about eating a lot more of them. Ideally, we should aim to have two or more vegetable, fruit or other phytochemical rich food with every meal of the day. Previous and ongoing studies are investigating whether supplementing these foods in nutritional capsules could enhance:

Laboratory research shows they have direct antiviral properties by slowing replication and blocking the spreading of the virus, especially curminoids (in turmeric); resveratrol and citrus flavonoids (grapes, polygonum cuspidatum root); ellagic acid and quercetin (pomegranate) and apigenin (chamomile, parsley, and celery). Resveratrol has also been shown to help reduce virus-induced exudate production and lung injury in laboratory studies. All these phytochemicals have the ability to dampen excess inflammation, which explains why they help reduce inflammation-associated joint pains, a symptom common among people with long Covid. But, unlike aspirin and ibuprofen, have actually protect gastric mucosa, kidneys, and the heart. Furthermore, unlike steroids and other immune suppressants, the ability of phytochemicals to suppress inflammation does not lead to a reduced viral immune response.

These data establish a firm link between low phytochemical-rich food intake, low vitamin D, and poor gut bacterial health to worse Covid outcomes. It was not known at this time, however, whether boosting phytochemical and vitamin D intake and improving gut bacteria could actually reduce acute Covid severity, prevent, or ameliorate long Covid symptoms.

At this time a major nutritional intervention study was launched by a team of scientists and clinicians from a Bedford and Cambridge University-linked hospital to answer this question. Together they designed a double blind randomised trial which turned out to the first and largest nutritional intervention for people suffering from COVID IMG 4572in the World, called the phyto-v study. 

Male and female were all given a specifically made capsule containing five blends of Lactobacillus probiotics together with a prebiotic called inulin and vitamin D, which after the trial became known as Yourgutplus. Half were randomized to additionally take either a placebo or a bespoke broad-spectrum phytochemical-rich supplement containing concentrated pomegranate, chamomile, citrus bioflavonoids from oranges, purified turmeric and resveratrol from polygonum cuspidatum root, which after the trial became known as Phyto-V.

pic yourgutplusAn analysis of the final results, by Bedford University, showed a 2-fold improvement in fatigue, cough, breathlessness, and overall quality of life after taking the Yourgutplus capsule. This was certainly welcomed, especially among those who had suffered for over 100 days and especially those with gut problems in whom the overall effect was greater. For those randomized to the additional Phyto-V capsules, the benefit was even greater, with a further three-fold improvement in symptoms compared to the placebo group. There was particularly good improvement in insomnia. Although the ingredients were non-sedating, this benefit was brought about by the improvement in mood, gut health, melatonin production, and circadian rhythm, which combined to improve natural sleep patterns. From this data, the manufacturers have gone on to produce a sleeping aid , another advantage of this research. The final research papers were published in the international journal COVID and received widespread media attention and the supplement is now used in many long covid clinics across the world.

 

In conclusion, long Covid is a  troublesome complication for a great deal of people. The best tactic is to avoid getting complications from Covid and other future viruses in the first place through staying as fit as possible by stopping smoking, exercising 3 hours a week, ensuring adequate essential mineral intake, maintaining a normal weight, eating lots of fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats. If you suffer from long Covid, these measures still apply, but the research data which has emerge from the pandemic is strongly suggesting an emphasis on improving gut health, vitamin D levels, and phytochemical-rich food intake.