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

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#humans #male #female #fatigue #double-blind-method

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

Charoenporn et al., 2024 | Psychiatry Clin Neurosci | Rct

Citation

Charoenporn Veevarin, Tungsukruthai Parunkul, ... Charernboon Thammanard. Effects of an 8-week high-dose vitamin D supplementation on fatigue and neuropsychiatric manifestations in post-COVID syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2024-Oct;78(10):595-604. doi:10.1111/pcn.13716

Abstract

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.

Key Findings

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.

Outcomes Measured

  • sleep quality
  • PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • C-reactive protein
  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population post
Sample Size 40
Age Range See abstract
Condition sleep

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Female
  • Fatigue
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Vitamin D
  • Middle Aged
  • Adult
  • COVID-19
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • Vitamins
  • Aged
  • Interleukin-6
  • Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: vitamin-d-immune

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09