IV Vitamin C treatment on viral Fatigue with Focus on Long COVID

Do the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory  and immunomodulatory effects of high-dose IV vitamin C might be a suitable treatment option?

Fatigue is coming into focus as a major symptom of long COVID. Patient data from all over the world show that COVID-19 not only attacks people’s health during the acute infection but also often results in post-infection problems, which are summarized under the term long COVID.

Post-viral fatigue is associated with various infectious diseases (SARS coronavirus, Epstein–Barr virus, Ross River virus, enteroviruses, human herpesvirus-6, Ebola virus, West Nile virus, Dengue virus, and parvovirus; bacteria such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Coxiella burnetii, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae; and even parasites, such as Giardia lamblia),Post-viral fatigue syndrome is similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) . It is interesting to note that CFS often begins with an infection during a period of increased physical activity or stress. Patients with long COVID are or were affected not only by the infection but likely also by psychological and/or somatic stress during the lockdown.

Claudia Vollbracht and , Karin Kraft examined nine clinical studies with 720 participants . Three of the four controlled trials observed a significant decrease in fatigue scores in the vitamin C group compared to the control group. Four of the five observational or before-and-after studies observed a significant reduction in pre–post levels of fatigue. Attendant symptoms of fatigue such as sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, depression, and pain were also frequently alleviated. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and circulatory disorders, which are important contributors to fatigue, are also discussed in long COVID fatigue.

The authors conclude that ” Oxidative stress and inflammation can cause and maintain fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression, and sleep disturbances. They disrupt the formation and functioning of important neurotransmitters and of blood circulation. Vitamin C is one of the most effective physiological antioxidants, showing anti-inflammatory effects, especially if applied intravenously in pharmacological doses. It restores endothelial function, and it is an enzymatic co-factor in the synthesis of various neurotransmitters. High-dose IV vitamin C has been investigated in four controlled and five observational or before-and-after studies in patients with cancer, allergies, and herpes zoster infections. The results show a reduction in fatigue and attendant symptoms such as sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, pain, and cognitive disorders. COVID-19 is a multisystem disease in which oxidative stress is partly responsible for excessive inflammation and circulatory disorders such as immune thrombosis. Vitamin C deficiency has been demonstrated in COVID-19 and other acute severe infections and should also be investigated in long COVID. Furthermore, the effects of high-dose IV vitamin C on long COVID-associated fatigue should be investigated in clinical trials”

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