These supplements offer new hope.
A small study involving 52 participants found that low doses of the nutritional supplement lithium aspartate may not alleviate the fatigue and brain fog associated with Long COVID. Researchers, however, suggested that higher doses might be more effective.
The supplement contains significantly lower amounts of lithium than prescription versions, with each pill providing 10 milligrams (mg), compared to the 300 or 450 mg found in prescription lithium. Dr. Thomas Guttuso, the lead author from the University of Buffalo, emphasized that the findings are preliminary due to the small number of participants. He noted that higher lithium blood levels might be needed to see improvements in fatigue and cognitive issues related to Long COVID.
It’s estimated that more than 17 million Americans may be affected by Long COVID, often experiencing symptoms like extreme tiredness and brain fog. Guttuso initially recommended 5 to 15 mg doses of lithium aspartate to 10 patients, nine of whom reported improvements. Encouraged by these results, he pursued a formal clinical trial.
In the trial, 52 individuals with ongoing fatigue or cognitive problems for at least four weeks after a positive COVID-19 test were selected. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 10 to 15 mg of lithium aspartate or a placebo for five weeks. Unfortunately, the trial showed no significant reduction in fatigue or brain fog, as reported in JAMA Network Open on October 2.
Guttuso admitted the outcome was disappointing, especially after positive anecdotal reports from his patients. “I had high hopes for this trial,” he said, but acknowledged that research can sometimes yield unexpected results.
Despite the overall findings, three patients who participated in an extended dose-finding phase saw improvements when taking 40 to 45 mg of lithium aspartate daily. The two patients with the highest blood lithium levels experienced the most relief from fatigue and brain fog. Guttuso cautioned that the sample size was small, making these findings preliminary, but he suggested that higher blood levels of lithium might offer better results.
Guttuso hinted that another study might be necessary, concluding, “The takeaway is that very low doses of lithium aspartate, around 10-15 mg daily, don’t appear to be effective in treating Long COVID symptoms. A follow-up trial with higher doses may be worth exploring.”
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