Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have low levels of vitamins and trace elements. This could lead to a post-acute COVID-19 condition (PCC) that can worsen a patient's quality of life. We aimed to study the baseline micronutrient status of patients and assess whether a multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) taken for 2 weeks at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms would be able to reduce the incidence of PCC. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted in adult outpatients with acute COVID-19, recruited between 2021 and 2023 in Spain. Of the 285 patients assessed for eligibility, 267 were randomized and 246 were included in the intent-to-treat population. The mean age was 46.8 years, and 68% were female. Overall, 54.6% had micronutrient deficiencies in the acute phase of COVID-19 at baseline, and 26.2% had PCC after 180 days of follow-up (D180). The most frequently recorded PCC symptoms were neurological (14.1%), with 24% patients scoring worse in the cognitive tests compared to their baseline status. The rate of PCC at D180 was similar between the placebo (25.0%) and intervention (27.7%) groups, without significant differences (p = 0.785). Age over 50 years was the most relevant risk factor for developing PCC, followed by female sex. The most important protective factor against PCC was SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In this population of predominantly middle-aged, white women with acute COVID-19 not requiring hospital admission, MMS intake for 14 days at symptom onset did not prevent PCC nor improve their micronutrient status at D180.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cognitive assessment; cognitive impairment; long COVID; micronutrients; multiple micronutrient supplement; nutritional status; post-COVID-19 condition; quality of life.