Efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy on 28 cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether vitamin D replacement therapy could alleviate ME/CFS symptoms in patients who developed the condition after COVID-19 vaccination.
Results Summary
Vitamin D replacement therapy increased blood vitamin D levels and reduced ME/CFS symptoms, with 82% of patients no longer meeting diagnostic criteria. Sleep problems and autonomic symptoms showed the most improvement.
Population
28 patients diagnosed with ME/CFS following COVID-19 vaccination and with insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D replacement therapy | increase | blood vitamin D levels | 28 patients who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination | from 16 ± 4 ng/mL to 28 ± 5 ng/mL | observed an increase | #1 |
vitamin D replacement therapy | decrease | ME/CFS diagnostic symptoms | 28 patients who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination | from 10.3 ± 2.1 to 3.3 ± 2.0 | associated with a decrease | #2 |
vitamin D replacement therapy | decrease | ME/CFS diagnostic criteria | 28 patients who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination | 23 of 28 patients (82%) | no longer met | #3 |
vitamin D replacement therapy | increase | sleep problems | 28 patients who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination | 71% | showed the most improvement | #4 |
vitamin D replacement therapy | increase | autonomic symptoms | 28 patients who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination | 68% | improvement | #5 |
BACKGROUND: Prolonged symptoms have been reported following both COVID-19 infection and vaccination, with some cases leading to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Of 80 patients presenting to our hospital with postvaccination syndrome, 28 met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. We conducted a retrospective study on these 28 patients. METHODS: We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 28 patients who developed ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination between August 2022 and February 2024. Vitamin D replacement therapy included dietary counseling, sun exposure recommendations, and oral vitamin D supplementation. We evaluated changes in blood vitamin D levels and symptom improvement. RESULTS: At initial visit, 27 of 28 patients diagnosed with ME/CFS had insufficient or deficient serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (16 ± 4 ng/mL, mean ± SD). Following vitamin D replacement therapy, we observed an increase in blood vitamin D levels (28 ± 5 ng/mL) associated with a decrease in ME/CFS diagnostic symptoms (from 10.3 ± 2.1 to 3.3 ± 2.0). Notably, 23 of 28 patients (82%) no longer met ME/CFS diagnostic criteria after the therapy. Among the symptoms, sleep problems showed the most improvement (71%), followed by autonomic symptoms (68%). CONCLUSIONS: For patients developing ME/CFS after COVID-19 vaccination with insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels, appropriate vitamin D replacement therapy under medical guidance may lead to symptomatic relief. We are preparing a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy in individuals with ME/CFS who have developed vitamin D deficiency following COVID-19 infection or vaccination.