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Efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy on 28 cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
June 1, 2025
Shinichiro Kodama et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedCOVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesDietary SupplementsFatigue Syndrome, ChronicRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Treatment OutcomeVaccinationVitamin DVitamin D DeficiencyVitamins
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality65/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.15
Normalized Score0.67
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