CASE SERIES CONDUCTED AT BUCHINGER WILHELMI CLINICS
Long-term fasting provides health improvements in long COVID patients
Überlingen, 12.10.2023 —long COVID, a condition affecting more than 10 % of individuals following a COVID-19 infection, remains a medical challenge for which little treatment is known. The multiple symptoms are ranging from persistent fatigue, breathlessness, to cognitive impairments. A case series at the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinics shows that long-term fasting could be a promising non-pharmacological intervention contributing to treat long COVID.
Fourteen long COVID patients underwent medically supervised fasting according to the Buchinger Wilhelmi minimally supplemented fasting program, lasting from six to 16 days. The patients reported how they felt when they first had COVID-19 and how they felt before and after fasting.
They experienced altogether a significant subjective health improvement. Symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, muscle and joint pains were reduced. Even less frequent symptoms such as cognitive impairment, smell and taste disorders, showed marked improvements after fasting. Importantly, no side effects were reported during the entire fasting period.
Blood tests were conducted before and after fasting. They revealed general metabolic health improvements. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were reduced. This suggests a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is one of the complications of long COVID.
Altogether, the ability of fasting causing large-scale changes in the body, could make it suitable to address the complexity of symptoms of long COVID in addition to drugs that are based on a one-symptom, one-medication model.
The findings of this case series open a promising avenue of research for the treatment of long COVID, offering hope to millions of individuals worldwide whose lives have been adversely impacted by the effects of COVID-19.
The key findings summarized
- They experienced altogether a significant subjective health improvement.
- Symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, muscle and joint pains were reduced.
- Even less frequent symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, smell and taste disorders, showed marked improvements after fasting.
- Importantly, no side effects were reported during the entire fasting period.
- Blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were reduced.
- This suggests a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is one of the complications of long COVID.
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Conclusion
Altogether, the ability of fasting causing large-scale changes in the body, could make it suitable to address the complexity of symptoms of long COVID in addition to drugs that are based on a one-symptom, one-medication model.
The findings of this case series open a promising avenue of research for the treatment of long COVID, offering hope to millions of individuals worldwide whose lives have been adversely impacted by the effects of COVID-19.
Contact
For more information about this case series, please contact:
Dr Franziska Grundler
Scientific Project Manager
franziska.grundler@buchinger-wilhelmi.com
Publication
Grundler F, Mesnage R, Cerrada A, Wilhelmi de Toledo F. Improvements during long-term fasting in patients with long COVID a case series and literature review. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2023.
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