Researchers from the University of Luxembourg and the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Ettelbruck (CHNP) are investigating whether fasting could alleviate Long Covid symptoms, as part of the FastCoV study.
Approximately 10% of Covid-19 patients develop Long Covid, for which no effective treatment currently exists.
Given fasting’s documented benefits in reducing inflammation in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, the research team aims to determine if similar effects could apply to Long Covid. “Fasting reduces caloric intake and gives the body time to rest, which may weaken inflammation and ease symptoms,” explained Dr Raquel Gómez Bravo of CHNP in an interview with RTL Radio. The pilot study will assess whether a larger clinical trial is feasible.
20 participants – all experiencing persistent symptoms such as severe fatigue, pain, or cognitive impairment for at least three months post-infection (some for years) – are undergoing a seven-day fasting regimen. Following a protocol developed by Berlin’s Charité University Hospital, they consume only 350 calories daily in the form of juices while tracking their symptoms.
Before and after the fasting week, researchers are collecting blood, stool, and urine samples four times over a one-month period to correlate patients’ self-reported improvements with biological markers. So far, 12 participants have completed the study, with the remaining eight beginning this week.
Early anecdotal feedback suggests some participants experienced reduced fatigue after fasting, though Dr Marta Sanchez Castro of the University of Luxembourg cautioned that these are preliminary observations and that objective data is needed to confirm these effects. Initial findings are expected by autumn.
If the pilot confirms feasibility, the team hopes to secure funding for a year-long, large-scale study with broader participant monitoring.
