The past three years have held many ups and downs in learning and adjusting to Covid 19. Most individuals recover within a few days to a few weeks of contracting the infection. Meanwhile, others suffer from lingering health issues known as “Long Covid” or “Post-Covid Fatigue.”
This article will cover the best supplements for post-covid fatigue and other tools to deal with the dreaded “Long Covid.”
Symptoms of Long Covid
One of the most common symptoms reported is lingering fatigue. The symptom is often severe enough to disrupt the ability to function normally in life. Along with fatigue, there are a variety of other symptoms individuals may experience. These include but are not limited to neurological symptoms like numbness and tingling, brain fog and cognitive dysfunction, joint or muscle aches, digestive symptoms, rapid heart rate, headaches, and sleep problems. In many, this prolonged fatigue can disrupt their ability to function as they’re accustomed to doing.
Is Post-Covid Fatigue an Anomaly?
Historically, there are a variety of infections that can go on to cause lingering symptoms similar to those experienced by some after Covid 19.
We often treat individuals clinically for similar symptoms after infections like Mycoplasma, Epstein Barr virus, Lyme disease, Human Herpes virus 6 (HHV6), and cytomegalovirus (CMV), just to name a few.
While lingering symptoms and fatigue post-Covid may be a new idea to some, many chronically sick people are now grateful that a larger and more mainstream group recognizes post-infection inflammatory syndromes. It fosters a feeling of hope that greater understanding and more funding for research for these infections may become prevalent.
While there remains a need for ongoing research and understanding as to why Covid 19 and other infections can go on to cause chronic health symptoms, we have many tools to be able to do something about it. Learning from our experience in treating patients who have suffered similar symptoms after infection, we lean on a variety of supplements and therapies to help our long Covid patients.
Six of the Best Supplements for Post-Covid Fatigue
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in creating red blood cells, supporting neurological function, and repairing DNA.
Having enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body adequately will help with the repair process after a covid 19 infection. Additionally, DNA repair is also important after the level of stress and inflammation the body has just gone through.
For the purpose of post-covid fatigue, we suggest a methylated or hydroxy form of B12. Look for methylcobalmin or hydroxycobalmin as opposed to cyanocobalmin.
CoQ10
CoQ10 is a coenzyme that acts as an antioxidant in your body. It is also involved in cellular energy production. Lower levels are typically found in individuals who are experiencing high levels of inflammation.
Supplementing with CoQ10 supports the body by increasing cellular energy. For example, when we increase cellular energy, we also improve the body’s ability to repair and recover, thus decreasing levels of fatigue and lending enough cellular energy for your body to recover adequately from a viral infection such as Covid.
D Ribose
D Ribose is a simple sugar that works to improve mitochondrial function. It enhances muscular, cardiovascular, and neurological function. Furthermore, repairing and improving mitochondrial function also helps with the cell’s energy creation and output.
D Ribose also helps to clear lactic acid out of the cells. During covid, lactic acid can build up in the cells. By clearing this out, D Ribose helps to make more room for energy creation and free the cell of something that’s causing it to act in a more “sluggish” manner.
PQQ
PQQ or Pyrroloquinoline, is a disodium salt and longevity vitamin derived from bacteria. It is known to increase cerebral blood flow, which can improve the foggy thinking (brain fog) that comes with fatigue post covid.
It also protects and supports nerve cells, and can protect mitochondria from oxidative stress. PQQ has properties that allow it to decrease immune activation as well, which can help to calm the immune system in the post covid state.
L carnitine
L carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid made in the brain, kidneys, and liver. It is essential for proper mitochondrial function. What’s more, studies show that 4 to 8 weeks after beginning L carnitine supplementation, chronic fatigue patients showed significant improvements in their fatigue symptoms.
In addition, it’s important to have adequate levels of amino acids in your system for the body to produce proper amounts of L carnitine. Adequate animal protein gives sufficient lysine and methionine, both amino acids that allow the body to produce more L carnitine.
Sufficient amounts of vitamin C will increase L carnitine production in your body. Likewise, well-sourced animal meat is a great source of L carnitine.
B3 (niacin) NMN
NMN or nicotinomide mononucleotide is a precursor to NAD+ and supports levels of it in your body. NAD+ is a coenzyme that is essential for life. NAD+ levels decrease with age as well as with illness and chronic stress.
Adequate levels of NAD+ systemically allow the transfer of fatty acids and glucose into the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) and allow your cells to turn these substances into ATP (cellular energy).
The more robust your cells are in producing cellular energy, the more alert, energized, and functional you will feel.
Acknowledge Other Underlying Issues
Aside from utilizing what we consider the best supplements for post-covid fatigue, it’s
important to consider digging deeper into what may have been stirred up by the virus. If underlying lingering issues are present before you contract Covid, these things can come to the surface after your infection due to the hit your immune system takes.
Some things to be mindful of include minimizing exposure to environmental toxins and addressing any exposure to mycotoxins derived from mold. In addition, prioritize the quality of your microbiome and GI health, as 60-70% of our immune response comes from the gut.
Ultimately, restoring a proper immune response is crucial in healing from the lingering inflammatory symptoms associated with Covid.
Other Tools To Mitigate Post-Covid Fatigue
Immune IV Drip
Many individuals who feel intense fatigue towards the end of or just after covid and who do not have previous underlying health issues simply need a boost to their system. Increased hydration and a kick to the immune system will help you get ‘over the hump’ at the end of a covid infection.
An immune boost IV offers high-dose vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and hydration fluids. Clinically we see that most people with post-covid fatigue benefit and bounce back nicely with three immune boost drips.
Optimize Restful Sleep
Sleep is important for all of the immune and natural killer cells to function properly. If you’re already run down from having Covid 19, making sure you get excellent quality sleep can help improve the function of your immune cells and decrease lingering fatigue.
Minimize Stress
Just like poor sleep can decrease immune function, too much stress wreaks havoc on our immune cells. We all experience stress to some degree, and some of these stressors may be outside our control.
That said, how we handle and respond to stress and the tools we use to manage stress can play an important role in keeping the immune system healthy. Some of the tools we suggest for elevated stress levels include adaptogenic herbs to support the adrenals, acupressure and acupuncture treatments, deep breathing exercises, and getting outside in nature to move your body daily.
Utilize Peptide Therapy
When supplements and lifestyle modifications don’t cut it, another tool we can add to the mix is peptide therapy. Peptides are small chains of amino acids that improve signaling and communication in the body. They can help improve cellular repair and immune response and decrease inflammation.
Work with Peak Health Institute
As you can see, there are so many tools we can use when it comes to lingering fatigue from Covid 19. The best supplements for post-covid fatigue include vitamin B12, CoQ10, D Ribose, PQQ, L carnitine, and B3 NMN. These supplements improve immune function, decrease inflammation, and improve cellular health and energy.
You can work one-on-one with a trained functional medicine provider at Peak Health Institute to create a treatment plan specific to your body’s needs. Additionally, if you don’t feel that you need a whole plan but would like to implement IV therapy, we can get you set up for an immune boost drip without a prior visit with a practitioner. Contact us here to learn more!