Here’s what we’ll cover in this blog post:
- The latest study on LDN and B12 for Long COVID
- What the study found
- How LDN and B12 help Long COVID
Though the pandemic is over, COVID still affects us in more ways than one. For some, it’s distant memories of Zoom calls or caring for loved ones. For others, it’s the sight of N95 masks collecting dust on counters. But for many, the symptoms of COVID still linger, stubbornly persisting in the form of Long COVID.
Now, years after the end of the pandemic, Long COVID still affects millions worldwide. While some studies have offered promising candidates for Long COVID treatment, scientists and patients alike are still left without go-to solutions for symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
But a recent study from PNAS, one of the world’s most cited peer-reviewed scientific journals, may finally offer an answer: Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) and B12. Here’s how.
What Did the Study Show?
This observational study followed a total of 3,925 patients with either myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or Long COVID. Though each condition has different pathologies, their symptoms often overlap, especially regarding persistent fatigue.
The researchers assessed combinations of more than 150 treatments to identify which had the “greatest perceived benefits” among patients. Each patient was divided into treatment groups, completing regular health surveys reporting whether their symptoms had improved.
Among the treatments tested were Low Dose Natrexone (LDN) and B12, both of which helped improve fatigue and brain fog in over 40% of patients.
How LDN and B12 Helps Long COVID
LDN has a positive reputation for treating chronic and autoimmune conditions, particularly those involving fatigue. That’s why scientists identified LDN as a candidate for Long COVID treatment. Like LDN, it’s also no secret that vitamin B12 may help boost energy, and why it was included for this study.
Patients reported that LDN and B12 effectively reduced these symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Post-exertional malaise (PEM)
PEM is a symptom that doctors closely associate with ME/CFS, describing delayed fatigue or other worsening symptoms after minimal physical or mental exertion. While it’s no surprise that LDN and B12 improved fatigue and brain fog as other studies have shown, improving PEM indicates that these treatments may help patients get back to normal activities.
But perhaps the most surprising detail revealed in the study is how well patients tolerated the treatments. LDN was among the most effective treatments, with 49% of patients reporting improvements, but it also had one of the lowest instances of side effects. Though only about 36% of patients reported improvements with B12 overall, over 47% responded positively to B12 injections, with similarly low rates of side effects, while only 30.5% of patients responded to oral B12.
Of all 150 treatments tested, LDN and B12 showed up in the top 20, with LDN performing the best out of the two.
What Does This Mean for Long COVID?
The road to recovery from Long COVID isn’t always straightforward. As the study states, Long COVID still affects ~18% of US adults, with “no known FDA-approved treatments.” But findings like these offer real, science-backed hope.
This shows that science is starting to catch up to what patients have known all along: that this condition is real, complex, and worthy of targeted care. While these results don’t point to a single accepted treatment for Long COVID, they do suggest that personalized symptom management is possible.
For many living with Long COVID, the hardest part isn’t the symptoms. It’s the uncertainty, the lack of answers, and the feeling of being dismissed by traditional healthcare. But LDN and B12 may offer a path forward. Now, those searching for relief from fatigue and brain fog aren’t alone, as the science begins to evolve in their favor.
When you’re ready, learn more about LDN and B12 to see if they’re right for you.
Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.