New Research Published by PF NOW!

One of our research studies has been published. Our Director, Dr. Neha Shah, has been collaborating & conducting research to help people with PF and other exposure-related conditions. While the study for people with PF is ongoing, the research for people experiencing long-haul symptoms from COVID-19 was just published here: https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/8/9/47. The results look promising so please share this info with anyone needing some hope!

What was the study about?

This study was about resolving the symptoms that people experience after they’ve contracted COVID-19. It worked with participants who reported lasting fatigue from COVID-19 weeks or months after their initial diagnosis. Researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of systemic enzymes and probiotics as dietary supplements for people suffering from COVID-19 “long-haul” symptoms. They tested whether a 14 day regimen of using these natural medicines would resolve post-COVID-19 fatigue and improve patients’ quality of life.

Who participated in the study?

This study was a randomized, multicentric, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. These are essentially the highest and most strict standards for conducting quality research. There were 200 participants – all of whom had been experiencing post-COVID fatigue and who had not tried either kind of the supplements prior to participating. Of those 200 participants, half of them received the oral supplements for two weeks, and the other half received a placebo or “sugar pill”. No participants knew whether they were receiving the real supplement or the placebo during the study. 

What were the results?

The results were based off a metric for physical and mental fatigue called the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ-11). Results showed that the supplemental treatment resulted in resolving muscle fatigue and mental fatigue or “brain fog” in 91 out of 100 patients who received the oral supplements. Compared to the placebo group, which resulted in a resolution in fatigue in 15 out of 100 patients, these results are significant. No one who received the supplements reported any adverse effects or safety concerns with their treatment. 

What does this mean for people with COVID-19?

This study shows that people with COVID-19 can find certain natural treatments for their long-haul symptoms. Being able to try a safe, well-researched natural medicine that could relieve fatigue has a drastic and positive impact on functional status and quality of life. It is also exciting to see research like this being conducted and published at all! This means that more and more people are becoming aware of the realities of COVID-19 long haul, including researchers who are dedicated to finding safe, reliable treatments.

How does this relate to people with PF?

As we all know, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on everyone – but certain populations are disproportionately affected. People with PF may be immunocompromised and are at a greater risk of hospitalization if they contract COVID-19. Of the people who survive COVID-19, there are still reports of symptoms like fatigue weeks and even months after. There are even cases of people being diagnosed with PF after contracting COVID-19. This research is designed to help those people urgently find support. We will be discussing this further in our upcoming support group on September 14th.

Fatigue has a significant impact on physical and mental quality of life – and this is the case for people whether it was caused by COVID-19, PF, or something else. This study can be an educational resource for anyone with PF who has also experienced COVID-19, but it can also be a sign of hope for anyone experiencing fatigue and wondering if they will ever find relief. As you can see, there are researchers working hard behind the scenes to discover all the possibilities for treating your concerns. 

Please stay tuned for more updates on Dr. Shah’s research. One of her studies for people with PF has been completed and will be published in the near future. Our other research for people with PF is ongoing.