Researchers at the University of Alberta have identified a potentially crucial amino acid that may help predict poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients and pave the way for treating long COVID.
Their findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, offer new insights into the complexities of long COVID and propose a clinical trial involving an approved supplement as a potential treatment.
Understanding Long COVID
Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 infection, remains a challenging and poorly understood condition.
It can significantly impact patients’ quality of life and has prompted researchers to explore predictive markers and treatment options.
The research team focused on developing a predictive test to identify which COVID-19 patients were likely to develop long-term symptoms.
They conducted a study involving 117 patients admitted to an Alberta hospital with acute COVID-19. Blood samples were collected upon admission and at six months, while clinical records were reviewed for 18 months.
Of these patients, 55 went on to experience severe post-COVID conditions.
Researchers analyzed blood samples for changes in proteins, metabolites, and signs of inflammation. Machine learning was employed to interpret the results, leading to the development of a predictive model comprising 20 molecules.
Remarkably, this model achieved an 83% accuracy rate in forecasting adverse clinical outcomes after patients were discharged from acute COVID-19 infection.
The Role of Taurine
One standout difference in patients’ blood samples was the varying levels of the amino acid taurine. Patients with lower taurine levels experienced more severe symptoms, a higher rate of hospitalization, and an increased risk of mortality.
Conversely, those with higher and consistent levels of taurine exhibited fewer persistent symptoms and better outcomes.
Taurine, an amino acid naturally found in meat and fish and produced by the human liver, plays a role in regulating various physiological functions, including immune system activity.
Next Steps
While the results regarding taurine are promising, the researchers emphasize the need for further study, especially in humans.
A Phase 3 clinical trial is in the planning stages, with the aim of assessing taurine’s potential in mitigating long COVID’s impact.
Principal investigator Gavin Oudit is hopeful that taurine might have broader systemic effects that benefit individuals experiencing a range of long COVID symptoms.
However, he advises against patients self-administering high levels of taurine and stresses the importance of clinical trials to establish its efficacy in long COVID treatment.
In conclusion, the discovery of the predictive value of taurine and the subsequent clinical trial hold promise for better understanding and addressing the complexities of long COVID, potentially improving the lives of those affected by this condition.
If you care about Covid-19, please read studies about new way to prevent the common cold (and maybe COVID-19), and common diabetes drug linked to less severe COVID-19.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about COVID infection and vaccination linked to heart disease, and results showing extracts from two wild plants can inhibit COVID-19 virus.
The research findings can be found in Cell Reports Medicine.
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