On Oct. 9, 2023, the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) launched a new clinical trial to determine if nutritional intervention could treat symptoms of long COVID.

According to USC, approximately seven percent of Americans had long COVID, a range of ongoing health problems after infection and recovery from the virus. Symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, headaches, chest pain and heart palpitations. There is currently no known cure for the condition.

The premise of the trial revolves around other research suggesting that long COVID is caused by a hyper inflammatory response during infection. High inflammation levels can lead to organ damage and other health problems, researchers said.

“We are examining if food choice can quiet the body’s inflammatory response and in doing so, effectively minimize or curtail long COVID symptoms,” said Dr. Adupa Rao, one of the investigators and the medical director of the Keck Medicine Covid Recovery Clinic.

According to USC, the study will examine the anti-inflammatory effect of a low-carbohydrate diet to lower blood glucose levels in combination with food that raises blood ketone levels. Ketones are chemical produced in the body to provide energy when the body is low on carbohydrates and sugars. Low carbohydrates and sugars have both been associated with reduce inflammation, researchers said.

“Research like ours is vital to expand our understanding of long COVID and ultimately help identify effective treatments to improve patients’ quality of life,” said Dr. Nuria Pastor-Soler, the principal investigator and an associate professor at the Keck School of Medicine. “The results of this trial will hopefully move is closer to potential solutions.”

If the nutritional intervention proves safe and effective, researchers plan to expand to a larger population.

For more information, visit www.keckmedicine.org.

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