A Comprehensive Scoping Review on Diet and Nutrition in Relation to Long COVID-19 Symptoms and Recovery.

Publication date: May 26, 2025

Background/Objectives: Long COVID-19 is characterized by persistent symptoms lasting three months or more following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nutrition has emerged as a modifiable factor influencing recovery trajectories and symptom burden; however, existing evidence remains fragmented across diverse study designs and populations. This scoping review synthesized global evidence on the role of diet and nutrition in managing long COVID-19 symptoms and supporting recovery. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews, we searched major biomedical databases for studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies examined dietary intake, nutritional status, or nutrition-related interventions in adults with long COVID-19. Results: After duplicates were removed, 1808 records were screened, resulting in 50 studies that met the inclusion criteria-27 intervention studies and 23 observational studies. Nutritional exposures included micronutrients (e. g., vitamins D, K), amino acids (e. g., L-arginine), multinutrient formulations, microbiota-targeted therapies (e. g., probiotics, synbiotics), nutritional status, diet quality, and whole-diet patterns (e. g., the Mediterranean diet). Approximately 76% of studies reported improvements in long COVID-19-related symptoms such as fatigue, mood disturbances, physical function, and markers of inflammation. Conclusions: Diet and nutrition may support long COVID-19 recovery by targeting inflammation and the gut microbiome to alleviate symptoms and improve functional outcomes. Well-powered trials of whole-diet approaches, combined with targeted supplementation, are needed to confirm their potential as scalable, accessible tools for post-COVID-19 recovery and management.

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Concepts Keywords
Biomedical Adult
Fatigue bioactive compounds
Mediterranean biomarkers
Months COVID-19
Nutrition Diet
fatigue
gut microbiota
Humans
nutraceuticals
nutrients
Nutritional Status
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2
supplements
vitamins

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH Long COVID
disease MESH SARS-CoV-2 infection
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection
disease MESH symptom burden
disease IDO role
disease MESH nutritional status
drug DRUGBANK Methionine
disease IDO intervention
pathway REACTOME Vitamins
drug DRUGBANK Amino acids
drug DRUGBANK L-Arginine
disease IDO quality
disease MESH inflammation
drug DRUGBANK Factor IX Complex (Human)
disease MESH cognitive impairment
disease MESH gastrointestinal disorders
disease MESH mitochondrial dysfunction
disease MESH oxidative stress
disease IDO host
disease MESH altered taste
drug DRUGBANK Zinc
drug DRUGBANK Selenium
disease MESH infection
disease IDO symptom
disease MESH syndrome
drug DRUGBANK Huperzine B
disease IDO history
disease IDO process
disease IDO country
disease MESH sequelae
disease MESH sarcopenia
disease MESH dyspnea
disease MESH anosmia
drug DRUGBANK Magnesium
drug DRUGBANK Creatine
disease MESH lifestyle factors
drug DRUGBANK Vitamin D
disease MESH vitamin deficiency
disease MESH anxiety
disease MESH depression
disease MESH sleep quality
drug DRUGBANK Parathyroid hormone
disease MESH joint pain

Original Article

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