When diet matters: the role of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory diets in post-COVID-19 fatigue
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background and objectives Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) includes persistent fatigue, significantly affecting quality of life. The role in diet in immune function suggests nutritional strategies might alleviate post-COVID-19 fatigue (PCF). This study aimed to assess the impact of pro- and anti-inflammatory diets on PCF severity. Methods The study included patients with a documented history of COVID-19 infection, as registered in the Egyptian Ministry of Health database. All eligible participants were invited to complete the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (eDII) questionnaires. Results The study included 235 patients, mean age 31.68 years, BMI 27.06 kg/m2, 57.45% female, and 91.49% non-smokers. Fatigue was widespread, with 55.32% reporting "sometimes" experiencing it. Physical exhaustion was common (63.83%). Diet analysis revealed moderate to high consumption of pro-inflammatory foods, while anti-inflammatory food intake was moderate to low. Higher BMI correlated with lower fatigue, while males and non-smokers reported higher fatigue. Severe post COVID-19 infections and comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes) were linked to increased fatigue, however, receiving probiotic as add-on therapy for COVID-19 disease decreased the fatigue score. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods was associated with lower fatigue levels, whereas a pro-inflammatory diet correlated with higher fatigue. The dietary inflammatory index showed a significant positive correlation with fatigue severity (r = 0.23, p = 0.04). Conclusion Post-COVID-19 fatigue was common particularly in those with severe infections and underlying comorbidities. Dietary patterns played a significant role, with higher intake of pro-inflammatory foods and lower consumption of anti-inflammatory foods associated with greater fatigue severity. Probiotic use and anti-inflammatory food intake were linked to reduced fatigue, highlighting the potential role of diet and microbiome support in recovery.
Authors: Asmaa Ali, Liang Wu, Eman M. Moazen, Fatima Gaber, Seham Ezzat Fathy Elfeky, Mai S. Elsheikh, Abeer M. Eissa, Mai M. Saleh
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415062601