Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Mar 20, 2025 11 hours, 4 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists Discover How a Simple Vitamin Could Help Long COVID Patients
A new study has uncovered a potential breakthrough in the treatment of long COVID-related cognitive impairment, particularly a condition known as visuoconstructive deficit (VCD). Researchers from the Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil have found that vitamin B12 may play a crucial role in reversing brain dysfunction caused by lingering inflammation.
Vitamin B12 Shows Potential to Reverse Cognitive Damage in Long COVID
This
Medical News report highlights how vitamin B12, an essential nutrient, can act as an "epidrug," influencing gene expression through DNA methylation. The study suggests that supplementing with vitamin B12 could help regulate inflammatory markers in long COVID patients, potentially improving cognitive function and reducing neurological damage.
What is Visuoconstructive Deficit and Why is it Important
Visuoconstructive deficit (VCD) is a condition that affects an individual's ability to process and construct visual-spatial information. It is typically associated with aging-related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's but has now been observed in young adults who had mild COVID-19.
Approximately 25% of individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19 developed VCD within four months. Symptoms persisted for up to a year in some patients, raising concerns about long-term brain damage. The study found that patients with persistent VCD had elevated levels of inflammatory markers in their blood, which could be contributing to the cognitive decline.
How Vitamin B12 Affects Inflammation and Brain Function
Vitamin B12 is well known for its role in nerve function and red blood cell production, but researchers have now discovered it may also influence brain inflammation. The study involved blood samples from long COVID patients with VCD and a control group without impairment.
The researchers observed that VCD patients had higher levels of CCL11, a biomarker linked to neurodegenerative diseases. This inflammatory marker is known to damage the brain by promoting oxidative stress and reducing the production of new neurons.
However, when blood samples from VCD patients were treated with vitamin B12, CCL11 levels returned to normal. Additionally, vitamin B12 increased levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is known for its neuroprotective properties. The treatment also reduced the levels of other inflammatory markers, such as CSF2 and CXCL10, which are associated with brain inflammation.
The Role of Epigenetics in Long COVID and Cognitive Decline
One of the most fascinating aspects of this study is the role of epigenetics in long COVID-related brain dysfunction. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence but can be influenced by environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle.
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In this study, the researchers found that patients with persistent VCD had lower levels of DNA methylation at specific sites in the CCL11 gene. DNA methylation is a process that helps regulate gene activity, and when it is disrupted, it can lead to excessive inflammation.
Supplementing with vitamin B12 restored normal methylation patterns in the CCL11 gene, effectively reducing inflammation and its harmful effects on the brain. This finding suggests that vitamin B12 may have a powerful role in regulating immune responses and protecting against long-term cognitive damage.
What This Means for Long COVID Patients
The discovery that vitamin B12 can help regulate inflammation and protect the brain offers hope for long COVID patients experiencing persistent cognitive symptoms. While more research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and long-term effects, this study provides strong evidence that vitamin B12 could be an effective and affordable treatment option.
Since vitamin B12 is widely available in foods such as meat, fish, dairy products, and fortified cereals, many people may already be consuming it in their diets. However, some individuals, particularly older adults and those with certain medical conditions, may be deficient in B12 and could benefit from supplementation.
Conclusion
The findings from this study highlight the importance of systemic inflammation in the development of persistent cognitive impairment in long COVID patients. The ability of vitamin B12 to regulate inflammation and promote brain health through DNA methylation makes it a promising therapeutic option.
If further research confirms these findings, vitamin B12 supplementation could become a simple and effective strategy for mitigating the neurological effects of long COVID. The study's results reinforce the idea that dietary factors can play a crucial role in brain health, offering new avenues for treatment and prevention.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Scientific Reports.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-025-86637-0
For the latest on Long COVID, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/indonesian-and-malaysian-researchers-find-that-the-phytochemical-apigenin-shows-promise-in-managing-long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/olive-oil-and-mediterranean-diet-offer-hope-for-long
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/medical-researchers-from-ohio-find-that-vitamin-k2-and-d3-can-help-provide-relief-for-long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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