A Diet Intervention Study To Mitigate Fatigue Symptoms And To Improve Muscle And Physical Function In Older Adults With Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
The primary objective of this study is to conduct a 16-week randomized controlled trial aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the Whole-Diet Approach when following a healthy US-style diet rich in anti-inflammatory properties. The study will focus on evaluating its impact on reducing symptoms related to Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PACS) in adults aged 50 years and older. The main research questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Does adhering to a healthy US-style diet, which is abundant in anti-inflammatory properties, effectively mitigate fatigue symptoms in adults with PACS? 2. Does adhering to a healthy US-style diet, which is abundant in anti-inflammatory properties, effectively mitigate declines in muscle function and physical performance in adults with PACS? At the beginning of the study, eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the Dietary Intervention Group, where they will receive personalized dietary plans and weekly sessions, or the Attention Control Group, where they will attend general health sessions on a weekly basis as well. This research intends to shed light on the potential benefits of the Whole-Diet Approach and its role in ameliorating PACS-related symptoms among older adults. By comparing the outcomes of the two groups, we hope to gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of this dietary intervention in improving the quality of life for individuals dealing with PACS.
• Age of 50 years or older
• No known active infectious disease (COVID-19 or other).
• Participant diagnosed with long-COVID/ post- acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) /ICD-10-CM codes U09.9
• Moderate/severe fatigue Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)≥4
• Poor diet quality assessed by the short Healthy Eating Index (HEI)\<70