Following the coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which was attributable to the emergence of the extreme acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), many survivors have skilled long-term signs collectively known as lengthy COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Lengthy COVID signs could embrace however usually are not restricted to, fatigue, neurological signs, alterations within the sense of odor and style, in addition to new-onset diabetes or autoimmune illness.
Examine: The long-term impact of COVID-19 an infection on physique composition. Picture Credit score: New Africa / Shutterstock.com
The continual results of COVID-19
A brand new report revealed within the journal Vitamins reveals that COVID-19 might also have an effect on physique composition, even in those that didn’t purchase the an infection. Furthermore, public well being restrictions on motion outdoors the house, with compensatory shifts in way of life, could have not directly led to alterations in weight, physique fats mass, and lean physique mass (LBM).
The first elements associated to modifications in physique composition embrace COVID-19 with associated muscle irritation and injury, restriction of motion, a poor-quality weight-reduction plan, elevated consuming, and fewer bodily exercise.
Earlier research have proven that physique weight and fats mass elevated after the primary pandemic-related lockdown, whereas bone mineral density, hand grip energy, and fats mass all confirmed adversarial developments in girls. In COVID-19 survivors, sarcopenia, in addition to elevated weight and fats mass, have been reported, notably in these with lengthy COVID.
To this point, the long-term results of COVID-19 on physique composition haven’t been reported. The present examine is a pioneering exploration of this space in COVID-19, with examined parameters together with lean physique mass (LBM), bone mineral density (BMD), trunk fats, and whole fats.
In regards to the examine
The present examine utilized a potential design to match physique composition utilizing two whole-body DXA scans (DXA#1 and DXA#2, respectively). DXA#1 was obtained earlier than the beginning of the pandemic, whereas DXA#2 was obtained thereafter. Inflammatory markers and fasting lipid ranges have been additionally measured.
For all examine individuals with a historical past of COVID-19, the DXA#2 was obtained a yr or extra later. The examine included 160 adults with a imply age of 43 years. About 50% of the examine cohort examined constructive for COVID-19 earlier than the second scan.
Over 50% of uninfected people have been people who smoke, as in comparison with 30% within the survivor group. Furthermore, 55% of survivors have been recognized with PASC, with about 60% experiencing tiredness, 50% reporting mind fog, and 40% experiencing breathlessness and nervousness, melancholy, or low temper.
Just one survivor was hospitalized as a consequence of COVID-19; nonetheless, this affected person didn’t require admission to the intensive care unit.
What did the examine present?
Inflammatory markers have been elevated in COVID-19 sufferers, with increased vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ranges. Conversely, tumor necrosis factor-receptor II (TNF-RII) ranges declined in uninfected people.
Physique fats elevated in uninfected people by roughly 900 and 160 grams, respectively, in comparison with these recognized with COVID-19. Equally, whole fats elevated by 1,500 and 200 grams, respectively. These variations persevered after adjusting for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and COVID-19 standing.
Excessive-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ranges have been related to whole and trunk fats. LBM additionally elevated by almost 1,000 grams amongst uninfected people and declined by 65 grams in COVID-19-survivors.
Amongst COVID-19 survivors, PASC didn’t differentiate between people who exhibited comparable annualized trunk fats, whole fats mass, or LBM measurements.
Conclusions
Notably, all COVID-19 survivors witnessed a decline of their lean physique mass and a rise in a number of inflammatory biomarkers over the identical interval, suggesting a direct affect of COVID-19 on muscle.”
The examine findings exhibit that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in elevated whole fats, trunk fats, and physique weight, however markedly so in uninfected people. Thus, these results could be attributed to pandemic-related modifications, together with a sedentary way of life, elevated snacking and processed meals consumption, and lockdown restrictions, quite than to the an infection itself.
Though LBM elevated through the examine interval in uninfected people, this attribute marginally decreased in COVID-19-positive people. This might be straight associated to SARS-CoV-2 an infection, primarily as only a few handled sufferers have been prescribed steroids. Prior analysis has additionally reported muscle fiber atrophy and extreme inflammatory injury to muscle cells with COVID-19, thus indicating that this tissue is a goal of SARS-CoV-2.
Curiously, just a few inflammatory markers have been raised in COVID-19 survivors, none of which have been correlated with the physique composition parameters besides hsCRP, which was related to whole and trunk fats.
Understanding the connection between COVID-19 an infection and alterations in physique composition can assist in implementing early methods to assist stop these long-term modifications in addition to creating customized train and vitamin plans to scale back the danger of metabolic problems.”
Journal reference:
- Atieh, O., Durieux, J. C., Baissary, J. et al. (2024). The long-term impact of COVID-19 an infection on physique composition. Vitamins. doi:10.3390/nu16091364.
