eprintid: 10128459
rev_number: 24
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/10/12/84/59
datestamp: 2021-05-26 10:45:56
lastmod: 2021-12-13 23:42:03
status_changed: 2021-05-26 10:45:56
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Louca, P
creators_name: Murray, B
creators_name: Klaser, K
creators_name: Graham, MS
creators_name: Mazidi, M
creators_name: Leeming, ER
creators_name: Thompson, E
creators_name: Bowyer, R
creators_name: Drew, DA
creators_name: Nguyen, LH
creators_name: Merino, J
creators_name: Gomez, M
creators_name: Mompeo, O
creators_name: Costeira, R
creators_name: Sudre, CH
creators_name: Gibson, R
creators_name: Steves, CJ
creators_name: Wolf, J
creators_name: Franks, PW
creators_name: Ourselin, S
creators_name: Chan, AT
creators_name: Berry, SE
creators_name: Valdes, AM
creators_name: Calder, PC
creators_name: Spector, TD
creators_name: Menni, C
title: Modest effects of dietary supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from 445 850 users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B02
divisions: D14
divisions: GA3
divisions: G17
divisions: B04
divisions: C06
note: © Author(s) (or their employer[s]) 2021. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported (CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
abstract: OBJECTIVE: Dietary supplements may ameliorate SARS-CoV-2 infection, although scientific evidence to support such a role is lacking. We investigated whether users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app who regularly took dietary supplements were less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN: App-based community survey. SETTING: 445 850 subscribers of an app that was launched to enable self-reported information related to SARS-CoV-2 infection for use in the general population in the UK (n=372 720), the USA (n=45 757) and Sweden (n=27 373). MAIN EXPOSURE: Self-reported regular dietary supplement usage (constant use during previous 3 months) in the first waves of the pandemic up to 31 July 2020. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by viral RNA reverse transcriptase PCR test or serology test before 31 July 2020. RESULTS: In 372 720 UK participants (175 652 supplement users and 197 068 non-users), those taking probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, multivitamins or vitamin D had a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by 14% (95% CI (8% to 19%)), 12% (95% CI (8% to 16%)), 13% (95% CI (10% to 16%)) and 9% (95% CI (6% to 12%)), respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders. No effect was observed for those taking vitamin C, zinc or garlic supplements. On stratification by sex, age and body mass index (BMI), the protective associations in individuals taking probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, multivitamins and vitamin D were observed in females across all ages and BMI groups, but were not seen in men. The same overall pattern of association was observed in both the US and Swedish cohorts. CONCLUSION: In women, we observed a modest but significant association between use of probiotics, omega-3 fatty acid, multivitamin or vitamin D supplements and lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. We found no clear benefits for men nor any effect of vitamin C, garlic or zinc. Randomised controlled trials are required to confirm these observational findings before any therapeutic recommendations can be made.
date: 2021-06
date_type: published
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000250
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1866082
doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000250
lyricists_name: Klaser, Kerstin
lyricists_name: Sudre, Carole
lyricists_id: KKLAS69
lyricists_id: SUDRE45
actors_name: Kalinowski, Damian
actors_id: DKALI47
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health
volume: 4
article_number: e000250
citation:        Louca, P;    Murray, B;    Klaser, K;    Graham, MS;    Mazidi, M;    Leeming, ER;    Thompson, E;                                                                             ... Menni, C; + view all <#>        Louca, P;  Murray, B;  Klaser, K;  Graham, MS;  Mazidi, M;  Leeming, ER;  Thompson, E;  Bowyer, R;  Drew, DA;  Nguyen, LH;  Merino, J;  Gomez, M;  Mompeo, O;  Costeira, R;  Sudre, CH;  Gibson, R;  Steves, CJ;  Wolf, J;  Franks, PW;  Ourselin, S;  Chan, AT;  Berry, SE;  Valdes, AM;  Calder, PC;  Spector, TD;  Menni, C;   - view fewer <#>    (2021)    Modest effects of dietary supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from 445 850 users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app.                   BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health , 4     , Article e000250.  10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000250 <https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000250>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10128459/7/Sudre_Modest%20effects%20of%20dietary%20supplements%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic-%20Insights%20from%20445%20850%20users%20of%20the%20COVID-19%20Symptom%20Study%20app_VoR.pdf