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