COVID-19 comorbid with noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) complicates the diagnosis,
treatment, and prognosis, and increases the mortality rate. The aim is to evaluate
the effects of a restricted diet on clinical/laboratory inflammation and metabolic
profile, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and body composition in patients with COVID-19
comorbid with NCDs. We conducted a 6-week open, pilot prospective controlled clinical
trial. The study included 70 adult patients with COVID-19 comorbid with type 2 diabetes
(T2D), hypertension, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).a restricted diet including
calorie restriction, hot water drinking, walking, and sexual self-restraint.COVID-19
diagnosis by detecting SARS-CoV-2 genome by RT-PCR; weight loss in Main group; body
temperature; C-reactive protein. Secondary endpoints: the number of white blood cells;
erythrocyte sedimentation rate; adverse effects during treatment; fasting blood glucose,
glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP); blood
lipids; ALT/AST, chest CT-scan. In Main group, patients with overweight lost weight
from baseline (- 12.4%; P < 0.0001); 2.9% in Main group and 7.2% in Controls were
positive for COVID-19 (RR: 0.41, CI: 0.04-4.31; P = 0.22) on the 14th day of treatment.
Body temperature and C-reactive protein decreased significantly in Main group compared
to Controls on day 14th of treatment (P < 0.025). Systolic/diastolic BP normalized
(P < 0.025), glucose/lipids metabolism (P < 0.025); ALT/AST normalized (P < 0.025),
platelets increased from baseline (P < 0.025), chest CT (P < 0.025) in Main group
at 14 day of treatment. The previous antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory,
hepatoprotective, and other symptomatic medications were adequately decreased to completely
stop during the weight loss treatment. Thus, the fast weight loss treatment may be
beneficial for the COVID-19 patients with comorbid T2D, hypertension, and NASH over
traditional medical treatment because, it improved clinical and laboratory/instrumental
data on inflammation; glucose/lipid metabolism, systolic/diastolic BPs, and NASH biochemical
outcomes, reactive oxygen species; and allowed patients to stop taking medications.ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT05635539 (02/12/2022): https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05635539?term=NCT05635539&draw=2&rank=1
.
