Study Title
Modest effects of dietary supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from 445,850 users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app.
Principal Investigator
Panayiotis Louca, Benjamin Murray, Kerstin Klaser, Mark S Graham, Cristina Menni.
Affiliation
King’s College London, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lund University, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton.
Start Date
March 2020.
End Date
July 2020.
Study Objective
To investigate whether regular users of dietary supplements were less likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Short Abstract
This study analyzed data from over 445,850 users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app. It found that individuals who regularly took probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, multivitamins, or vitamin D had a lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, particularly among females. However, no protective effect was observed for vitamin C, garlic, or zinc. The findings suggest that dietary supplements may have a modest effect on the risk of infection, but randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observational results.
Study Design
App-based community survey with multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Population
445,850 users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app from the UK, USA, and Sweden.
Sample Size
445,850 users (372,720 from the UK, 45,757 from the USA, and 27,373 from Sweden).
Inclusion Criteria
Adults who regularly used the COVID-19 Symptom Study app and reported dietary supplement use.
Exclusion Criteria
None specified.
Intervention/Exposure
Self-reported regular use of dietary supplements (probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, multivitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, garlic) and SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Outcome Measures
- Risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2
- Differences in effect by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI)
Funding Source
Supported by Zoe Global Ltd, the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health Research.
Collaborating Institutions
King’s College London, Massachusetts General Hospital, Lund University, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton.
Ethics Approval
Approved by King’s College London Ethics Committee (LRS-19/20-18210) and Partners Human Research Committee (USA).
Publication Status
Published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, April 2021.
Keywords
COVID-19, dietary supplements, SARS-CoV-2, probiotics, multivitamins, vitamin D.
Data Collection Methods
Self-reported data from users of the COVID-19 Symptom Study app.
Primary Data Availability
Data are available upon reasonable request via the Health Data Research UK portal.
Contact Information
Dr. Cristina Menni,