Oral Nutritional Supplements in Treatment of Elderly Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Xincun Rd. 389, Shanghai, 200065, People's Republic of China.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seriously threatened public health worldwide. Nutritional supplements may have a positive influence on the recovery of patients with viral infection. This study aimed to assess the influence of oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) on the biochemical parameters of elderly patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

This clinical trial will be conducted on 145 elderly patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Patients in the intervention group (n=74) received nutritional powder (vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, polyphenols, omega-3, amino acids, and probiotics) for 14 days. Cases in the control group (n=71) took the placebo, except for nutritional powder, and they received the same treatment. Biochemical parameters were measured before and two weeks after intervention.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seriously threatened public health worldwide. Nutritional supplements may have a positive influence on the recovery of patients with viral infection. This study aimed to assess the influence of oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) on the biochemical parameters of elderly patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

This clinical trial will be conducted on 145 elderly patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Patients in the intervention group (n=74) received nutritional powder (vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, polyphenols, omega-3, amino acids, and probiotics) for 14 days. Cases in the control group (n=71) took the placebo, except for nutritional powder, and they received the same treatment. Biochemical parameters were measured before and two weeks after intervention.

After 14 days, patients in the groups will be measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) ,white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT), neutrophil percentage (NE%), prothrombin time (PT), D-Dimer (DD), blood glucose, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamate pyruvic transaminase (ALT), albumin, calcium (Ca), arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters, and interleukin-10 (IL-10).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. COVID-19-positive was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR);
2. Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients who aged 60-90 years old;
3. Consistency with the indication of enteral nutrition;
4. The time from diagnosis of COVID-19 to hospitalization was less than 24 h.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Oxygen saturation < 93% or mechanical ventilation was required;
2. Systemic diseases (malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, liver or kidney diseases);
3. Participation in other clinical trials within 3 months;
4. History of allergy to nutrients in the trial.