Taurine Supplementation in Long COVID

ConditionLong COVID
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phasePhase 2, Phase 3
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Alberta

About this trial

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the globe, affecting millions of individuals with varying degrees of severity. While many individuals recover from the acute phase of the infection, a significant proportion continue to experience persistent and debilitating symptoms long after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. This condition, known as Long COVID (LC) or sometimes referred to as Post-COVID Condition (PCC) or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, has emerged as a complex multisystemic condition and challenging health issue, affecting approximately 10% of COVID-19 patients. Various symptoms characterize LC, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and mood disturbances. Some of the symptoms are shared with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) - a condition marked by debilitating fatigue and a host of other symptoms without precise biomarkers or objective tests for diagnosis. Effective LC treatments remain elusive and LC patients continue to grapple with persistent symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. Given the lack of effective treatments, it is imperative to explore novel therapeutic approaches that may alleviate the suffering of this patient population.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Age ≥18 years;

Positive COVID-19 test by nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR test, antibody or antigen tests at least 3 months prior to randomization; OR Presumed COVID-19 assessed by the site investigator (no positive COVID-19 test) with acute illness after October 15, 2019, and at least 3 months prior to randomization.

If participants have treatable symptoms, they should have had a stable regimen of treatment prior to entering the study (i.e. started treatment for at least 4 weeks).

Lingering COVID-19 symptoms beyond 3 months from onset of acute COVID and symptoms have lasted at least 2 months. The onset of COVID is considered the earliest of two dates: the date of positive testing or the date of first symptoms.

Disqualifiers

Patients who had mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygen (ECMO) for COVID-19.

Current end-organ failure, organ transplantation, or current hospitalization in an acute care hospital.

Contraindications to the study intervention.

Currently already on study intervention(s).

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Taurine
  • Placebo

Treatment groups

300 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

University of Alberta

Lead sponsor

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

University Health Network, Toronto

Collaborator