A Fasting Pilot Study for Long COVID

NCT07418567 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: PF studyProgramme PAFI 2024-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background Long COVID (LC) is a chronic multisystemic condition which substantially impact the quality of life. Despite the staggering burden of LC, there is still no effective treatment. Because fasting promotes anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses, which are involved in the pathophysiology of LC, we hypothesized that it might improve daily functioning and health-related quality of life in patients with LC. The aim of this single center, one arm, prospective pilot clinical trial will be to assess the feasibility and acceptability of prolonged fasting for LC. The main questions aims to answers are;

1. 1.Does in-home prolonged fasting (7 days) is feasible and acceptable for patients with LC
2. 2.Is there a clinical benefit associated with fasting is LC patients
3. 3.Fast for 7 days
4. 4.Have in-person visit at baseline (day 0) and at day 9 for checkups and tests
5. 5.Answer difference questionnnaires about their perceived health during and after fasting

Conditions

Long COVID Syndrome

Keywords

long COVID; pilot clinical trial; Fasting

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Feasibility and Acceptability

  Retention rates will be used to measure feasibility and response to Likert-like questions for measuring acceptability

  From baseline (day 0) to end of follow up day 30

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Mean changes from baseline to one month post-fasting on the SF 36 physical component score questionnaire

  From baseline (day 0) to the end of follow up at day 30

Other Outcomes (2)

• Fatigue severity score (FSS)

  From baseline (day 0) to end of follow up at day 30

• Cognitive failure questinonaire

  From baseline (day 0) to end of follow up (day 30)

Study Arms (1)

Fasting arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be allowed to continue their regular drug treatment

Other: prolonged fasting

Interventions

prolonged fasting OTHER

Participants will be fasting for 7 days

Fasting arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-64 years
• Diagnosis Long Covid based on WHO criteria (post-acute COVID-19 symptoms persisting ≥12 weeks) and validiated by an experienced cinician
• Normal body Mass Index (18.5 to 39 kg/m2)
• Able to communicate in and comprehend English and/or French language
• Present written / signed declaration of consent
• Ability to understand the patient information and willingness to sign the consent form
• Willing to limit physical activity during prolonged fasting

You may not qualify if:

• Current underweight condition (body mass index less than 18.5 kg/m2) or weight loss exceeding 3 kg within the last month or 5 kg within the last three months.
• Current or history of eating disorder (e.g., anorexia, bulimia).
• Psychiatric condition that limits understanding of the examination protocol (unable to consent)
• Participation in another intervention study.
• Fasting during the last six months
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding status.
• Diagnosis of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac disease or colorectal cancer according to the guidelines of the Canadian Society of Gastroenterology
• Use of anti-psychotic drugs
• Start of novel drug therapy for long COVID
• Contraindication for additional blood draws (e.g. hemoglobin \<100)
• Taking opioid analgesics or undergoing treatment for opioid addiction
• Opioid dependence or withdrawal syndrome
• Type 1 or 2 Diabetes, or history of hypoglycemia
• Active cancer
• Baseline E+ (Na, K, Mg, phosphate) within normal range

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université de Sherbrooke: lead
• Centre de recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Centre de recherche du CIUSSSE-CHUS

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Location

Related Links

• Long COVID science, research and policy
• Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Fasting

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

COVID-19; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Post-Infectious Disorders; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This study includes a single arm

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 10, 2026
• First Posted: February 18, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2025
• Study Completion: December 1, 2025
• Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)