{"id":5166,"date":"2024-05-28T16:33:24","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T14:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/lcsb-en\/?post_type=research-projects&p=5166"},"modified":"2025-06-30T10:45:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T08:45:38","slug":"fastcov","status":"publish","type":"research-projects","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/lcsb-en\/research-projects\/fastcov\/","title":{"rendered":"FastCoV: Study on the potential benefits of fasting for long Covid treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n \n Overview<\/span>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/button>\n\n
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  • \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n Overview<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n Background<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n Study design<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n Partners<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n Contact<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n

    Long COVID syndrome is a post-acute complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection that occurs in up to 10% of cases and represents a significant threat to public health. The duration and severity of long COVID vary widely. Among the most common symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, pain, and cognitive impairment, which can significantly affect daily activities and quality of life. While promising pharmaceutical interventions are in development, their efficacy remains unproven. Therefore, alternative therapeutic solutions are urgently needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Fasting diets are emerging as a potentially effective and accessible treatment. They target inflammatory processes and the imbalance of the gut microbiome, two hallmarks of the long COVID syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \nThe FastCoV research project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This project explores fasting as an effective treatment option for long COVID syndrome by investigating the effects of a calorie restriction regimen on symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A pilot phase of 20 participants will assess the feasibility of a larger randomised controlled clinical trial. Over seven days, participants undergo a supervised fasting programme. Based on the results of the pilot phase, 64 additional patients will be recruited for the main clinical trial. They will undergo the same fasting protocol, after which one group of participants will return to their routine diet. In contrast, another group will follow an anti-inflammatory diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This study aims to provide high-quality evidence on the effects of caloric restriction on symptoms of the long COVID syndrome and the health status of those affected. It will also analyse if the potential benefits of fasting can be maintained over a longer period of time. The results of this study could lead to the development of tailored interventions for this complex condition.<\/p>\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n

    \nMain project goals<\/h2>\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n
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    \nAn effective treatment option<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The primary objective of this project is to provide an effective treatment option for patients who currently have no therapeutic alternatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    \nUnderstanding biological mechanisms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Evaluate the biological changes induced by caloric restriction and their impact on the underlying disease mechanisms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
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    \nGut microbiome composition and function <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Investigate changes in the gut microbiome and their impact on metabolic and immunological function and cognitive performance through the gut-brain axis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    \nPhysiological & psychological symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Assessment of improvements in patients’ perceived physical and psychological well-being using questionnaires, interviews, and clinical assessments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \n
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    \n \u201f<\/span>\n This\u00a0study\u00a0investigates\u00a0the\u00a0potential effect of fasting on the<\/em> symptoms of long COVID syndrome and how it can\u00a0improve\u00a0the<\/em> health\u00a0and\u00a0quality\u00a0of life of patients.<\/em>\u201d\n<\/blockquote>\n
    \n
    \n \n\"Assist.\n <\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
    \n

    Assist. Prof Jochen SCHNEIDER<\/p>\n

    Assistant professor \/ Senior research scientist, Medical Translational Research group<\/p>\n

    \n \n \n View profile<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":5239,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"featured_image_focal_point":[],"show_featured_caption":false,"ulux_newsletter_groups":"","uluxPostTitle":"","uluxPrePostTitle":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"rpp_rp_identifier":"5164","rpp_taxonomies_in_sync":true},"research-project-status":[271],"research-project-type":[385,384],"field-of-interest":[290],"organisation":[96,25,202,214],"authorship":[63],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFastCoV: Study on the potential benefits of fasting for long Covid treatment - 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