Vitamin D in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome After COVID-19 or Vaccination: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) can develop as post-vaccination syndrome (PVS) or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). In our prior retrospective study, most patients with PVS who developed ME/CFS had vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. We evaluated the efficacy of vitamin D replacement therapy guidance for ME/CFS symptom improvement in patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency. Methods: This open-label randomized controlled trial enrolled 91 participants with ME/CFS as PVS or PASC and serum 25(OH) vitamin D < 30 ng/mL across five clinical sites. Participants were randomized 1:1 to intervention (active vitamin D preparation plus vitamin D replacement therapy guidance: 25 μg daily supplementation, dietary counseling, sun exposure, and exercise) or control (active vitamin D preparation alone) for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in ME/CFS symptom count from screening to Week 12. Results: Mean symptom change was −6.7 in the intervention group versus −1.2 in the control group (between-group difference −5.6; 95% CI: −7.2, −3.9; p < 0.001). Serum 25(OH) vitamin D improved from 18.6 to 27.1 ng/mL in the intervention group, while the control group showed a decreasing trend (between-group difference 10.2 ng/mL; 95% CI: 7.9, 12.5). Achievement of <8 symptoms (i.e., no longer meeting ME/CFS diagnostic criteria) was significantly higher in the intervention group, with 16 participants achieving this threshold compared to 1 in the control group (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed consistent benefit in both PVS (n = 56) and PASC (n = 29) cohorts. Conclusions: Vitamin D replacement therapy guidance significantly reduced ME/CFS symptoms along with improvement of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels in patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency who developed ME/CFS as PVS or PASC.