Colgan, D. D.; Stadler, D. D.; Hope, A. A.; Zwickey, H.; Davenport, T. E.; Weimbs, T. Clinically Meaningful Improvements in Long COVID Symptoms Following Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy Combined with Lifestyle Interventions - A Clinical Case Report and Review of the Literature. CRCM 2025, 14 (08), 391–410.
Abstract:
Approximately 400 million individuals globally are estimated to suffer from Long COVID, an infection-associated chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite the high burden, there are no evidence-based or FDA-approved interventions to treat the condition. Given its complexity, a multicomponent approach grounded in a whole-person health model is likely required. This case report highlights clinically meaningful improvements in multiple Long COVID symptoms following a remotely-delivered, ketogenic metabolic therapy combined with group health coaching. Nutritional inter- ventions were paired with exercises to stabilize circadian rhythms and intro- duce mindfulness-based practices. A review of the literature provides evidence in support of ketogenic metabolic therapy and lifestyle interventions as strat- egies to target proposed underlying mechanisms of Long COVID and foster stress resilience, thus reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. Find- ings support future research to optimize and evaluate multimodal nutritional and lifestyle interventions for Long COVID.
Authors:
Dana Dharmakaya Colgan1,2 , Diane D. Stadler3, Aluko A. Hope4, Heather Zwickey1, Todd E. Davenport5, Thomas Weimbs6,7
1 Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR, USA
2 Department of Neurology and Long Covid Clinic Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
3 School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
4 Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University,
Portland, OR, USA
5 Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA
6 Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA,
7 Santa Barbara Nutrients, Inc, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
