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Does Taurine Supplementation Improve Vascular Function and Orthostatic Responses in Long COVID?

ConditionLong COVID Syndrome
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorYork University

About this trial

Millions have developed Long COVID (LC), and recent findings show an association between taurine deficiency (an amino acid) and symptoms in LC. Cost-effective and accessible interventions are needed to improve welfare and reduce healthcare costs. We will investigate the efficacy of 12-weeks of taurine supplementation (self-administered), on vascular function and the cardio/cerebrovascular responses to upright posture. We will measure resting vascular function with an EndoPAT device, resting heart rate variability, and the blood pressure, heart rate, and brain blood flow responses to 5 minutes of head-up tilt before and after weeks of taurine supplementation in LC. We hypothesize that the 12 weeks of supplementation will improve both resting vascular function and the responses to upright tilt. In turn, we hypothesize that symptoms will also improve (as measured by questionnaires).

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Participants will have had symptoms of Long COVID post-infection for at least 3 months

Disqualifiers

Inability to undergo tilt table testing for 5 minutes

Inability to transport selves to York University from their homes

Inability to speak English, or provide a translator

Blood clotting disorders

Trial population

Men and women aged 18-65 will be recruited who have been diagnosed by a medical professional with Long COVID, which is defined as persistent symptoms for \>3 months after a COVID infection. Participants will also need to experience orthostatic intolerance, which is the feeling of dizziness or faintness when standing for a prolonged period. Participants must be able to transport themselves to York University and undergo testing which will take approximately 90 minutes. This includes the ability to undergo a tilt table test for 5 minutes. Therefore, any musculoskeletal problems which prevent upright posture will be excluded. Participants must be able to communicate in English and have the ability to be contacted by email or phone throughout the 12-week period. Current smokers will be excluded. Participants who regularly consume energy drinks that contain taurine (more than once per week) will be excluded.

Trial design

Design model

Case-control

Time perspective

Prospective

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Taurine supplementation

    Dietary supplement

    Participants will self-administer 12-wks taurine supplementation

Treatment groups

30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Taurine supplementation1 intervention
Group B: Time control0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Orthostatic responses

Measure cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to upright tilt using beat to beat blood pressure, ECG, and transcranial Doppler.

Time frame
Baseline and 12-weeks
2

Vascular function

Flow-mediated dilation and EndoPAT response. These techniques concurrently measure endothelial function using the same protocol.

Time frame
Baseline and 12-weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

Heart rate variability

Variability of resting heart rate will be measured in lab using ECG and at home using a polar heart rate strap.

Time frame
Over the course of 12 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

York University

Lead sponsor

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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