Chronic fatigue and insomnia ruins life even with a mild course of Covid-19

Covid-19 – a disease that destroys the normal rhythm of life

Today our world is experiencing one of the greatest challenges, a test of the strength of our health, both physical and mental. Globally, as of 6 December 2021, there have been 263,563,622 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,232,562 deaths, reported to WHO [1]. Most often, the symptoms of the disease are expressed in fever, cough, shortness of breath, myalgia/fatigue, loss of smell and taste changes [2]. And although the majority of patients with the disease goes away in a mild and moderate form after a few weeks, it is important to note that such people often cannot be considered healthy because they retain symptoms of chronic fatigue, variable nonspecific myalgia, depression and sleep disturbances for a long time [3]. And these long-term symptoms stop us from returning to normal life.

Scientists report [4] that although the severity of symptoms in subjects recovering from hospitalization with COVID-19 tended to decrease with early observation, 53% reported persistent shortness of breath, 34% persistent coughing and 69% persistent fatigue and sleep disturbances [3]. Sleep disturbance syndrome during and after Covid-19 has even received a separate name “coronasomnia” and is widely diagnosed in patients. This creates a vicious circle. When you’re tired of not getting enough sleep, every new irritation, big or small, breeds frustration and anxiety – and disrupts sleep even more. Sleep deficit can cause different health consequences, from depression and high blood pressure to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. This could make us more vulnerable to COVID-19 and knowing this causes more anxiety and insomnia [5]. Perrin et al. [6] recently suggested that, as happened in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak, some COVID-19 patients could develop severe post-COVID-19 syndrome characterized by long-term side effects such as persistent fatigue, diffuse myalgia, depressive symptoms, and sleep disorders.

Since the Covid-19 virus belongs to the SARS family of viruses, scientists talk about the similarity of the post-viral syndrome [7]. But very few such studies have been done. One of the few studies evaluating the long-term consequences of the SARS epidemic showed that a subgroup of patients in Toronto experienced persistent fatigue, diffuse myalgia, weakness, depression and sleep disturbances even one year after suffering an acute illness and could not return to work [8]. A study in Hong Kong found that among 233 SARS survivors, over 40% of respondents reported chronic fatigue and non-restoring sleep 40 months after infection [9].

According to recent reports, fatigue is recognized as one of the most common complaints in people with SARS-CoV-2. In the early reports on the clinical characteristics of the infected, fatigue was reported as a complaint in 44–69.6% [10; 11; 12]. Further studies were followed by meta-analyses, in which 34–46% of those infected had fatigue both during illness and after the disappearance of other symptoms [13; 14].

However, there are no specific guidelines for treating any common symptoms of Long-term Covid. This is a serious problem that requires attention since chronic fatigue and sleep disturbance have a huge impact on our daily life and health.

Why do we lose sleep and feel so tired during Covid-19?

So why with Covid-19, and even more so after it, there is chronic fatigue and the ability to sleep normally is disturbed? Scientists have not yet come to a consensus, but they name several possible reasons.

The first reason is chronic stress caused by the fear of getting seriously ill, losing a job and worries about loved ones. This reason is the most simple and understandable but nevertheless, it can lead to many diseases and greatly complicate life in this difficult period for us.

The second reason is inflammation and the release of a large number of cytokines into the bloodstream, sometimes even in a form of a so-called “cytokine storm”, which leads to damage to one’s own cells [15] and disruption of mitochondrial function [16]. As a result, the NAD/NADH cycle is disrupted and there is a lack of energy that is so necessary for all our cells to successfully fight the disease and restore health [17]. Recently, data have appeared that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a tropism for exactly 1 complex of the mitochondrial respiratory cycle, that is, it directly affects the level of NADH in cells and, accordingly, the level of ATP [18]. In addition, pneumonia and difficulty in breathing lead to oxidative stress, disruption of the mitochondrial respiratory cycle and a deficiency of ATP energy [16]. As a result of insufficient amounts of NADH, circadian rhythms and hormonal levels are disrupted, which is of great importance for normal sleep and is most often the cause of insomnia [19].

How to help the body cope with these problems?

How can you ease your condition during Covid-19 and help the body cope with chronic fatigue and restore sleep? Several studies have shown that taking an NADH supplement can help with this. This coenzyme provides a substrate for mitochondrial energy production, normalizes circadian rhythm, and helps restore cellular metabolism [20].

The healing power of NADH supplementation for various diseases has been known for a long time and has scientific evidence of its effectiveness. A pilot study at Georgetown University proved NADH’s ability to increase energy and reduce fatigue. The scientists concluded that NADH may be a valuable adjunctive therapy in the management of chronic fatigue syndrome [21]. In a 2004 study, 31 ME/CFS patients were randomly assigned to receive either NADH or nutritional supplements and psychological therapy for two years. The patients who received NADH had a dramatic and statistically significant reduction of the mean symptom score in the first eight months and they tended to continue improving through the rest of the trial [22].

In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study [23] researchers resumed NADH plus CoQ10 may help increase energy levels in those with CFS, while also promoting cardiovascular health.

Also, NADH proved its efficacy in sleep disorders. Research data have indicated that impaired NAD/NADH⁺ biology in hypothalamic neurons significantly contributes to metabolic disorders and circadian disruption [24]. We know that mitochondria are the source of energy in the body and their mitochondrial activity is regulated by circadian rhythms, and when this process is disturbed, the whole body suffers, including sleep-wake cycles and metabolic health [25]. NAD/NADH provides an important communication link between our circadian systems and mitochondria and helps maintain the activity of “circadian genes” and helps repair the DNA that controls circadian functions [26]. This way, the addition of NADH supplementation, for example, Original NADH Instant Power® in “coronasomnia” is able to restore sleep and repair disturbances in mitochondrial metabolism.

Also, different studies suggest Original NADH Instant Power® may help in other disorders, connected with Covid-19. It can support the immune system with powerful antioxidants and free-radical scavengers [27], improves memory, focus and mental clarity [28], is involved in the creation of neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which helps to control anxiety, enhance mood and emotional balance [29].

Who can take Original NADH Instant Power® in Covid-19?

All the investigations indicate that supplementing with Original NADH Instant Power® appears to be very safe. Also, there are no reported drug interactions. In this supplement, the high therapeutic activity of NADH is combined with the absence of toxicity [30]. Original NADH Instant Power® has been widely used for more than 25 years and no significant side effects have been reported. It can be concluded that Original NADH Instant Power® is the optimal supplement for such symptoms of Covid-19 and Long-Covid as chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances and can be taken by everyone regardless of age, the presence of chronic diseases and the severity of symptoms. Taking Original NADH Instant Power® will help cope with anxiety, restore sleep and work capacity, help the body recover faster and reduce the possibility of post-Сovid complications.

Dr. Oksana Klymenko M.D., PhD, 
SNHS Dip. (Holistic Nutrition), Medical Doctor, Researcher in the fields 
of molecular physiology and pathophysiology, 
molecular biology, genetics, cell biology

Chronic fatigue and insomnia ruins life even with a mild course of Covid-19

Covid-19 – a disease that destroys the normal rhythm of life

Why do we lose sleep and feel so tired during Covid-19?

How to help the body cope with these problems?

Who can take Original NADH Instant Power® in Covid-19?

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