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Session: COVID-19 and Nutrition / Innovations in Telenutrition (Poster Theater Flash Session 10)

(PTFS10-01-23) Low Brain and Muscle Creatine in Long COVID

Monday, July 24, 2023
4:05 PM – 4:09 PM ET
Location:  Fairfax

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Sergej M. Ostojic, MD, PhD

    Professor and Head of FSPE Applied Bioenergetics Lab
    University of Novi Sad
    Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia

    Disclosure(s): AlzChem GmbH: Grant/Research Support (Terminated, February 1, 2023)
    AlzChem LLC: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
    Hueston Hennigan LLP: Grant/Research Support (Terminated, March 1, 2021)
    ThermoLife International LLC: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MR

    Marijana Ranisavljev

    University of Novi Sad

  • JS

    Jelena Slankamenac

    University of Novi Sad

  • NT

    Nikola Todorovic

    University of Novi Sad

  • JO

    Jelena Ostojic, PhD

    University of Novi Sad
    Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia

  • VS

    Valdemar Stajer

    University of Novi Sad

Disclosure(s):
Sergej M. Ostojic, MD, PhD: AlzChem GmbH: Grant/Research Support (Terminated, February 1, 2023)
AlzChem LLC: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing)
Hueston Hennigan LLP: Grant/Research Support (Terminated, March 1, 2021)
ThermoLife International LLC: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Objectives: To evaluate the concentration of creatine in the skeletal muscle and brain of adults suffering from long COVID-19 syndrome, and determine the association between tissue creatine levels and the severity of the symptoms of long COVID.

Methods: Nineteen adults (n 19) with evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, general fatigue that last for at least three months, and one or more additional symptoms of long COVID were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Total creatine (creatine plus phosphocreatine) levels were assessed by a single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 1.5 T in vastus medialis muscle, thalamus, and three bilateral cerebral locations across the white and gray matter. The visual analog scales (VAS) were used to evaluate the severity of disease-related symptoms.

Results: The mean total creatine concentration in the skeletal muscle of long COVID patients was 29.8 ± 6.9 mM; the levels were significantly lower (Z test score = - 5.58; P < 0.001) comparing to the reference values for the general population (36.2 ± 5.0 mM) measured with proton MRS. The average values in all brain structures examined in our cohort were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than creatine concentrations in normal volunteers reported in the literature. A significant association was demonstrated between lower muscle creatine levels and more severe myalgia in long COVID patients (r = - 0.53; P = 0.02).

Conclusions: Creatine depletion could be put forward as a newly discovered metabolic footprint of long COVID, perhaps as an end-result of supra-physiological energy utilization in this perplexing condition.

Funding Sources: None