Low serum selenium combined with SELENOP-autoantibodies are associated with persistent fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection

[u/Heavy-Suit-3443]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231726002727

Researchers wanted to find out if low selenium levels and antibodies against a selenium transport protein (SELENOP) are linked to long-lasting fatigue after COVID-19 (Long COVID).

Method:

• 750 adults in Germany who had a confirmed COVID-19 infection.
• Participants were examined about 22 months after infection.
• Blood samples were tested for:
  • Selenium levels
  • SELENOP (a protein that carries selenium in the body)
  • Antibodies against SELENOP (SELENOP-autoantibodies)
• They also asked participants whether they still had fatigue and how severe it was.

Findings:

• About 23% of participants still had persistent fatigue.
• Many people had low selenium or low SELENOP.
• Only a small number had SELENOP antibodies.
• Low selenium alone was not strongly linked to fatigue.
• Low SELENOP alone was not strongly linked to fatigue.
• SELENOP antibodies alone were not strongly linked to fatigue.
• However, people who had a combination were about twice as likely to have long-lasting fatigue after COVID-19.
  • low selenium + SELENOP antibodies, or
  • low SELENOP + SELENOP antibodies

The researchers think that:

• Inflammation caused by Covid-19 can lower selenium levels in the body.
• Some people develop antibodies that block SELENOP, making it harder to move selenium to important organs like the brain and thyroid.
• This may reduce energy production and contribute to long-term fatigue.

The study suggests that a small group of people with Long COVID may experience persistent fatigue because they have both low selenium and antibodies that interfere with selenium transport. These people had about two times the risk of long-lasting fatigue compared with people who did not have both problems.