Combined Metabolic Activators Accelerates Recovery in Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19
Journal article, 2021
COVID-19 is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities, including the deficiencies in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and glutathione metabolism. Here it is investigated if administration of a mixture of combined metabolic activators (CMAs) consisting of glutathione and NAD+ precursors can restore metabolic function and thus aid the recovery of COVID-19 patients. CMAs include l-serine, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, nicotinamide riboside, and l-carnitine tartrate, salt form of l-carnitine. Placebo-controlled, open-label phase 2 study and double-blinded phase 3 clinical trials are conducted to investigate the time of symptom-free recovery on ambulatory patients using CMAs. The results of both studies show that the time to complete recovery is significantly shorter in the CMA group (6.6 vs 9.3 d) in phase 2 and (5.7 vs 9.2 d) in phase 3 trials compared to placebo group. A comprehensive analysis of the plasma metabolome and proteome reveals major metabolic changes. Plasma levels of proteins and metabolites associated with inflammation and antioxidant metabolism are significantly improved in patients treated with CMAs as compared to placebo. The results show that treating patients infected with COVID-19 with CMAs lead to a more rapid symptom-free recovery, suggesting a role for such a therapeutic regime in the treatment of infections leading to respiratory problems.
proteomics
metabolomics
combined metabolic activators
omics data
COVID-19
Author
Ozlem Altay
University of Health Sciences
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Muhammad Arif
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Xiangyu Li
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Hong Yang
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Mehtap Aydın
University of Health Sciences
Gizem Alkurt
University of Health Sciences
Woonghee Kim
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Dogukan Akyol
University of Health Sciences
C. Zhang
Zhengzhou University
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Gizem Dinler-Doganay
Istanbul Technical University (ITÜ)
Hasan Turkez
Atatürk University
Saeed Shoaie
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
King's College London
Jens B Nielsen
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Jan Borén
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Oktay Olmuscelik
Istanbul Medipol Universitesi
Levent Doganay
University of Health Sciences
Mathias Uhlen
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Adil Mardinoglu
King's College London
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Advanced Science
2198-3844 (ISSN) 21983844 (eISSN)
Vol. 8 17 2101222Subject Categories
Surgery
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
DOI
10.1002/advs.202101222
PubMed
34180141