Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 17, 2025 2 hours, 49 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers from the Hulunbuir Chinese Mongolian Hospital, along with scientists from several collaborating institutions in China, have uncovered important biological changes that remain in the bodies of people who have recovered from COVID-19. Their detailed examination of blood plasma from recovering patients provides a clearer picture of why so many individuals continue to face lingering symptoms even after testing negative for the virus. This
Medical News report highlights how the study used advanced metabolomics and proteomics to map these persistent physiological disruptions.
A new study reveals lasting metabolic and immune changes in people recovering from COVID-19
Key metabolic shifts uncovered
The research team analyzed plasma from 29 recovering COVID-19 patients and compared it with plasma from 30 healthy individuals. They discovered 415 altered metabolites, with more than one quarter belonging to lipid and lipid-related molecules. Many of these, including several types of sphingolipids, were found at higher levels in the recovering patients. These lipids are important for cell structure and communication, and their increase suggests ongoing stress and inflammation in the body. The study also found changes in pathways responsible for taste, thermogenesis, and energy metabolism, which may help explain why many people still experience fatigue, altered taste, and temperature-regulation issues long after infection.
Important protein changes linked to immunity
In addition to metabolic differences, the researchers identified 947 proteins that differed between the two groups. Many of these proteins were connected to the immune system, inflammation, and blood clotting. Key pathways involved complement activation, coagulation cascades, platelet activation, and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. These processes are known to play major roles in severe COVID-19, and their continued disruption suggests that the immune system of recovering patients does not immediately return to normal. The study also noticed changes in hormone-related and neurodegeneration-linked pathways, raising concerns about long-term effects on brain health and overall hormonal balance.
Combined analysis gives deeper insight
When the scientists combined both metabolomic and proteomic findings, they found shared alterations in pathways related to estrogen signaling, ferroptosis, inflammation, and several neurodegenerative processes. These overlapping changes suggest that recovery from COVID-19 is far more complex than previously understood and involves multiple biological systems continuing to readjust long after viral clearance.
Conclusion
Overall, the study clearly shows that people recovering from COVID-19 still exhibit numerous biological irregularities that affect metabolism, immunity, inflammation, and even neurological pathways. These findings indicate that recovery does not immediately restore the body to its pre-infection state and that long-term monitoring may be necessary for many patients. Understanding these subtl
e but important changes can help guide future treatment strategies and improve long-term care for those affected.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Metabolomics.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11306-025-02337-w
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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