German Study Finds That Nicotinamide Supplement Found to Help Speed Up COVID-19 Recovery and Restore Gut Health
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 14, 2025 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
Medical News: Simple Vitamin Therapy Could Help COVID Patients Bounce Back Faster
A major new clinical study has found that nicotinamide, a common form of vitamin B3, could dramatically boost recovery for people suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19. Researchers from the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, Germany, led a large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that showed taking nicotinamide significantly improved physical performance, reduced common COVID-19 symptoms, and even lowered the risk of lingering post-COVID complications.
German Study Finds That Nicotinamide Supplement Found to Help Speed Up COVID-19 Recovery and Restore Gut Health
The study involved 900 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients who were enrolled shortly after testing positive. They received either a placebo or a daily 1,000 mg dose of nicotinamide for four weeks. This
Medical News report uncovers how participants given nicotinamide recovered faster from physical fatigue, returned to normal daily activities sooner, and experienced fewer long-term symptoms six months later.
How Nicotinamide Works Inside the Body
Nicotinamide is a nutrient needed to make NAD+, a molecule essential for energy production in every cell. In COVID-19, NAD+ levels tend to drop sharply, especially during the early, more active phases of infection. Without enough NAD+, immune responses weaken and energy production is impaired—leading to exhaustion, muscle weakness, and poor recovery.
The trial, known as COVit-2, used a special gut-targeted tablet designed to deliver nicotinamide deeper into the intestines, where it could influence the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome—comprising trillions of bacteria—plays a key role in immune system regulation. COVID-19 disrupts this delicate ecosystem, and restoring its balance may be essential to healing.
Impressive Trial Results from Real World Patients
In the subgroup of participants at higher risk for severe disease, 57.6% of those receiving nicotinamide reported full recovery from physical performance drops within just two weeks. In contrast, only 42.6% of those on placebo experienced similar recovery. Nicotinamide recipients also regained the ability to perform everyday tasks more quickly (statistically significant with P = 0.009).
Although not all symptoms improved equally—fatigue and severe coughing showed only mild improvement—patients given nicotinamide still fared consistently better. Even after six months, those who took nicotinamide during their acute infection had fewer lingering symptoms, such as brain fog and shortness of breath.
The Gut Microbiome Connection
Researchers also collected stool samples from a subgroup of trial participants to examine changes in their gut microbiota. Advanced genetic analyses revealed that nicotinamide changed the activity of gut bacteria in beneficial ways. It prevented the gut from losing its natural diversity and reduced metabolic signatures associated with COVID-
related inflammation.
Specifically, nicotinamide restored pathways involved in amino acid synthesis and energy metabolism, including the biosynthesis of lysine and NAD+ salvage pathways. These metabolic changes were not only linked to faster recovery but also matched patterns found in healthy individuals’ microbiomes—suggesting a return to a “pre-COVID” gut state.
Safe and Well-Tolerated
Out of the 900 participants, about two-thirds experienced some side effects, mostly related to their COVID-19 infection. Slightly more people taking nicotinamide reported mild gastrointestinal discomfort—a known side effect of the supplement—but no serious safety concerns emerged. Only seven participants in the entire trial required hospitalization, and none died.
What This Means for the Future of COVID-19 Treatment
This study provides strong evidence that a safe, inexpensive, and widely available vitamin can help COVID patients recover faster and may reduce long-term complications. By boosting energy at the cellular level and supporting gut health, nicotinamide addresses some of the root causes of COVID-19’s lingering effects.
The research suggests that nicotinamide could be used as an early, supportive treatment for COVID-19—especially in people with risk factors for developing severe or prolonged symptoms. However, further studies are still needed to understand exactly how it works in different populations, including vaccinated individuals and those infected with newer variants.
Conclusion
The COVit-2 trial shows that a targeted nicotinamide supplement can significantly improve recovery outcomes in mild to moderate COVID-19 cases. It works not only by restoring critical metabolic pathways disrupted by the virus but also by positively altering the gut microbiome. Importantly, those who took nicotinamide were less likely to develop long-term symptoms, pointing to its role in preventing post-COVID syndrome. With its favorable safety profile and ease of access, nicotinamide could become a vital part of early COVID-19 management and recovery protocols around the world.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nature Metabolism.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01290-1
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/nad-precursors-like-nicotinamide-riboside-and-nicotinamide-mononucleotide-can-help-fight-against-covid-19
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-supplements-studies-show-that-nad-nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-could-play-a-key-role-in-treating-covid-19-and-long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-treatments-metabolic-activators-such-as-n-acetyl-l-cysteine,-l-carnitine-tartrate,-nicotinamide-riboside,-l-serine-can-reduce-recovery-time-i
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