Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 16, 2025 9 hours, 32 minutes ago
Thailand Medical News: COVID linked to long term nerve pain through inflammatory storm
A new study by researchers from Semmelweis University in Hungary and the University of Catania in Italy reveals that certain vitamins may reduce the risk of developing long-lasting nerve pain after COVID-19. Known as neuropathic pain, this type of pain is caused by damage to the nerves and is increasingly seen in patients suffering from Long COVID. This
Thailand Medical News report examines how simple vitamins could provide a new, accessible tool to prevent this painful and life-altering condition.
New Study Shows Vitamins May Help Prevent Chronic Nerve Pain After COVID-19
The study explains that many patients experience a flood of inflammatory substances during and after COVID-19 infection. These substances, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, trigger a chain reaction that causes nerve sensitivity, leading to symptoms such as burning, tingling, and chronic pain. The researchers believe that if these pro-inflammatory signals are blocked early, the nerve damage and pain that follow may be prevented.
The hidden epidemic of post COVID nerve pain
Neuropathic pain is becoming one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of post-COVID syndrome. Studies have found that up to 34 percent of people who recover from COVID-19 suffer from this condition, which affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Common symptoms include electric shock-like pain, numbness, facial neuralgia, and severe headaches. In many cases, this pain lasts for months and severely impacts daily life and work.
The study details how patients in ICUs or those with severe symptoms are particularly at risk. One investigation found 16 percent of ICU patients developed nerve damage that continued long after discharge. Other studies recorded nerve pain in 24 to 29 percent of patients, with a significant number of them suffering from anxiety, fatigue, and memory problems. These findings show how widespread and persistent neuropathic pain has become after COVID.
How vitamins might help block nerve damage
The researchers explored how common vitamins—especially vitamins D, A, B1, B3, and C—may help calm the body’s overactive immune response to COVID-19. They found that these vitamins can reduce the production of inflammatory molecules linked to nerve pain. For instance, vitamin D significantly lowers levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, both of which are known to irritate nerve cells and increase their sensitivity.
Vitamins also interact with pain-regulating systems in the brain and spinal cord. For example, vitamin B3 was shown to influence genes that suppress inflammation, while vitamin A supports healthy nerve signaling. Through data analysis from thousands of studies indexed on PubMed and additional genetic pathway tests, the scientists were able to show strong links between vitamin intake and decreased inflammation in COVID-19-related nerve injuries.
Promising prevention but no
t a cure
The researchers stress that early intervention is key. Taking vitamin supplements during the initial phase of COVID-19 may prevent or lessen the nerve inflammation that leads to chronic pain. However, they caution that vitamins alone are not a cure and should be part of a broader strategy, including medical supervision and pain management for those already experiencing post-COVID symptoms.
The study also reinforces the idea that COVID-19 continues to have long-term effects, even in those with mild initial symptoms. Understanding how to block these effects—especially through simple, low-risk approaches like vitamin supplementation—could help reduce the burden of chronic pain for millions worldwide.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332225005402
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/scientists-warn-that-vitamins-and-diet-trends-may-secretly-fuel-cancer-instead-of-fighting-it
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/vitamin-b12-shows-potential-to-reverse-cognitive-damage-in-long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/hospitalized-children-with-covid-19-found-to-have-disrupted-gut-microbiomes-and-missing-key-vitamins
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