Weight loss treatment of COVID-19 in patients with NCDs: a pilot prospective clinical trial

Background: COVID-19 in comorbidity with non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) complicate the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and increase mortality rate. Objective. To evaluate the effects of the weight loss treatment on clinic/laboratory inflammation and metabolic profile, reactive oxygen species (ROS) body composition in patients with COVID-19 in comorbidity with NCDs. Design: A 6-week open, pilot prospective clinical trial. Setting: The study included 72 adult patients with COVID and influenza in comorbidity with type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, and NASH. Interventions: The treatment involved a fast-weight-loss-method (Analimentary detoxication, ANADETO) including calorie restriction to 50–100 kcal/day, salt intake to 5–6 gr/day, hot water drinking 1000–1500 ml/day, walking > 2,000 steps/day, and sexual self-restraint. Main outcome measures: Primary endpoints: Clinic/infectious/inflammation tests for COVID/Influenza; weight loss during 14 days. Secondary endpoints: fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, blood insulin; systolic/diastolic BP; blood lipids; ALT/AST, chest-CT-scan. Results The patients weight lost from baseline (-9,14 − 12,4%; P   96.3% patients at the 14 days. Systolic/diastolic BP normalized ( P  < 0.0001), glucose/lipids metabolism ( P  < 0.0001); ALT/AST normalized ( P  < 0.0001), platelets increased from baseline ( P  < 0.0001), chest-CT ( P  < 0.0001) at 6-week follow-up. The previous antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective, and other symptomatic medications were adequately decreased in 2–5 days to completely stopping by 5–8 days treatment. Conclusions The non-pharmacological treatment including fast weight loss is clinical/laboratory benefit in treatment of patients with COVID-19 and Influenza in comorbidity with T2D, hypertension, and NASH. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05635539 (12/01/2022): https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05635539?term=NCT05635539&draw=2&rank=1 .