Taurine Supplementation in Long COVID

May 22, 2026 updated by: University of Alberta

Taurine Supplementation as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Neurocognitive Symptoms in Long COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the globe, affecting millions of individuals with varying degrees of severity. While many individuals recover from the acute phase of the infection, a significant proportion continue to experience persistent and debilitating symptoms long after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. This condition, known as Long COVID (LC) or sometimes referred to as Post-COVID Condition (PCC) or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, has emerged as a complex multisystemic condition and challenging health issue, affecting approximately 10% of COVID-19 patients. Various symptoms characterize LC, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and mood disturbances. Some of the symptoms are shared with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) - a condition marked by debilitating fatigue and a host of other symptoms without precise biomarkers or objective tests for diagnosis. Effective LC treatments remain elusive and LC patients continue to grapple with persistent symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. Given the lack of effective treatments, it is imperative to explore novel therapeutic approaches that may alleviate the suffering of this patient population.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Purpose: The overall trial objectives are to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taurine supplementation in treating and managing prolonged symptoms related to LC, focusing on neurocognitive-associated symptoms and fatigue.

Hypothesis: Increasing taurine levels in the body through treatment with taurine supplements will have a beneficial effect on Long COVID symptoms particularly neurocognitive-associated symptoms and fatigue.

Justification: Previous studies have suggested a correlation between low plasma taurine levels and symptoms associated with Long COVID. Reduced plasma taurine levels have also been observed in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The decreasing trajectory of taurine levels observed in long COVID could partly explain the fatigue, as taurine plays multiple roles in skeletal muscle function, the central nervous system, and energy metabolism. Furthermore, in various clinical and preclinical studies, including antioxidant, anti-aging, cytoprotective, and cardioprotective effects, taurine has demonstrated various therapeutic activities. Taurine also has a role in neuromodulation and the treatment of other central nervous system disorders, including depression. These findings suggest that taurine may be important in addressing the persistent symptoms and adverse outcomes in LC patients.

Given the robust association between taurine levels and symptoms and adverse outcomes of LC and the safety profile, there is a strong biological and clinical rationale for investigating taurine supplementation. There is a lack of effective treatments for LC, and exploring taurine supplementation as a novel therapeutic approach is justified and holds the potential to significantly improve the lives of affected individuals with an excellent safety profile.

Objectives: The overall trial objectives are to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taurine supplementation in treating and managing prolonged symptoms related to LC, focusing on neurocognitive-associated symptoms and fatigue.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

300

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age ≥18 years;
  2. Positive COVID-19 test by nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR test, antibody or antigen tests at least 3 months prior to randomization; OR Presumed COVID-19 assessed by the site investigator (no positive COVID-19 test) with acute illness after October 15, 2019, and at least 3 months prior to randomization.
  3. If participants have treatable symptoms, they should have had a stable regimen of treatment prior to entering the study (i.e. started treatment for at least 4 weeks).
  4. Lingering COVID-19 symptoms beyond 3 months from onset of acute COVID and symptoms have lasted at least 2 months. The onset of COVID is considered the earliest of two dates: the date of positive testing or the date of first symptoms.
  5. Lingering symptoms from COVID-19 present at the time of randomization.
  6. Individuals of childbearing potential (as assessed by the overseeing Investigator) who are sexually active must agree to practice true abstinence or use at least one highly effective method of contraception while on study treatment. Highly effective methods of contraception must be discussed and approved by the overseeing Investigator (refer to Section 5 Contraception of the Master Protocol, and Section 13.1.2 of this protocol).
  7. Must be able to provide informed consent and both willing and able to comply with study requirements.
  8. Medications prescribed for treating fatigue or cognition have been discontinued for four weeks prior to enrolment and randomization. These include sildenafil, modafinil (Provigil), or armodafinil (Nuvigil), guanfacine, N-acetyl cysteine, and stimulant medications used for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients who had mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygen (ECMO) for COVID-19.
  2. Current end-organ failure, organ transplantation, or current hospitalization in an acute care hospital.
  3. Contraindications to the study intervention.
  4. Currently already on study intervention(s).
  5. Co-enrolment in another interventional trial (co-enrolment in an observational study is permitted).
  6. Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
  7. The participant is currently enrolled in another clinical trial to treat neurocognitive symptoms in LC.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Taurine
Participants randomized to the Taurine arm will receive two 675 mg taurine capsules twice daily for 12 weeks.
Drug: Taurine
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino sulfonic acid commonly found in the body. It is marketed as a natural health product/supplement and plays an important role in the body.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants randomized to the Placebo arm will receive two placebo capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. The placebo capsules will be visually identical to the taurine capsules.
Drug: Placebo
The placebo capsule is visually identical to the taurine capsule.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean change in Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) from baseline to three months
Time Frame: Three months
This study will target detection of a change in the MFIS from baseline to three months
Three months
Mean change in the ratio of the Trail-Making Tests A & B in the TestMyBrain cognitive testing battery from baseline to three months.
Time Frame: Three months
This test will target detection of a change in the ratio of the Trail-Making Tests A & B from baseline to three months
Three months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Core Outcome Set - Symptoms
Time Frame: Three months
Tracking of symptom trajectory from baseline to three months
Three months
Cardiovascular function
Time Frame: Three months
Mean change in results of 6-minute walking test, to include symptoms and conditions
Three months
Respiratory function
Time Frame: Three months
Mean change in results of 6-minute walking test, to include symptoms and conditions
Three months
Cognitive Function
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in cognition using the TestMyBrain assessment tool.
Three months
Memory
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in memory using the TestMyBrain assessment tool.
Three months
Concentration
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in concentration using the TestMyBrain assessment tool.
Three months
Conceptual Thinking
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in conceptual thinking using the TestMyBrain assessment tool.
Three months
Social Functioning
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in social functioning using the TestMyBrain assessment tool.
Three months
Mental Health Status - PHQ-9
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in mental health status using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
Three months
Mental Health Status - GAD-7
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of mean change in mental health status using the General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7).
Three months
Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) Scale
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of changes in post-COVID functional status using the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) Scale.
Three months
Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI)
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of changes in reintegration to normal social activities using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI) assessment tool.
Three months
Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) Symptoms
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of changes in onset and triggers of PEM, symptoms, duration and recovery using the Post-Exertional Malaise questionnaire, adapted from De Paul's Symptom Questionnaire (PEM-DSQ).
Three months
Health Related Quality of Life - SF-36 (v.1)
Time Frame: Three months
Measurement of change in quality of life using the Quality of Life - SF-36 (v.1) assessment tool.
Three months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Alberta

Collaborators

University Health Network, Toronto
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lawrence Richer, MD, MSc, University of Alberta

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 18, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 28, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 3, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

December 6, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 22, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • RECLAIM -TaurineLC

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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