Taurine Supplementation in Adolescents With Post-COVID Condition

Purpose: The primary objective is to quantify the increase in plasma taurine concentrations in adolescents following three months of taurine supplementation and evaluate the efficacy and safety of taurine supplementation in treating and managing prolonged symptoms related to LC. 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. 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 in adolescents, 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 to quantify the increase in plasma taurine concentrations in adolescents following three months of taurine supplementation and evaluate the efficacy and safety of taurine supplementation in treating and managing prolonged symptoms related to LC.