Low Iron Levels Linked to Long COVID Symptoms: Study Finds

About three in 10 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk for long COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Iron deficiencies contribute to inflammation and anemia, halting healthy red blood cell production just two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Low iron levels in the blood are a major culprit in long COVID cases.
Low iron levels may be a key factor in the development of long COVID symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, breathlessness and joint and muscle pain.
Many individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk for long COVID.
Low Iron Levels Linked to Long COVID Symptoms: Study Finds

Long COVID is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. Researchers are constantly studying the disease to better understand its causes, symptoms, and potential treatments. One recent study has identified low iron levels in the blood as a major culprit in long COVID cases. Iron deficiencies contribute to inflammation and anemia, halting healthy red blood cell production just two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Many individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been at risk for long COVID. About three in 10 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk for long COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study also found that low iron levels may be a key factor in the development of long COVID symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, breathlessness and joint and muscle pain. Researchers are looking into controlling aggressive inflammation as quickly as possible to reduce impacts on iron levels. Iron supplements can become convoluted but experts believe they could be used to treat long COVID cases.


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Confidence

90%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

67%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Low iron may play key role in long COVID

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), University of Minnesota, Wednesday, 06 March 2024 20:19
  • Unique Points
    • . The study was based on blood samples from 214 patients collected via the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease. All participants provided multiple blood samples during and after a COVID-19 infection for 12 months.
    • Long COVID is associated with how quickly inflammation and low iron levels regulated after acute infection. People who took a longer time to demonstrate regulation, and had more severe initial infections, were at an increased risk of long COVID.
    • Iron dysregulation is common after all infections as iron is quickly moved out of the bloodstream to avoid becoming a trap for lethal bacteria.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive because it implies that low iron levels are a cause of long COVID without providing any evidence or explanation for how this mechanism works. It also exaggerates the findings of the study by suggesting that iron dysregulation and hypoxia may sustain a destructive cycle of impaired immune function, poor viral control and inflammation that contributes to tissue-specific and systemic manifestations of severe acute COVID-19, and potential disruption of long-term immune memory. These claims are not supported by the study or by other scientific literature on the topic. The article also does not disclose any conflicts of interest or sources that may have influenced its conclusions.
    • The author is deceptive when they do not disclose that the study was based on blood samples from only 214 patients and did not include a control group of people who had recovered from COVID-19 without any symptoms. This makes the results less generalizable and reliable, as there may be other factors or variables that affect iron levels and long COVID outcomes.
    • The author is deceptive when they imply that anemia is a common symptom of long COVID without defining it or citing any sources that have reported it as such.
    • The author is deceptive when they do not cite any peer-reviewed studies that have linked low iron levels to long COVID symptoms or outcomes. They also do not explain how the study measured iron regulation, hepcidin levels, inflammation and oxygenation in the blood of different groups of patients.
    • The author is deceptive when they say that iron dysregulation and hypoxia may sustain a destructive cycle of impaired immune function, poor viral control and inflammation. This is an example of emotional manipulation and sensationalism, as it creates a false impression of causality without providing any evidence or explanation for how iron levels affect the immune system or the virus. A more accurate statement would be that iron dysregulation may contribute to some symptoms of long COVID, but not necessarily cause them.
    • The author is deceptive when they do not mention that the study was funded by a grant from the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and involved researchers from several institutions, including Oxford University. This could create an impression of bias or conflict of interest without acknowledging their affiliations or potential sources of influence.
    • The author is deceptive when they suggest that there could be a role for iron supplementation during the acute phase of COVID-19 infection and as potential treatment for long COVID. This is an example of bias and opinion without any scientific basis or peer-reviewed studies to support it. Iron supplementation may have some benefits, but it is not clear how it would prevent or treat long COVID.
    • The author is deceptive when they use vague terms like 'may', 'could' and 'potential' to describe their findings without providing any evidence or data to support them. They also do not define what long COVID means, how it is diagnosed or measured, and what factors may influence its development.
  • Fallacies (70%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (75%)
    The article suggests that low iron levels may play a role in the development of long COVID. The study found that patients who developed long COVID had more problems with regulation of blood iron levels and anemia as soon as two weeks after acute infection. Iron dysregulation is common after all infections, but if it goes on for a long time, there may be less iron available for red blood cells to transport oxygen efficiently. This could affect metabolism and energy production in both the body and white blood cells that need iron to work properly.
    • Iron dysregulation is common after all infections, but if it goes on for a long time, there may be less iron available for red blood cells to transport oxygen efficiently
      • Patients who went on to develop long COVID showed more problems with regulation of blood iron levels, including anemia, as soon as 2 weeks after acute infection
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      78%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      The blood holds clues to understanding long COVID

      Science News Monday, 04 March 2024 14:00
      • Unique Points
        • The blood of long haulers holds clues to understanding long COVID.
        • A drug that targets an immune system anomaly in the blood of some long haulers might be one way to treat their disease. This research is still in its early days and a clinical trial needs to be done at this stage, it's proof-of-concept only.
        • The full long COVID landscape is unquestionably complicated and can make the disease seem impenetrable, but researchers think they can crack its mysteries.
      • Accuracy
        • > A drug that targets an immune system anomaly in the blood of some long haulers might be one way to treat their disease. This research is still in its early days and a clinical trial needs to be done at this stage, it's proof-of-concept only.
        • > The full long COVID landscape is unquestionably complicated and can make the disease seem impenetrable, but researchers think they can crack its mysteries.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (75%)
        The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it mentions that Paul Morgan is on the hunt for potentially life-altering drugs. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing long COVID as a once-seemingly inscrutable disease and stating that many people are suffering from its unrelenting symptoms. Additionally, there is an informal fallacy when the article mentions that Akiko Iwasaki thinks researchers can crack long COVID's mysteries.
        • Paul Morgan is on the hunt for potentially life-altering drugs.
      • Bias (85%)
        The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses the phrase 'life-altering drugs' which implies that they will cure long COVID completely, but it is not clear if this is true or possible. This could be seen as an example of false hope being promoted by pharmaceutical companies for profit.
        • He’s on the hunt for potentially life-altering drugs.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        73%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Long COVID may be triggered by low iron levels, scientists discover

        New York Post Alex Mitchell Monday, 04 March 2024 20:23
        • Unique Points
          • Low iron levels in the blood are a major culprit in long COVID cases.
          • Iron deficiencies contribute to inflammation and anemia, halting healthy red blood cell production just two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
          • Many individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been at risk for long COVID.
          • About three in 10 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at risk for long COVID.
          • “When the body has an infection, it responds by removing iron from the bloodstream to protect against potentially lethal bacteria.”
          • Long COVID cases may be brought on by iron deficiencies in the blood.
          • Iron levels and how they are regulated were disrupted early during a Covid infection and took a long time to recover, particularly for those who went on to report long COVID months later.
          • “It’s not necessarily the case that individuals don’t have enough iron in their body, it's just that it's trapped in the wrong place.”
          • Experts are looking into controlling aggressive inflammation as quickly as possible to reduce impacts on iron levels.
          • “What we need is a way to remobilize the iron and pull it back into the bloodstream, where it becomes more useful to the red blood cells.”
        • Accuracy
          • “It’s not necessarily the case that individuals don’t have enough iron in their body, it's just that it’s trapped in the wrong place.”
          • Iron dysregulation is common after all infections as iron is quickly moved out of the bloodstream to avoid becoming a trap for lethal bacteria.
          • “The study was based on blood samples from 214 patients collected via the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease. All participants provided multiple blood samples during and after a COVID-19 infection for 12 months.”
          • Long COVID is associated with how quickly inflammation and low iron levels regulated after acute infection.
          • “Iron dysregulation may sustain a destructive cycle of impaired immune function, poor viral control and inflammation that contributes to tissue-specific and systemic manifestations of severe acute COVID-19, and potential disruption of long-term immune memory.”
          • Fatigue and exercise intolerance could be related to poor iron regulation.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that low iron levels are a major culprit in long COVID cases without providing any evidence to support this claim. Secondly, the article quotes Dr. Aimee Hanson stating that iron levels and the way the body regulates iron were disrupted early on during a Covid infection but does not provide any context or explanation for how this relates to long COVID cases specifically.
          • The article states that low iron levels are a major culprit in long COVID cases without providing any evidence to support this claim.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a study from the University of Cambridge without providing any context or information about the credibility of the research. Additionally, there is inflammatory rhetoric used in describing long COVID as 'frightening IQ loss' and 'negative impacts on metabolism and energy production'. The author also uses an informal fallacy by stating that iron deficiencies are a major culprit in long COVID cases without providing any evidence to support this claim. Finally, the article contains several examples of dichotomous depictions such as describing low iron levels as 'contributing to inflammation and anemia' and 'reducing impacts on metabolism and energy production'.
          • The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a study from the University of Cambridge without providing any context or information about the credibility of the research.
          • There is inflammatory rhetoric used in describing long COVID as 'frightening IQ loss' and 'negative impacts on metabolism and energy production'.
          • The author uses an informal fallacy by stating that iron deficiencies are a major culprit in long COVID cases without providing any evidence to support this claim.
          • The article contains several examples of dichotomous depictions such as describing low iron levels as 'contributing to inflammation and anemia' and 'reducing impacts on metabolism and energy production.'
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          Alex Mitchell has a conflict of interest on the topic of long COVID as he is reporting for The New York Post which has been criticized for its coverage of the pandemic and vaccines. Additionally, Drakesmith and Hanson are both quoted in the article without disclosing their potential conflicts of interest.
          • Drakesmith: 'Iron deficiencies can be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease.'
            • Hanson: 'Low iron levels may increase inflammation, which is linked to long COVID symptoms.'