Sauerkraut and kimchi: a surprising remedy for long COVID?

NCT ID NCT06560554

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION Symptom relief Sponsor: Mayo Clinic Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This Mayo Clinic study is testing whether eating fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut can improve gut microbiome diversity in people with long COVID. Forty adults with long COVID symptoms will either add fermented foods to their diet or continue as usual. Researchers will track changes in gut bacteria and symptoms like fatigue and anxiety over 12 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: fermented foods (probiotic-rich diet)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple dietary approach to improve gut health and reduce long COVID symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The diet requires eating up to 6 servings of fermented foods daily, which may be hard to maintain.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety disorder Depression long COVID-19

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LONG COVID

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55904, United States

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