This paper proposes that Long COVID and ME/CFS share a common upstream mechanism: post-viral selenoprotein depletion through SELENOP negative acute-phase response, viral CoQ10 and mitochondrial disruption, and sustained NRF2-suppressing inflammation. A July 2025 PNAS study confirmed GPx4-mediated lipid oxidative damage as a shared characteristic of ME/CFS and Long COVID in immune cells. A 2022 clinical study showed combined CoQ10 (400mg) and selenium (200mcg) supplementation reduced oxidative stress biomarkers and improved fatigue severity in ME/CFS patients. Pre-existing Selenoprotein Axis vulnerability predicts differential Long COVID susceptibility. All claims are hypothesis-level.
Grace Ann (Fri,) studied this question.