Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment for Patients Contracted COVID-19: Current Understanding and Future Needs

Peng, Jiangying; Zhang, Meng; Yao, Guoqiang; Kwok, Lai‐Yu; Zhang, Wenyi

doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.669808

Cited by 25 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…Manipulating the gut microbiota may provide a promising adjuvant therapy to medical procedures in COVID-19 patients. 68 , 73 , 74 Our study does not preclude the use of prebiotics (microbiota-targeted dietary), probiotics (bacteria-based treatment) or gut microbiota derivatives for the management of acute COVID-19. The gut microbiota can indeed generate a plethora of metabolites that can remotely reinforce the antiviral functions of pulmonary immune cells, in part through ISG induction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alteration of the gut microbiota following SARS-CoV-2 infection correlates with disease severity in hamsters

et al. 2021

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Mounting evidence suggests that the gut-to-lung axis is critical during respiratory viral infections. We herein hypothesized that disruption of gut homeostasis during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may associate with early disease outcomes. To address this question, we took advantage of the Syrian hamster model. Our data confirmed that this model recapitulates some hallmark features of the human disease in the lungs. We further showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with mild intestinal inflammation, relative alteration in intestinal barrier property and liver inflammation and altered lipid metabolism. These changes occurred concomitantly with an alteration of the gut microbiota composition over the course of infection, notably characterized by a higher relative abundance of deleterious bacterial taxa such as Enterobacteriaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae. Conversely, several members of the Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae families, including bacteria known to produce the fermentative products short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), had a reduced relative proportion compared to non-infected controls. Accordingly, infection led to a transient decrease in systemic SCFA amounts. SCFA supplementation during infection had no effect on clinical and inflammatory parameters. Lastly, a strong correlation between some gut microbiota taxa and clinical and inflammation indices of SARS-CoV-2 infection severity was evidenced. Collectively, alteration of the gut microbiota correlates with disease severity in hamsters making this experimental model valuable for the design of interventional, gut microbiota-targeted, approaches for the control of COVID-19. Abbreviations: SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids; dpi, day post-infection; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; IL, interleukin. ACE2, angiotensin converting enzyme 2; TMPRSS2, transmembrane serine protease 2.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alteration of the gut microbiota following SARS-CoV-2 infection correlates with disease severity in hamsters

et al. 2021

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“…The recombinant IFN-λ3-anchored L. plantarum can in vitro inhibit porcine gastroenteritis caused by coronavirus [ 52 ]. However, the clinical utility of probiotics in human infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 warrants further evaluations [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ].…”

Section: Therapeutic Effects Of Dietary Supplement Of Probiotics For Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut Dysbiosis during COVID-19 and Potential Effect of Probiotics

Hung

Lee

et al. 2021

Microorganisms

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an RNA virus of the family Coronaviridae, causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an influenza-like disease that chiefly infects the lungs through respiratory transmission. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, a transmembrane protein in its outer portion, targets angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the binding receptor for the cell entry. As ACE2 is highly expressed in the gut and pulmonary tissues, SARS-CoV-2 infections frequently result in gastrointestinal inflammation, with presentations ordinarily ranging from intestinal cramps to complications with intestinal perforations. However, the evidence detailing successful therapy for gastrointestinal involvement in COVID-19 patients is currently limited. A significant change in fecal microbiomes, namely dysbiosis, was characterized by the enrichment of opportunistic pathogens and the depletion of beneficial commensals and their crucial association to COVID-19 severity has been evidenced. Oral probiotics had been evidenced to improve gut health in achieving homeostasis by exhibiting their antiviral effects via the gut–lung axis. Although numerous commercial probiotics have been effective against coronavirus, their efficacies in treating COVID-19 patients remain debated. In ClinicalTrials.gov, 19 clinical trials regarding the dietary supplement of probiotics, in terms of Lactobacillus and mixtures of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, for treating COVID-19 cases are ongoing. Accordingly, the preventive or therapeutic role of probiotics for COVID-19 patients can be elucidated in the near future.

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“…These probiotics related compounds could modulate the immune system leading to the downregulation of inflammatory pathways and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines Probiotics and bacteriocins are suggested to balance pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels and increase the T-cell count in the SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. The probiotic ability to degrade hyaluronan has been suggested to improve the acute respiratory distress syndrome Peng, Zhang, Yao, Kwok, and Zhang (2021) China Review Probiotic The administration of probiotics contributes for modulation of the gut-lung axis as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19 Reuben, Makut, and Adogo (2021) Germany and Nigeria Commentary Probiotic Probiotic strains have been effectively used over the last years to reduce the incidence and severity of different intestinal and respiratory tract viral infections. There is substantial evidence for the positive effect of the use of probiotics against COVID-19 to reduce the disease severity and its related comorbidities thereby mitigating the pandemic Şahin (2020) Turkey Letter to the Editor Probiotic Probiotics may contribute to strength the immune system and be an important prophylaxis to be implemented against COVID-19 Probiotics might also have an effective management of gastrointestinal symptoms, which is an important factor in reducing the transmission and mortality from COVID-19 pandemic Santacroce (2020) Italy Letter to the Editor Probiotic Postbiotic Probiotics synthesize antimicrobial compounds and bioactive molecules such as short-chain fatty acids that can modulate the immune system, as well as restore intestinal homeostasis The interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in a dysbiosis process can infect intestinal cells and spread more easily through the body in a dysbiosis process.…”

Section: Bibliometric Analysis and Scientific Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidences and perspectives of the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as adjuvants for prevention and treatment of COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis and systematic review

Xavier-Santos

Padilha

Fabiano

et al. 2022

Trends in Food Science & Technology

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Background Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease transmitted by the virus responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Scope and approach This review aimed to provide insights and perspectives for the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics related to prevention/treatment and/or modulation of the microbiota in COVID-19 patients. Eighty-four studies published in the Scopus database from the onset of the pandemic until December 2021 were assessed and submitted to a bibliometric analysis adapted from VOSviewer software. Key findings and conclusions Through bibliometric analysis, it might be suggested that the modulation of the gut/lung microbiome is promising as an adjuvant for the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 patients, due to immunomodulation properties related to probiotics and prebiotics. So far, few clinical studies involving the application of probiotics to combat COVID-19 have been completed, but reduction in the duration of the disease and the severity of symptoms as fatigue, olfactory dysfunction and breathlessness, nausea and vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms were some of the main findings. However, probiotics are not recommended to immunocompromised patients in corticosteroid therapy. The future perspectives point to the modulation of the intestinal microbiota by probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics represent a promising adjuvant approach for improving the health of patients with COVID-19.

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Probiotics as Adjunctive Treatment for Patients Contracted COVID-19: Current Understanding and Future Needs

Cited by 25 publications

References 51 publications

Alteration of the gut microbiota following SARS-CoV-2 infection correlates with disease severity in hamsters

Alteration of the gut microbiota following SARS-CoV-2 infection correlates with disease severity in hamsters

Gut Dysbiosis during COVID-19 and Potential Effect of Probiotics

Evidences and perspectives of the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as adjuvants for prevention and treatment of COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis and systematic review

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