New study: The role of gut bacteria in fighting COVID

[dinglethedragon]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-science-idUSKBN29I2Y9?taid=5fff77f08844f300011af4d6&utmcampaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utmmmedium=trueAnthem&utmsource=twitter&fbclid=IwAR3uaMZFpoMmk5X1gxYN3rhqSTTH48rVRpvCU7t4NPcyqbmPUi0ZrMdnJMo

Reuter’s is reporting a study suggesting that good gut bacteria might have a serious role to play in how the body fights COVID.

From the original article in the BMJ

"Conclusion Associations between gut microbiota composition, levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 suggest that the gut microbiome is involved in the magnitude of COVID-19 severity possibly via modulating host immune responses. Furthermore, the gut microbiota dysbiosis after disease resolution could contribute to persistent symptoms, highlighting a need to understand how gut microorganisms are involved in inflammation and COVID-19."
https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/04/gutjnl-2020-323020?fbclid=IwAR3-xsxGj8eujggQ2ue0LOh88gV_rl1Tcr8KyFWfizf7mbsxHwDb-rQivOI

Thanks for the links - that's really interesting

Ooh I take a daily probiotic everyday due to a medical reason ! Hopefully they won’t all be sold out now 🤣

Thank you

The study shows that COVID-19 alters the gut microbiome. It doesn't show that people who have different gut microbiomes before they get COVID have different outcomes.

This isn't a surprise, or anything new. A healthy biodome has always been known to be immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory.

You don't need probiotics. Just eat proper whole foods and leafy greens and don't eat processed food.

Conclusion:

Associations between gut microbiota composition, levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 suggest that the gut microbiome is involved in the magnitude of COVID-19 severity possibly via modulating host immune responses

But this paragraph would suggest that it might?

Furthermore, the gut microbiota dysbiosis after disease resolution could contribute to persistent symptoms, highlighting a need to understand how gut microorganisms are involved in inflammation and COVID-19

... as well as after recovery

Surely?

Would this mean that antibiotics are potentially contraindicated in covid - or potentially that greater care should be taken in current infection?

Again, antibiotics have always attacked the microbiome. They aren't good for immunity.

@bobbiester

The study shows that COVID-19 alters the gut microbiome. It doesn't show that people who have different gut microbiomes before they get COVID have different outcomes.

Read it more carefully

Interesting but then a huge part of our immune system is in our gut.

Best thing is to eat a variety of plants so fruits/veggies/ beans and lentils.

I’ve just bought some goat’s milk kefir. It’s an acquired taste but pushing on with it. Kombucha and kimichi also good for gut health.

I was reading this last night too. There have been some scientists who think severe covid might be linked to serotonin regulation. There was also this study in the bmj too about serotonin and covid related diarrhoea
gut.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/04/gutjnl-2020-323542

bobbiester: "The study shows that COVID-19 alters the gut microbiome. It doesn't show that people who have different gut microbiomes before they get COVID have different outcomes."

@dinglethedragon Read it more carefully

I have also read it carefully.

It states that Covid alters the gut biome.

It does not say that people who have different gut microbiomes before they get COVID have different outcomes.

There is no evidence cited whatsoever that taking probiotics etc BEFORE infection makes the blindest bit of difference. That does not mean that it doesn't, but there is NO EVIDENCE that it does.

This from the full text version. If gut bacteria might have a role in helping the body fight covid, and if we cannot know when we might pick it up. It's pretty sensible to try to keep the gut bacteria healthy and happy. This might help explain why some people have only a mild dose, their bodies are primed to fight back.

It's hardly a hardship to do it.

I wonder if this might explain why some people get more gastric symptoms

I agree @dinglethedragon

It’s important for many different reasons. So this just adds to the body of evidence that gut diversity and healt is important. I don’t know why on this site everything has to be critiqued and must be peer reviewed and have 5 millions sources before it can be discussed.

There is no harm in boosting your gut health. Lots of benefits in fact

So how can we help our gut be more healthy? (Sorry for thicko question.)

@RoganJosh

So how can we help our gut be more healthy? (Sorry for thicko question.)

Have a look at Tim Spector's latest book. He's one of the most sensible people on this subject.

It shows lower levels of immunoregulatory microorganisms in those suffering from COVID by comparing COVID and non COVID patients. It also links severity of COVID to the gut microbiota by looking at microbial profiles from patients that are grouped by severity of symptoms/ inflammatory markers. Its an interesting study but like all gut microbiome studies you end up stuck in a what comes first the chicken or the egg situation. Does having a high level of immunoregulatory bacteria prior to contracting COVID have a protective impact with regards to disease severity or does differing levels of immune response and inflammation after an individual contracts COVID have a differing knock on effect on the microbiome.

The companies who produce probiotics advise a course of at least 3mnths after taking antibiotics.
It takes about 3mnths for a gut to repopulate naturally.
It’s not rocket science why probiotics are heavily advertised.

I actually think probiotics are useful in individuals who are already suffering from gut microbiota dysbiosis but I don't think they have a huge impact of a eubiotic gut where everything is stable and a the microorganisms within the probiotic essentially have to compete with the pre-existing community and successfully integrate into it. Also they don't always contain what they say they do! This comes from looking into them personally in a research capacity

@dinglethedragon

This from the full text version. If gut bacteria might have a role in helping the body fight covid, and if we cannot know when we might pick it up. It's pretty sensible to try to keep the gut bacteria healthy and happy. This might help explain why some people have only a mild dose, their bodies are primed to fight back.

It's hardly a hardship to do it.

Nevertheless, It does NOT say that people who have different gut microbiomes before they get Covid have different outcomes.

It just doesn't say it anywhere. It doesn't say ANYTHING about the state of the gut before infection.

It doesn't suggest AT ALL that taking a probiotic or any other measure will make any difference to getting Covid or to the severity of a Covid infection.

What it actually says is that the illness alters the gut biome and that the correct conclusion is that therefore DURING and AFTER Covid it would be worth trying to improve that altered gut biome.

Which is just as important a message to get across. It is not helpful to change that message or to turn it into yet another internet myth.

Sorry posted too soon.
Natural probiotics containing live microbes are the way to go. I frequently advise patients with oral thrush to use plain live yoghurt and it is much more effective than anti fungal drugs.
Incorporating probiotics into your diet through natural foods is much less expensive than health supplements.

@Angrymum22 All probiotics contain live microorganisms. I am not disagreeing with using yoghurt to treat oral thrush however if we are talking about the gut- a lot of health promoting microorganisms found in food are not acidophiles and are not going to survive passage through the digestive tract if you simply eat them as is. Things like encapsulation are going to promote survival until they reach the gut.