Gavin Publishers have published research examining whether lactobacillus and inulin blend could have a positive effect on COVID-19 patients.
Extracts
Background: Gut microfloral dysbiosis is known to affect the majority individuals suffering with a Covid-19 infection. This study evaluated whether a specific lactobacillus and inulin blend, which aimed to improve gut health, could reduce the severity of early and chronic Covid-19 symptoms.
Methods: From May 2020 to May 2021, we evaluated 126 participants with Covid-19, with an average duration of symptoms of 108 days, who were given 30 days of this pre and probiotic capsule within the ongoing UK national Phyto-v study. Symptoms were recorded using the validated Cough Symptom Score, the Subjective Well-Being questionnaire and the Chandler fatigue questionnaire. The group was analysed as a whole and then subdivided into 40 (32%) in an early phase of infection (average symptoms 10 days before baseline) and the 86 (68%) in a chronic phase (average symptoms 120 days before trial baseline).
Results: Cough, fatigue and subjective well-being scores significantly improved over the 30 days in both the early and chronic phase cohorts. Participants who were more likely to have gut dysbiosis at trial entry, such as sedentary, hospitalised, older males with GI symptoms, had a statistically significantly better response to the probiotics. Gut symptoms improved in 25 of 31 (82%) who reported them at baseline. Two (1.5%) patients reported mild increased bloating and diarrhoea.
What is Probiotic and Prebiotic: What's the difference?
MEA COMMENT
Treating Long Covid and ME/CFS with probiotics
Changes in the make up of gut bacteria involving a reduction in bacterial diversity and a loss of beneficial bacteria – dysbiosis – may be a factor in a wide range of medical conditions, including ME/CFS and Long Covid
Taking a probiotic supplement is one way of helping to correct these imbalances where they exist
There have been some small clinical trials of probiotics involving people with ME/CFS but the results are not very impressive
A team from Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge have now assessed the use of a prebiotic and probiotic supplement (Phyto V) in people with Long Covid and reported some positive outcomes.
These results do, however, need to be viewed with caution as it involved subjective outcome measures and it was not a placebo contrlled trial
And some people with Long Covid will improve without any form of intervention
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association.
