A placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial just submitted for peer review has some exciting news. COVID-19 patients who took probiotics daily for a full month had lower remission rates and a shorter timeline of both symptoms and viral load.
Researchers at the Hospital General Manuel Gea Gonzalez in Mexico City completed the study in February 2021. Three hundred adult patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and mild symptoms, with no hospitalization necessary, were given either a daily probiotic or a placebo capsule. The probiotic supplement was a blend of four strains, including three L. planetarium and one P. acidilactici.
During the study period, none of the participants needed intensive care admissions, and there no were no adverse events associated with the probiotic.
In December of 2020, an analysis of 300,000 users of a specific COVID-19 tracking app in the UK found that supplementation of probiotics and other nutrients was linked to a lowered risk of self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infection.
It’s already known that probiotics can offer health benefits, and the results of this study are promising. Researchers note that additional studies are needed to both corroborate the findings and confirm if all probiotic strains have the same effect. Still, it’s another sign that the gut microbiome plays a significant role in the development and function of the immune system.
Learn more about probiotic supplementation – ask Dr. McSweeney next time you visit.
