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Review
. 2021 Aug;52(6):582-594.
doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2021.03.002. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Probiotics in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: Current Perspective and Future Prospects

Shilia Jacob Kurian  1 , Mazhuvancherry Kesavan Unnikrishnan  2 , Sonal Sekhar Miraj  3 , Debasis Bagchi  4 , Mithu Banerjee  5 , B Shrikar Reddy  6 , Gabriel Sunil Rodrigues  7 , Mohan K Manu  8 , Kavitha Saravu  9 , Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay  10 , Mahadev Rao  6
Affiliations
Review

Probiotics in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: Current Perspective and Future Prospects

Shilia Jacob Kurian et al. Arch Med Res. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Saving lives and flattening the curve are the foremost priorities during the ongoing pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2. Developing cutting-edge technology and collating available evidence would support frontline health teams. Nutritional adequacy improves general health and immunity to prevent and assuage infections. This review aims to outline the potential role of probiotics in fighting the COVID-19 by covering recent evidence on the association between microbiota, probiotics, and COVID-19, the role of probiotics as an immune-modulator and antiviral agent. The high basic reproduction number (R0) of SARS-CoV-2, absence of conclusive remedies, and the pleiotropic effect of probiotics in fighting influenza and other coronaviruses together favour probiotics supplements. However, further support from preclinical and clinical studies and reviews outlining the role of probiotics in COVID-19 are critical. Results are awaited from many ongoing clinical trials investigating the benefits of probiotics in COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Immunity; Microbiota; Probiotics; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
represents the proposed role of probiotics in the management of COVID-19. Dysbiosis (an altered gut microbial flora) predisposes the individual to abnormal inflammatory status and increases the susceptibility to the disease. Probiotic supplementation helps to maintain symbiosis in the GIT and thereby modulate the immune system. The symbiotic state also helps to control the severity of the disease via the gut-lung and gut-brain axes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Explicit the probable combined/ synergistic effect of probiotics with vitamin D in COVID-19. Probiotic secreting lactic acid will lower the intestinal pH, thereby increasing the absorption of vitamin D and consequently improves its levels. Certain probiotics enhances the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) protein and its transcriptional activity, subsequently increasing the expression of cathelicidin. Moreover, probiotics also increases the number of paneth cells, thereby enhancing the levels and expression of defensins.
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