[Graz, November 8, 2024] – A new pilot study, conducted at the research institute CBmed, together with the Medical University of Graz and Aarhus University in Denmark has found that COVID-19, particularly in severe cases, can lead to lasting changes in both gut and lung health, lasting for 10+ months after the acute illness. The study, conducted by an international team of researchers, highlights that probiotics may offer a potential solution for patients experiencing long-term COVID symptoms by helping to restore a balanced gut microbiome, which in turn can support immune function and reduce fatigue.

The study focused on the “gut-lung axis,” a link between gut bacteria and lung health that may play a crucial role in recovery after severe COVID-19. Researchers provided a group of severe COVID-19 infection survivors with a six-month course of probiotics. They observed an increase in microbial diversity in the gut, improvements in quality of life, and reductions in certain inflammation markers compared to those who did not receive the probiotics.

“Severe COVID-19 can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, contributing to prolonged symptoms like fatigue and inflammation,” says Prof. Dr. Stadlbauer-Köllner, who initiated the project. “Our findings suggest that targeted probiotic therapy may help patients recover faster by reducing inflammation and restoring gut health.” “By combining expertise in microbiology, immunology, and clinical research, we identified promising therapeutic targets to support recovery after severe COVID-19, providing a proof of concept for the potential role of probiotics in this context.”, says Angela Horvath, PhD, the first author of the study, highlighting the need of multidisciplinary approaches to research emerging diseases.”

Key findings of the study include:

• Reduced Fatigue and Improved Quality of Life: Patients taking probiotics reported reduced tiredness and stress, key symptoms after severe COVID-19 infections.
• Enhanced Gut Health: The study revealed a significant improvement in gut microbial diversity, which is linked to a balanced immune response.
• Potential for Widespread Impact: With millions of people suffering from long COVID symptoms worldwide, this research points to the gut-lung axis as a promising therapeutic target.

The researchers emphasize the need for further studies to confirm these findings and explore additional ways to use microbiome-based treatments to support recovery in COVID-19 patients.

Read the Publication

[Graz, November 16, 2024] – A new study published in the scientific journal Nutrients by researchers from the research institute CBmed and the Medical University of Graz has investigated the impact of a mild COVID-19 infection on the gut microbiome. The findings reveal that even mild COVID-19 infections can lead to significant alterations in the gut microbiota, while probiotics may influence microbial diversity.

Study Overview

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted entirely remotely and included 30 patients with mild COVID-19 who were in home quarantine. Participants received either a multispecies probiotic or a placebo for 30 days. During the study, participants reported their symptoms regularly, and five stool samples were collected for microbiome and metabolomics analysis.

Key Findings

• Gut Microbiota Changes from COVID-19: The infection was associated with a decrease in “beneficial” bacteria, such as Christensenellaceae and Ruminococcaceae, and an increase in Bacteroidetes.
• Effects of the Probiotic: Probiotic intake altered gut microbiota composition and introduced the bacterium Enterococcus faecium into the microbiota. However, there was no direct effect on symptoms or recovery time.
• Recovery Independent of Probiotic Use: Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms improved over time in all participants, regardless of treatment.

Significance of the Results

“This study demonstrates that even mild COVID-19 infections can affect the gut microbiota” says Angela Horvath, PhD, the first author of the publication. “Probiotics show potential to support gut health during infections, but further research is needed to determine their therapeutic benefits,” highlights the clinical lead Prof. Dr. Vanessa Stadlbauer-Köllner.

Future Directions

The findings emphasize the importance of the gut microbiome for overall health and raise questions about the potential for personalized microbiome-based therapies in managing acute illnesses.

The study was conducted by the Medical University of Graz and CBmed, supported by funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

Read the Publication