Bacteria in your GUT affects your immune response to Covid-19 and could influence how severely you suffer symptoms, study finds

This is what we’ve been saying all along! Colostrum builds a healthy gut….with a powerful anti-viral effect.

Here’s what the research found…

South Korean study reviewed pre-existing research on role of gut microbiome
Hong Kong-based scientists examined blood and stool samples from patients
Both studies indicate a gut microbe imbalance is key in severe Covid-19

A person’s gut microbiome may play a role in fighting off coronavirus infection and preventing severe Covid-19 symptoms, according to new studies.

Each person has a unique assortment of bacteria in their gut which play a variety of roles, including in modulating the immune response.

Research from the Chinese University of Hong Kong found people suffering with Covid-19 had a ‘significantly altered’ microbiome composition.

Separate research from South Korea found people with a poorly functioning gut are more likely to develop severe Covid-19 because the lack of healthy microbes makes it easier for the virus to infect cells in the digestive tract.

Each person has a unique assortment of bacteria in their gut which play a variety of roles, including in modulating the immune response. Research from the Chinese University of Hong Kong found people suffering with Covid-19 had a ‘significantly altered’ microbiome composition (stock)

The team from Hong Kong examined blood, stool and patient records from 100 hospital patients with Covid-19 between February and May 2020, and 27 of these patients also provided samples 30 days after the infection had passed.

Researchers also collected samples from 78 people without Covid-19 who were taking part in a microbiome study before the pandemic.

The study concludes the gut microbiome may be involved in the ‘magnitude of Covid-19 severity possibly via modulating host immune responses’.

The authors found that patients with Covid-19 had depleted levels of several gut bacteria known to modify a person’s immune response.

For example, there was evidence of elevated levels of some bacteria, including Ruminococcus gnavus, Ruminococcus torques and Bacteroides dorei.

There was also depleted levels of microbes known to help the immune system, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

The changes to bacterial composition endured for at least a month after the virus had cleared.

Hate to say, but I told you so comes to mind!