Reference Number: 441
Year: 2021
Link: Link to original paper
Health: COVID-19 | Gut Microbiome
Summary
Objective: Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, there is mounting evidence suggesting that the GI tract is involved in this disease. We investigated whether the gut microbiome is linked to disease severity in patients with COVID-19, and whether perturbations in microbiome composition, if any, resolve with clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Results: Gut microbiome composition was significantly altered in patients with COVID-19 compared with non-COVID-19 individuals irrespective of whether patients had received medication (p<0.01). Several gut commensals with known immunomodulatory potential such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium rectale and bifidobacteria were underrepresented in patients and remained low in samples collected up to 30 days after disease resolution. Moreover, this perturbed composition exhibited stratification with disease severity concordant with elevated concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and blood markers such as C reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase.
Conclusion: Associations between gut microbiotacomposition, levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 suggest that the gut microbiome is involved in the magnitude of COVID-19 severity possibly via modulating host immune responses. Furthermore, the gut microbiota dysbiosis after disease resolution could contribute to persistent symptoms, highlighting a need to understand how gut microorganisms are involved in inflammation and COVID-19.
What does this mean for a baker?
This study highlights how important it is to nourish your gut microbiome, as this can be directly linked to the body’s response to COVID-19. In particular, bacteria such as Bifidobacterium were shown to be linked to immune response to the disease. Following the 7 core principles and increasing diversity in the gut could potentially be a way to reduce the severity of symptoms and aid recovery. Try making our Muesli Sourdough Boule for a loaf that is full of diversity!