For about a year now, no topic has preoccupied people as much as the coronavirus. Everywhere, people have been thinking about how best to protect themselves from infection. Undoubtedly, a strong immune system is a crucial component. If it is healthy and functioning effectively, the risk of viral and other infections is demonstrably reduced. In this blog post, we'll tell you about an important factor that is decisive for the immune system's defense function – gut health, or more precisely, your gut microbiome.
Did you know that over 70% of all immune cells reside in your gut? This means, conversely, that the gut plays a crucial role in your overall well-being and immune system. COVID-19 is a disease that primarily attacks the respiratory system and causes symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. But COVID-19 is not, as initially thought, solely a lung disease, as many infected individuals also suffer from diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. This means that the gut is indeed affected by COVID-19.
Studies are increasingly demonstrating the strong connection between the gut and a robust immune response—the body's reaction to pathogens. Two key factors play a crucial role: first, the intestinal mucosa, home to a large proportion of immune cells that produce B cells and antibodies; and second, the gut microbiota, ideally populated by a diverse range of bacteria responsible for digesting food components. These bacteria prevent pathogens from multiplying in the gut and the rest of the body, thus supporting normal immune function. A healthy gut microbiota also reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. These are precisely the conditions that have been shown to negatively impact the course of COVID-19. A recent study published in the BMJ Journal Gut explains that the high-risk group for COVID-19 often suffers from a weakened gut microbiome, suggesting that diet and lifestyle can influence the course of the virus both positively and negatively. Your diet is therefore directly linked to gut health and, consequently, to the strength of your immune system. It is advisable to support your body with fiber-rich foods, as these are metabolized by the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
Another study underscores this assumption - An analysis of blood samples from the patients studied showed that an imbalanced gut microbiome was associated with elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of tissue damage. This finding suggests that the microbiome influences the immune response, i.e., the body's ability to defend itself against infection. SARS-CoV-2 may play a role in determining the course of the disease and its severity. However, these assumptions have not yet been fully scientifically proven.
Even the Microbiologist Dr. Heenam Stanley Kim of the University of Korea in Seoul has been reviewed in the journal “mBIO"dealt with this topic."Here, the scientist explains that a disrupted microbiome—that is, a microbiome in which the number of "good" and "bad" gut bacteria is out of balance—leads to a disruption of the intestinal barrier. If the intestinal barrier is not intact, it is easier for toxins to enter the body. Studies also show that the diversity of bacteria in people infected with Covid-19 is significantly lower than in healthy individuals. Your gut flora, and therefore the diversity of bacteria in your gut, can be very effectively supported by probiotics.
An example of this is ours Dailybacs®. This is a high-dose probiotic – consisting of 60 billion “good” gut bacteria, prebiotics, minerals and plant substances, which contributes to microbial diversity in your gut, normal immune system function and your general well-being.
How is the virus connected to the intestines?
It appears that in SARS-CoV-2 infections, the intestines are usually also affected, and those infected often suffer from diarrhea. This finding is supported by a study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine The study, which was published, was supported by the research. In this study, individuals infected with the coronavirus were divided into two groups. Both groups received medication, but one group also received a probiotic containing various bacterial strains. In this latter group, almost all patients experienced a reduction in intestinal symptoms, and the risk of lung complications was minimized eightfold – all within 72 hours.
However, the available research on these topics is still very limited, so definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. We are very curious to see what the future holds and what exciting insights science will reveal regarding the treatment of Covid-19 and the use of probiotics.
