Back to Search Start Over

Efficacy of a Multistrain Synbiotic Treatment in Acute and Post-Acute COVID-19 Patients: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial

Authors :
Maria Letizia Giancola
Andrea Fontana
Concetta Panebianco
Antonio Mazzarelli
Alessia Beccacece
Patrizia De Marco
Giovanna Cocomazzi
Chiara De Giuli
Germana Grassi
Carla Fontana
Giorgio Maria Baldini
Viviana Contu
Massimiliano Copetti
Francesco Perri
Emanuele Nicastri
Valerio Pazienza
Source :
Microorganisms, Vol 12, Iss 7, p 1443 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Background and Aims: Several studies reported the effect of COVID-19 on inducing gut dysbiosis, which is also correlated with disease severity. This study aims to investigate the effect of a nutraceutical formula on the shift of microbiota profiles and, secondly, on the clinical–pathological parameters of acute and post-acute COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at National Institute for Infectious diseases (INMI) Lazzaro Spallanzani (Italy), 52 patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a multistrain synbiotic formula (Kebirah®) or placebo orally for 35 days at COVID-19 diagnosis. Health professionals, investigators, and patients were masked to group assignments. The V3–V4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to study the gut microbiota composition in the two groups. Results: Supplementation with Kebirah® prevented the decrease in the Shannon diversity index of gut microbiota, which was instead observed in patients receiving the placebo. In addition, decreases in lymphocyte count and haemoglobin levels were observed only in the placebo group and not in the treated group, which was also characterised by an amelioration of the gut microbial profile, with an enrichment in beneficial bacteria and a preservation of species diversity. Conclusions: Our data suggest that modulating the gut microbiota in acute disease through administration of a specific symbiotic formula could be a useful strategy in the frame of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20762607
Volume :
12
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Microorganisms
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.1608deb309114a868d5fdf0c3473eb26
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071443