Exploring the Link Between COVID-19
& Gut Microbiota
Understanding the connection between the gut microbiome, the severity of COVID-19 infection, and persistent long-haul symptoms is an active area of research. The most recent studies suggest that the gut microbiome contributes to both the course and the severity of COVID-19. Dysbiosis in the gut contributes to a loss of beneficial microbes, the proliferation of potentially harmful microbes, and a reduction in microbial diversity. This leads to epithelium breakdown and inflammation, which have been shown to increase levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)—a protein target of SARS-CoV-2. Scientists are hopeful that therapeutic interventions to restore the gut microbiome may mitigate symptoms in patients with acute or long COVID-19.
