Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Health and Human Development, Universidade La Salle, Canoas 92010-000, Brazil.
Nutrients. 2024 Apr 30;16(9):1350. doi: 10.3390/nu16091350.
This comprehensive review explores the potential of using lactobacilli as a probiotic in the management of COVID-19. Our findings suggest that lactobacilli show promise in reducing the risk of death, gastrointestinal and overall symptoms, and respiratory failure, as well as in lowering cytokines and inflammatory markers associated with the disease. The molecular mechanisms by which lactobacilli protect against COVID-19 and other viral infections may be related to the reduction in inflammation, modulation of the immune response, and direct interaction with viruses to produce antiviral substances. However, the selected studies demonstrate the presence of mixed findings for various clinical, biochemical, hematological, and immunological parameters, which may be attributed to methodological differences among studies. We highlight the importance of clearly describing randomization processes to minimize bias and caution against small sample sizes and inappropriate statistical tests that could lead to errors. This review offers valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of lactobacilli in the context of COVID-19 and identifies avenues for further research and applications. These findings hold promise for the development of novel approaches to managing COVID-19 and warrant further investigation into the potential benefits of lactobacilli in combating the disease.
本综述探讨了将乳杆菌作为益生菌用于 COVID-19 管理的潜力。我们的研究结果表明,乳杆菌在降低死亡风险、胃肠道和整体症状以及呼吸衰竭风险,以及降低与疾病相关的细胞因子和炎症标志物方面具有一定的应用前景。乳杆菌预防 COVID-19 和其他病毒感染的分子机制可能与减轻炎症、调节免疫反应以及与病毒直接相互作用产生抗病毒物质有关。然而,所选研究表明,对于各种临床、生化、血液和免疫学参数,存在着混合的发现,这可能归因于研究之间的方法学差异。我们强调了清楚描述随机化过程的重要性,以最大程度地减少偏倚,并注意避免由于样本量小和不适当的统计检验而导致的错误。本综述为乳杆菌在 COVID-19 背景下的治疗潜力提供了有价值的见解,并确定了进一步研究和应用的方向。这些发现为开发 COVID-19 管理的新方法提供了希望,并进一步证明了乳杆菌在抗击该疾病方面的潜在益处。