Dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut microbiota, is a common characteristic of Long COVID, and can cause symptoms of impaired function in multiple body systems. Results of a randomized clinical trial suggest that a daily capsule of live bacteria may help relieve several Long COVID symptoms. Learn what the researchers did, what they found, and what it could mean for you.

What the researchers did

Scientists at Chinese University of Hong Kong enrolled 463 patients in the Hong Kong region. All participants had confirmed cases of COVID-19 at least four weeks prior, and were experiencing at least one of 13 specified Long COVID symptoms. Approximately 65% of participants were women, and the average participant age was 50. 

Participants answered two separate questionnaires concerning their symptoms, and were then randomized to receive either a placebo or the experimental capsule (called SIM01)–a daily capsule containing three species of live Bifidobacteria, along with three kinds of probiotics to support bacterial growth in the gut. The treatment period lasted for six months.

What they found

According to Raphaela Iris Lau, M.Sc., a doctoral student at the university who was involved in the study, patients who received SIM01 were more likely than those who received placebos to experience improvements concerning:

• Digestive issues, including:
  • Diarrhea,
  • Constipation,
  • Abdominal pain,
  • Bloating,
  • Vomiting,
• Fatigue,  
• Difficulty concentrating, 
• Memory impairment, and 
• Feelings of “general unwellness”

Improvement rates on the placebo were about 15-25 points lower than those on the microbiome treatment on follow-up questionnaires. 

What it means

Lack of ethnic diversity, mostly mild symptoms at the study outset, and the fact that approximately 70% of participants had been infected with the Omicron variant, mean that further research would be necessary in order to be able to generalize the findings for broader patient and variant demographics. 

Despite these limitations, however, the results showed significant improvement across various Long COVID symptoms, particularly regarding digestive problems, Lau said, and the live bacteria therapy can potentially help patients recover more quickly.

*Gever, J. (2023, May 18). Gut Bacteria Cocktail Helps Long COVID. MedPage Today. https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/ddw/104419