Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 21, 2025 3 hours, 44 minutes ago
Medical News: Probiotics and Postbiotics as a Pathway to Post COVID Healing
A new scientific review has shed light on how probiotics and their postbiotic metabolites could play a crucial role in helping people recover from post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long COVID. The study, conducted by researchers from The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, the Medical University of Lublin, the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Poland, explores how beneficial bacteria and their byproducts can help restore balance in the gut, strengthen the immune system, and ease lingering symptoms after a COVID-19 infection.
Probiotics and Postbiotics Offer Hope for Long COVID Recovery
Post-COVID-19 syndrome is characterized by fatigue, cognitive difficulties, gastrointestinal distress, and other chronic symptoms that persist long after the virus is gone. Recent research suggests that disruptions in the gut microbiota—known as dysbiosis—may play a major role in these prolonged effects. When the natural balance of gut bacteria is disturbed, inflammation rises and the gut’s protective barrier weakens, which can influence the brain, lungs, and immune system through what scientists call the gut–brain and gut–lung axes. According to this
Medical News report, probiotics and their bioactive compounds may help restore microbial harmony, regulate immune reactions, and speed up recovery.
How Probiotics Protect the Body
The review highlights that probiotics—live microorganisms that support health—can improve gut health and immunity through several mechanisms. They can reinforce intestinal barriers by boosting proteins such as occludin and zonula occludens that prevent harmful microbes from leaking into the bloodstream. Some strains like Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus produce compounds called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which reduce inflammation, support intestinal healing, and even influence mood and energy levels.
In addition, probiotics release antiviral agents including lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and bacteriocins that can block virus replication or destroy viral particles directly. These compounds not only defend against new infections but also calm overactive immune responses, a key factor in post-COVID inflammation. The researchers note that certain probiotic strains can also regulate cytokine levels—reducing harmful inflammation while supporting healthy immune balance.
Clinical Evidence from COVID-19 and Long COVID Studies
Clinical trials cited in the study reveal that probiotics have been linked to reduced hospitalization time, fewer digestive issues, and faster recovery in COVID-19 patients. For example, people given combinations of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains reported improvements in fatigue, memory, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Other studies demonstrated that probiotics can enhance the effectiveness of the immune response, lower inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and even reduce mortality in
hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Furthermore, ongoing trials suggest that probiotics and postbiotics—particularly SCFAs and amino acid derivatives—may support the healing of the gut lining and reduce neurocognitive problems associated with long COVID, such as “brain fog.” Researchers believe this could open a pathway to natural and safe adjunct therapies that complement medical treatment and improve quality of life for long COVID sufferers.
A Promising New Frontier for Recovery
The study concludes that targeting the gut microbiota could become one of the most effective strategies for managing post-COVID-19 syndrome. While more research is needed to determine the best probiotic strains, dosages, and combinations, the evidence strongly suggests that restoring microbial balance helps regulate immunity, reduce inflammation, and improve overall health. By focusing on the gut–brain–lung connection, probiotics and their metabolites may offer new hope for millions still struggling with long-term COVID symptoms.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Molecules.
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/20/4130
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
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