Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 05, 2025 3 hours, 18 minutes ago
Medical News: Probiotics as a Simple Weapon Against COVID-19
A team of researchers from University College London and the University of Oxford has discovered that probiotics may offer an affordable and accessible way to both prevent and speed up recovery from mild COVID-19. The study carefully reviewed evidence from randomized controlled trials and other clinical studies covering over 1,200 participants across several countries. This
Medical News report highlights how probiotics, commonly found in supplements, yoghurt, and lozenges, could make a difference for people battling mild infections at home.
Probiotics Show Strong Potential Against Mild COVID-19 in Outpatients
Why Probiotics Matter in Covid Care
Most COVID-19 patients worldwide—more than 90 percent—experience only mild symptoms and are treated outside of hospitals. Current antivirals and steroids are not easily accessible for such cases, and vaccines continue to lose strength against fast-mutating viral strains. Probiotics, which are safe microorganisms known for supporting gut and immune health, provide a promising alternative that could be used in outpatient settings. Researchers focused on whether these “good bacteria” could stop infection in exposed individuals and help those already sick recover faster.
Key Findings from the Review
The systematic review included studies from Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Mexico, Ukraine, the United States, China, Iran, and others. In total, 633 people received probiotics and 602 took placebos. Results showed that probiotics reduced the risk of developing COVID-19 after exposure in most studies. In one Chinese trial, frontline medical staff who took probiotic lozenges had a much lower infection rate compared to colleagues who did not. In another study from Iran, healthcare workers given probiotic capsules had fewer cases and fewer issues like loss of smell compared to the placebo group. Elderly people in a Spanish nursing home also avoided reinfection while consuming probiotic yoghurt for several months.
For those already infected, probiotics shortened the length and severity of symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, diarrhea, and even anxiety. A large Mexican study found patients who took a probiotic mixture had faster remission rates, while Swedish and Ukrainian trials showed increased antibody responses in those who consumed specific probiotic strains. Across multiple studies, probiotics also appeared to improve markers of immunity in both blood and nasal samples.
Benefits for High-Risk Groups
Older adults and those with metabolic conditions such as diabetes or obesity benefited the most from probiotics. These groups usually experience longer recovery times and are more vulnerable to complications. The research showed that probiotics improved immune balance, reduced inflammation, and even helped restore healthy gut and respiratory bacteria, which are often disrupted by COVID-19.
Safety Profile and Evidence Quality
Probiotics
were generally safe, with only minor side effects like bloating or mild stomach upset. In fact, one study showed fewer adverse events among probiotic users compared to placebo. The overall certainty of evidence was rated as moderate, meaning results are promising but larger, more standardized trials are needed to confirm the benefits.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that probiotics could become an important addition to COVID-19 prevention and outpatient care strategies. As an affordable, widely available option, probiotics may help reduce infection rates, speed up recovery, and ease the burden on healthcare systems. While more research is required to confirm long-term effects and establish the best probiotic strains, the current evidence already shows strong potential. Probiotics could play a particularly valuable role for the elderly and people with underlying health problems, giving them a simple tool to strengthen their defenses.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrition and Health
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02601060251378200
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/greek-study-finds-that-probiotics-can-help-control-deadly-immune-reactions-in-covid-19-patients
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/scientists-in-preclinical-study-find-that-specific-probiotics-can-lower-covid-19-viral-load-and-inflammation
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/malaysian-researchers-identify-long-covid-subphenotypes-and-find-that-probiotics-can-mitigate-many-symptoms
Share
Tweet
Share
