Shocking Gut and Immune Changes Found in Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Patients!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 26, 2025 7 hours, 22 minutes ago
Medical News: A groundbreaking new study from researchers at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, USA), Colorado State University (Fort Collins, USA), and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha, USA) has revealed profound disruptions in the gut microbiome and immune system of individuals suffering from Long COVID and chronic fatigue conditions.
Shocking Gut and Immune Changes Found in Long COVID and Chronic Fatigue Patients
Using stool and blood samples collected over time from people with Long COVID, as well as those with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), scientists discovered major differences in the types of bacteria in their intestines and the levels of immune system signaling proteins called cytokines. This
Medical News report highlights just how closely Long COVID resembles other mysterious chronic fatigue illnesses that have baffled doctors for decades.
Gut Microbiome Flips Upside Down in Long COVID
The team analyzed gut bacteria from 13 Long COVID patients and compared them to 19 healthy individuals. While healthy people typically have a balanced mix of two major bacterial groups—Bacillota and Bacteroidota—this balance was reversed in Long COVID patients. Bacillota increased while Bacteroidota significantly decreased, especially in men.
When scientists zoomed in on more specific bacterial types, they found that in women with Long COVID, helpful bacteria like Fusicatenibacter and Blautia increased, while many beneficial Bacteroides, Streptococcus, and Lachnospiraceae species decreased. Men with Long COVID showed similar patterns. These disruptions suggest the intestinal ecosystem is in distress.
Moreover, the study revealed clear sex-based differences. The composition and function of gut bacteria in men and women reacted differently over time following COVID-19 infection. Females, in particular, showed more dramatic reductions in key metabolic pathways, especially those involving energy production, cell structure, and immune function.
Immune System Chaos Marked by Abnormal Cytokine Levels
In addition to gut changes, the study measured immune-related proteins in blood serum. Cytokine profiles in Long COVID patients were highly abnormal. For instance, the inflammatory marker TNF-α and the chemokine IP-10 were significantly elevated. These molecules are typically involved in responding to viral threats, but their continued elevation in Long COVID suggests the immune system remains overly active long after the infection.
Specific cytokines were found to correlate with certain gut bacteria, and again, these associations varied between sexes. For example, in males, bacteria like Roseburia and Lachnospiraceae showed strong links to TNF-α levels. In females, other microbes like Agathobacter and Blautia were connected to immune changes. These findings suggest that gut bacteria may be influencing the immune system—or vice versa.
Linking Long
COVID to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
One of the most remarkable parts of the research is how closely Long COVID mirrors ME/CFS and other post-viral fatigue conditions. Many Long COVID patients showed symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, and joint pain—hallmarks of ME/CFS. The study also revealed that individuals with a history of chronic fatigue were much more likely to contract COVID-19 compared to the general population.
Interestingly, a history of tonsillectomy (surgical removal of tonsils) was significantly more common among chronic fatigue patients, pointing toward immune dysfunction possibly rooted in childhood.
Additionally, researchers discovered that patients with chronic fatigue had elevated levels of a substance called p87 in their stool, a potential immune biomarker. They also showed abnormal immune patterns similar to those seen in Long COVID sufferers, including lower levels of protective gut proteins and inflammatory markers in the colon.
Conclusions and Future Outlook
This landmark study sheds new light on the biological chaos left behind by COVID-19. By demonstrating that Long COVID patients suffer from both gut microbiome disruptions and immune system imbalance—and that these patterns mirror those seen in chronic fatigue syndromes—it becomes clear that Long COVID is not just "in the head," but rooted in real and measurable biological dysfunction.
These findings may pave the way for future treatments targeting gut health and immune modulation. They also underline the urgent need to recognize Long COVID and ME/CFS as legitimate, disabling conditions. Addressing microbiome imbalances, reducing harmful inflammation, and monitoring immune markers like cytokines could offer hope to millions still struggling months or even years after their COVID-19 infection.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Biomolecules.
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/7/928
For the latest on Long COVID, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/estonian-study-claims-that-possible-hidden-cause-of-long-covid-may-be-a-burnt-out-immune-system
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/long-covid-study-shows-persistent-t-cell-responses-over-two-years
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/long-covid-linked-to-the-altered-functionality-of-cd4-t-helper-th-cells
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
Share
Tweet
Share
