Can Postbiotics Prevent or Improve SARS-CoV-2?

A Narrative Review on Gut Microbiome Disturbances and Microbial Preparations in ME/CFS: Implications for Long COVID

“…The immunoregulatory properties of probiotics may help to restore perturbed composition of gut microbiota and dysbiosis, which could reduce symptom severity, which was linked to the reduced abundance of butyrate producing bacteria [41]. Consequently, use of live strains of F. prausnitzii and B. pullicaecorum, as potent butyrate producers by increasing SCFAs (e.g., butyrate) levels due to its potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties may have to restore gut homeostasis after excessive inflammation and also by strengthening intestinal barrier may prevent a leaky gut syndrome linked IBS-like symptoms [124] resultant from with increased inflammatory response/immune activation due to leakage of proinflammatory endotoxins and pathogens into circulation [125]. In addition, the psychobiotic and anti-inflammatory properties of certain strains may help to reduce GI symptoms resulting from psychological distress resultant from the stressinduced gut dysbiosis and activation of the HPA axis [126].…”

“…Although further research is needed to fully understand how postbiotics can be beneficial for ME/CFS and Long COVID-19 and patients, the current evidence suggests that they could be a promising area of study for improving the health of these individuals. In particular, the use of microbial metabolites known short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, propionate and butyrate, due to its immuno-modulatory properties was suggested to be effective in reducing severity symptoms of COVID-19, which might be also extended for ME/CFS, in particularly for modulating gut-brain axis and strengthening intestinal barriers [125]. For example, supplementation of butyrate, in comparison with other SCFAs, acetate and propionate, may be the most advantageous due to its proven immunomodulatory effects, e.g., increase secretion of mucins and defensins, promoting antiviral defenses, by inducing expression of interferon-gamma and granzyme B, as well as reducing systemic inflammation [125] thus possibly reducing psychiatric and fatigue symptoms.…”

“…In particular, the use of microbial metabolites known short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, propionate and butyrate, due to its immuno-modulatory properties was suggested to be effective in reducing severity symptoms of COVID-19, which might be also extended for ME/CFS, in particularly for modulating gut-brain axis and strengthening intestinal barriers [125]. For example, supplementation of butyrate, in comparison with other SCFAs, acetate and propionate, may be the most advantageous due to its proven immunomodulatory effects, e.g., increase secretion of mucins and defensins, promoting antiviral defenses, by inducing expression of interferon-gamma and granzyme B, as well as reducing systemic inflammation [125] thus possibly reducing psychiatric and fatigue symptoms. Despite these strategies can be promising there is emerging need for further studies, which would include controlled clinical trials to determine optimal formulation, doses and treatment durations which would allow to achieve the most prominent improvements in health determinants of patients with post-viral syndromes, while minimize potential adverse effects.…”

A Narrative Review on Gut Microbiome Disturbances and Microbial Preparations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Long COVID

“…The immunoregulatory properties of probiotics may help to restore the perturbed composition of gut microbiota and dysbiosis, which could reduce symptom severity (linked to the reduced abundance of butyrate producing bacteria [ 41 ]). Consequently, the use of live strains of F. prausnitzii and B. pullicaecorum, as potent butyrate producers by increasing SCFA (e.g., butyrate) levels due to its potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties) may have to restore gut homeostasis after excessive inflammation and also, by strengthening the intestinal barrier, may prevent a leaky gut syndrome linked to IBS-like symptoms [ 125 ] resultant from increased inflammatory response/immune activation due to the leakage of pro-inflammatory endotoxins and pathogens into circulation [ 126 ]. In addition, psychobiotic and anti-inflammatory properties of certain strains may help to reduce GI symptoms resulting from psychological distress resultant from the stress-induced gut dysbiosis and activation of the HPA axis [ 127 ].…”

“…Although further research is needed to fully understand how postbiotics can be beneficial for ME/CFS and long COVID patients, the current evidence suggests that they could be a promising area of study for improving the health of these individuals. In particular, the use of microbial metabolites known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including acetate, propionate and butyrate, due to their immuno-modulatory properties, has been suggested to be effective in reducing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, which might also be extended to ME/CFS, in particular for modulating the gut–brain axis and strengthening intestinal barriers [ 126 ]. For example, the supplementation of butyrate, in comparison with other SCFAs, acetate and propionate, may be the most advantageous due to its proven immunomodulatory effects, e.g., increasing secretion of mucins and defensins and promoting antiviral defenses, by inducing expression of interferon-gamma and granzyme B, and reducing systemic inflammation [ 126 ], thus possibly reducing psychiatric and fatigue symptoms.…”