Functional Foods: A Promising Strategy for Restoring Gut Microbiota Diversity Impacted by SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Abstract

Natural herbs and functional foods contain bioactive molecules capable of augmenting the immune system and mediating anti-viral functions. Functional foods, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary fibers, have been shown to have positive effects on gut microbiota diversity and immune function. The use of functional foods has been linked to enhanced immunity, regeneration, improved cognitive function, maintenance of gut microbiota, and significant improvement in overall health. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and immune function, and disruptions to its balance have been linked to various health problems. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been shown to affect gut microbiota diversity, and the emergence of variants poses new challenges to combat the virus. SARS-CoV-2 recognizes and infects human cells through ACE2 receptors prevalent in lung and gut epithelial cells. Humans are prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection because their respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are rich in microbial diversity and contain high levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. This review article explores the potential use of functional foods in mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on gut microbiota diversity, and the potential use of functional foods as a strategy to combat these effects.

COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Tract: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Manifestations

“…Clinical trials using dietary modification, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation are underway to determine their effectiveness in the treatment of acute COVID-19 and possibly enhance the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines [152][153][154][155][156][157][158]. Only long-term clinical data and future research shall provide better insight into the complex bidirectional interaction between the virus and the alimentary tract in healthy patients and those with preexisting gastrointestinal diseases.…”

Role of probiotics in managing various human diseases, from oral pathology to cancer and gastrointestinal diseases

“…Consequently, existing antiviral treatments have demonstrated limited effectiveness (Singh and Rao, 2021). In this context, natural products like probiotics and their derivatives are being investigated for their potential contributions to pandemic prevention, treatment, and overall management, extending to post-pandemic periods and other severe infections (Brahma et al, 2022;Banerjee et al, 2023).…”

COVID-19 influenced gut dysbiosis, post-acute sequelae, immune regulation, and therapeutic regimens

“…Individuals, who have contracted COVID-19, particularly those expressing severe symptoms, have been reported to exhibit a changed composition of their gut microflora that persists; beyond the point the infection has completely subsided. Some studies strongly suggest a heavy flux in the variety of gut microflora after COVID-19 infection that gradually affects the ability of the gut to perform its functions and is often associated with a loss in microbiota diversity ( Banerjee et al., 2023 ). As COVID-19 can cause a significant and chronic inflammatory reaction throughout the body, the infection may modify the gut environment to favour the growth of particular types of bacteria that affect the overall gut composition.…”