Researchers have found that something in the human intestine may affect the severity of Covid-19 disease caused by the emerging corona virus infection, so what is it?

How does it affect the body's response?

The answer is "gut microbiota", which are groups of bacteria that live in the intestine, which include many types, and their presence and balance affect a person's health.

The study was conducted by researchers, including Dr. Seo Ng of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and it was published, Monday, in the scientific journal "Gut".

The researchers found that the microorganisms that live in our gut may affect the severity of Covid-19 and the body's immune response to it, and could explain the chronic symptoms.

The research team also discovered that the microorganisms in the intestine of Covid-19 patients were completely different from those in uninfected individuals.

The researchers said that although Covid-19 is primarily a respiratory disease;

However, there is growing evidence that the digestive system plays a role.

The study included data from two hospitals, where researchers obtained blood and stool records from 100 patients with laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 infection.

Immune responses

The researchers said the associations between gut bacterial formation, cytokine levels and inflammatory markers in Covid-19 patients:

They indicate that the gut microbiome is strongly associated with Covid-19, possibly by modulating the host's (human) immune responses.

"Covid-19 patients lack certain good bacteria known to regulate our immune system," said Dr. Ng - according to what was reported by "Reuters" (Reuters).

She added that the presence of an abnormal group of gut bacteria, or "microbiome imbalance" (dysbiosis), continues after the removal of the Corona virus, and may play a role in the long-term symptoms that affect some patients.

The research team developed an "oral formula" of live bacteria known as "probiotics" in a special capsule to protect the organisms until they reach the intestine.

"Compared to patients receiving standard care, our experimental clinical study showed that more Covid-19 patients who received the microbiome immunization combination completely eliminated symptoms," Ng said, "and those who got it significantly reduced signs of inflammation in their blood." They positively increased the beneficial bacteria in the feces, and developed antibodies to the virus.

The following diagram shows 9 of the most prominent symptoms of Corona virus, and to find out a detailed list of symptoms of Corona infection, click on this link.

Balance

The number of bacteria that live in the intestine is 10 (13-14), including friendly bacteria, which constitute more than 85% of the total gut bacteria, such as "Gram-positive Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria", as well as bacteria capable of Causing disease.

The bacteria in the intestine live in balance with each other and with the body, and imbalance of this balance leads to problems or diseases.

Bacteria are defined as single-celled microorganisms that move, multiply and adapt according to the surrounding environment, and some types of bacteria are beneficial to humans, and some are harmful and pathogenic.

Bacteria are one of the components of the human body, and they play a very important role in it, as large numbers of them live in the intestine, and inside it a supportive layer called the gut flora is formed, and many types of bacteria also live on the skin of a healthy person, and the mouth also contains numbers Of bacteria, 128 of these microorganisms were counted in the lungs.

The beneficial bacteria in the intestine help in the digestion of fats and fibers, the formation of B vitamins (B) and "K" (K), preventing the conversion of nitrates into toxins and maintaining a balanced level of acidity in the gastrointestinal tracts.

To be well digested, and detoxify the liver.

What are probiotics?

They are living microorganisms that can provide benefits to human health when consumed in a certain amount.

What are prebiotics?

They are foods that contain non-digestible multiple sugars, which are fermented by gut bacteria to create "short-chain fatty acids" (SCFAs) with benefits for gut health.

Probiotics and prebiotics are called a "symbiotic".

Factors that affect a person's gut bacteria:

  • Age.

  • The diet.

  • The environment.

  • Genes.

  • Taking some types of medicines, especially antibiotics.

Functions of gut bacteria:

  • Metabolism and digestion of certain foods and drugs.

  • Provide a barrier to protect against intestinal infection.

  • The vitamin K industry is important for blood clotting.

  • According to studies, some types of bacteria may play a role in protecting against heart disease, cancer and immunity.

How to maintain healthy gut bacteria?

  • Do not overuse antibiotics, which may affect the beneficial bacteria in the intestine. Do not take antibiotics unless according to the doctor's prescription and according to his instructions.

  • Eat a healthy diet rich in fiber and complex starches, such as brown rice and brown bread.

  • Eat naturally fermented foods that contain probiotics (live bacteria).

Examples of foods containing probiotics include:

  • "Sauerkraut" (sauerkraut).

  • Pickles.

  • "Miso" is a Japanese spice made by fermenting soybeans.

  • Certain types of yogurt.

  • "Kefir", which is a fermented milk drink.