In this article, we presented the PROTECT-EHC protocol. The aim of this American clinical study was to test the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the transmission of COVID-19 within the same household. The results are now published.

A new strategy to fight COVID?

For almost two years now, the coronavirus has been affecting our lives. One of the strategies proposed to limit its impact has been vaccination. Vaccination has been one of the strategies proposed to limit its impact. Although effective in limiting the severe symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2, the uptake of vaccines has been limited. In addition, the immunity and protection provided seem to dissipate.

Therefore, in addition to vaccination, other strategies are being considered. Among them: probiotics, known for their effects on immune and inflammatory responses. Safe, accessible, easily, and quickly applicable, probiotics could represent a considerable reinforcement to fight the pandemic. Several studies aim to investigate the effects of these good bacteria on the coronavirus. One of these is the PROTECT-EHC clinical trial.

PROTECT-EHC: reminders of the protocol for probiotic supplementation on COVID-19

The researchers wished to conduct a clinical trial to test the efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG as a post-exposure prophylaxis to COVID-19. The hypothesis is therefore that a preventive daily consumption of the probiotic would decrease the incidence of symptoms related to the virus in the 28 days following exposure, but also the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections.

A total of 182 people who had a household member infected with the virus were recruited. They were randomised to receive either the probiotic or the placebo each day for a period of 28 days.

Participants were asked to complete a series of questionnaires to provide various personal details, including exposure to the virus, their symptoms and potential adverse reactions to the lactic acid bacteria and COVID-19. At the same time, some tests were performed at different times of the study (T0, T14 and T28) with

  • Fecal samples, to analyse the microbiota;
  • And nasal samples, to evaluate the contamination/infection by the virus.

Protect-EHC results finally published

After studying the data, the researchers found some very interesting results. Thus, volunteers in the probiotic group had:

  • A tendency to have a lower coronavirus load (although this result was not significant);
  • A higher abundance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus in the gut microbiota;
  • Lower susceptibility to develop symptoms on day 28;
  • No new symptoms reported after day 28;
  • A significantly longer time to onset of symptoms;
  • A significant change in the overall structure of the resident gut microorganisms.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG therefore appears to be effective in protecting people who have a case of COVID-19 in their environment.

 

These results support the idea that the use of probiotics can be considered as real allies in the fight against this virus. Although further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these initial effects, these encouraging results suggest that probiotics can be of great help in the management of pandemic diseases.

LC

References

Picture: Freepik

WISCHMEYER PE, TANG H, REN Y, BOHANNON L, RAMIREZ ZE, ANDERMANN TM, MESSINA JA, SUNG JA, JENSEN D, JUNG SH, ARTICA A, BRITT A, BUSH A, JOHNSON E, LEW MV, MILLER HM, PAMANES CE, RACIOPPI A, ZHAO AT, SURANA NK, SUNG AD. Daily Lactobacillus probiotic versus placebo in COVID-19-exposed household contacts (PROTECT-EHC): a randomized clinical trial. MedRxiv, 2022