Your Gut Microbiome Post-Covid

The microbes in your gut despite their tiny size, have significant effects on your health and wellbeing. In fact, the microbiome is often referred to as the “second brain” due to the extensive relationship it has with the body’s organs and systems.

One role in particular the microbes in your gut play is supporting immune function. They help to control local and systemic inflammation, the process by which the immune system protects us from harmful pathogens.

So it’s not entirely surprising that research has shown (1) the make-up of bacteria in the gut may influence the severity of a COVID infection. More recent evidence is beginning to suggest that a COVID infection could affect the balance of bacteria in the gut (2), which might explain why some people have persistent symptoms after a COVID infection.

Specifically, it seems COVID might negatively impact the balance between “good” and “bad” microbes in a person’s microbiome. Studies have shown a significant difference in the gut microbiome between COVID patients (3) and healthy people. We see a reduction in bacterial diversity in the gut in COVID patients – so a smaller range of species, as well as large differences in the types of bacteria present.

Another important fact to note is, scientists have observed a reduction in a group known as commensal bacteria (4) in COVID patients, which act on the immune system to help prevent invasion by pathogens. This may increase the risk of other infections after COVID. Simultaneously, there appears to be an increase in a variety of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria that are known to cause infections.

This bacterial “imbalance” called dysbiosis, has been shown to still be present in patients 30 days post infection (5).

Recent studies have suggested gut dysbiosis may also contribute to Long COVID (6), with this imbalance of gut bacteria being more prevalent in patients presenting with long-term COVID symptoms. This makes sense because dysbiosis seems to put the body in a increased state of inflammation, something that’s associated with chronic COVID symptoms.

How to protect yourself?

As research continues to develop a more comprehensive understanding of gut microbes and their role in inflammation, there are personal measures you can take to protect yourself against COVID and other infections. Some of these are:

Include essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D and E as well as iron, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, all have positive effects on immune responses against viral infection.

Consuming a Mediterranean wholefoods type of diet which is rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, this can have an anti-inflammatory effect in the gut. The polyphenols which are abundant in deep coloured berries, vegetables, olives etc are also very nourishing to your gut microbiome and can offer a protective effect to your gut.

But above all, if you are recovering from COVID and are experiencing Long Covid or gastrointestinal symptoms, it would be ideal to have your gut microbiome tested to see exactly how it has been affected before taking an informed approach toward treatment nutritionally. Contact me for more information.

In health and love

Deena