Microorganisms aren’t always dangerous to your body. When we hear disease, the next thought in our mind is microorganisms often viewed in a negative light as something that makes you sick. From mild infections to lethal diseases, microorganisms can do it all. However, you have two kinds of bacteria constantly in and on your body, good bacteria and bad bacteria.
Probiotics are made up of good bacteria that helps keep your body healthy and working well. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed in various forms, ranging from dietary supplements to fermented foods. Probiotics have various effects in the body, and different probiotics may act in different ways.
1. Helps in better digestion
2. production of vitamins
3. influence immune response of the body
4. balance gut microflora
5. Breakdown and absorb medications.
What type of bacteria are in probiotics?
Probiotics contain many types of bacteria. The most common are bacteria that belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Probiotics are also made up of good yeast. The most common type of yeast found in probiotics is Saccharomyces boulardii. Probiotics have shown promise for a variety of health purposes, including prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Constipation Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], constipation, yeast infections, urinary tract infections Lactose intolerance, upper respiratory tract infection and Sepsis.
Due to its beneficial effect global market for probiotics reached a value of about 49.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, and was forecast to reach to about 69.3 billion dollars by 2023.
Probiotics and COVID-19 infections
It has been reported that COVID-19 affected patients exhibit alterations in gut microflora, primarily depletion bacterial species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Since the role of microbiota is to maintain homeostasis and regulate local immune responses, it is quite logical to expect that microbial alteration.
A study has been conducted in 206 with low severity COVID-19 brought out interesting findings indicating mild disease severity marked by the presence of digestive symptoms. These patients are more likely to test positive for viral RNA in stool, to possess a longer delay before viral clearance, and to experience a delay in diagnosis compared to patients who had only respiratory symptoms.
Intake of probiotics along with dietary fiber promotes anti-inflammatory effects and boosts immune response, which is essential amidst the COVID-19 scare. This strategy can be employed in asymptomatic patients or people in quarantine in order to prevent and reduce systemic inflammation and improve alveolar-capillary function and lung permeability.
In a recent clinical trial, administering multi-strain probiotics in hospitalized COVID-19 patients showed an eight-fold lower risk of undergoing respiratory failure compare to standard care. Until vaccines are made available to the public, probiotics can boost your immune system and help maintain a healthy gut and healthy life.
FOOTNOTES
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-are-probiotics
https://medicaldialogues.in/diet-nutrition/perspective/gut-lung-microbiota-axis-scope-of-
probiotics-in-covid-19-infections-69640
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic
Article by,
Meghana Girish
Content expert (trainee)
Treillis Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd