All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 outbreak. Scientists have implicated gut bacteria in a number of conditions. From type 2 diabetes to depression, researchers have observed relationships between a wide range of disease states and the organisms that live in our gastrointestinal tract. The recent paper outlines previous research that demonstrates links between lung health in general and gut bacteria. On the surface, a link between the gut and COVID-19 might seem unlikely. However, there are a number of reasons to suspect such a relationship. To date, there is no firm evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 interacts with gut bacteria in a meaningful way, or that the microbiome influences the severity of COVID-19. However, taking all the information in the new paper together, it certainly seems to be a credible theory. At this stage, we can only conclude that gut bacteria could play a part in an individual’s susceptibility to COVID-19 or the severity of their symptoms. More research is necessary and, with high levels of interest in both the microbiome and SARS-CoV-2, this is sure to follow.
(Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)