Gut Check: Prebiotics and Probiotics May Reduce the Risk of Covid-19-Related Mortalities

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a frightening time of uncertainty with the introduction of a highly infectious virus, SARS-CoV-2, and the tragic deaths of millions worldwide. Vaccines made to combat the virus have helped slow the spread and prevent the deaths of more people, but we aren’t in the clear yet, especially with the Delta variant becoming more common. Due to the novelty of the virus, there is a lack of information surrounding it. Research has shown that co-morbidities are associated with increased risk of infection and death from COVID-19; however, there is a lack of knowledge in regards to how to decrease the risks associated with these co-morbidities for COVID-19-positive patients. For COVID-19 patients, and in general, we know that a healthy microbiome can contribute to more effective immune function which can thus help in the defense against SARS-Cov-2 and other infections. While the interaction between COVID-19 vaccines and the microbiome is not well known due to their complexity and relatively new introduction, we do know that microbiome modulators, such as prebiotics and probiotics, have been shown to regulate and improve immune function and health.  Unfortunately, not much is known regarding the effectiveness of these microbiome modulators in increasing immune defense against COVID-19 and how they affects mortality related to COVID-19. 

Hypothesis: The use of prebiotics and probiotics will reduce the risk of mortality caused by Covid-19. 

Methods: We used the TriNetX database to compare mortality rates between more than 80 million US patients with and without Covid-19. We looked at how mortality rates changed when including or excluding factors including Diabetes, other co-morbidities, and the use of prebiotics and probiotics.  
 

Results: Results are still being gathered and analyzed. (I will try to update this as MSRD approaches)

Conclusions: None yet because we are still gathering and analyzing results along with the statistical validity of our results.