Relationship between the gut microbiome and diseases, including COVID-19.
Role of the gut microbiome
Gut microbiome has often been named ‘the second brain’. However, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 disease
has reinforced the attention paid to this relatively mysterious ‘soup’ of beneficial microbes. The gastrointestinal
symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the diagnosis of an associated gut dysbiosis along with
long-term symptoms, have drawn the attention of the scientific community. The known communication axis
between the gut microbiome and several organs of the human body have been related to the multi-organ
disorders observed in severe COVID-19 infections. The perturbation of the immune system and the
inflammatory cytokine storm are also put in perspective with the gut microbiome role on immunity and
inflammation regulation.
This technical report tries to shed light on the roles, known and less known, of the gut microbiome and to reflect
on the most recent scientific investigations by the review of more than 70 scientific papers since 2010. The
question of the use of pre- and pro-biotics in our diet is also discussed as more scientists suggest that it could
sustain, reinforce or restore the gut microbiome homeostasis and eventually help controlling the gastrointestinal
symptoms of the COVID-19 disease. Many questions remain open, especially about the molecular mechanisms
of the observed clinical effects. Both current and future clinical studies need to be deeply mined and pursued
to bring the evidence behind the observations. A better knowledge on the role of microbiome during immune
and inflammatory responses, and microbiome’s impact, together with diet, on health are expected to be ultimate
for the next-generation of co-treatment of respiratory diseases as well as immune and inflammation diseases.
The content of this report can also be visualized in two factsheets (short and long versions) entitled “The
importance of a healthy gut microbiome against diseases, including COVID-19”.
TOUSSAINT Brigitte;
RAFFAEL Barbara;
PETRILLO Mauro;
PUERTAS GALLARDO Antonio;
MUNOZ-PINEIRO Maria Amalia;
PATAK DENNSTEDT Alexandre;
QUERCI Maddalena;
2021-09-24
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC125924
978-92-76-41080-5 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 30810 EN,
OP KJ-NA-30810-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC125924,
10.2760/54454 (online),
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