Title : Importance of probiotics and their mechanism of immune action against covid-19.
Abstract:
Probiotics are living organisms that, when ingested, beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal balance. The most studied organisms nowadays are lactic acid bacteria, especially Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. considered safe for human use. An emerging fact is the importance of the effect of the alteration of the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) on the susceptibility and severity of the patient with COVID-19, related to the intestine-lung axis, which refers to the exchange between the intestine and the lung, where the virus together with inflammatory mediators via blood and lymph, migrate to the intestine and bind to the receptors of the converting enzyme-angiotensin 2 (ACE2) highly expressed in enterocytes. Currently, new therapeutic strategies are focused on the stimulation of the immune system with prebiotics, probiotics, and some micronutrients such as vitamins C, D, E, Zinc and Omega 3, among others. In the present investigation, it was observed that the digestive system is the second most affected organ followed by the respiratory system and digestive manifestations are more frequent in the pediatric age with higher viral fecal excretion, which should be considered for prevention measures.
