Gut Gone Viral

By: Rio Mclellan

While COVID-19 primarily infects our lungs, it has indirectly infected everything from our social lives to our workplaces. There is now evidence suggesting that coronavirus could have an effect on your gut microbiome – or vice versa.

It’s well-established that your gut microbiome impacts immune cell growth and resistance to pathogens, both of which can affect the body’s response to a viral infection, and that respiratory infections can impact the trillions of bacteria in your gut. New data suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is known to affect both the lungs and the gut, may act similarly. Scientists have detected SARS-CoV-2 “signatures” (genetic material) in the poop of infected patients, implying an interaction between COVID-19 and the gut.

Scientists are currently investigating how the gut interacts with COVID-19. One study analyzed poop samples of COVID-19 patients and found that certain changes in gut bacteria were correlated to infection. COVID-19 patients had more gut inflammation and a different microbe repertoire than healthy people, suggesting that the virus’s effects on the gut microbiome may contribute to symptom severity.

Can the composition of your gut influence your response to COVID-19? It’s not clear, but there are interesting connections between respiratory maladies and microbiome balance. Certain compounds made by gut bacteria impact the lung’s immune response, and taking gut-boosting probiotics has been shown to improve allergic responses in the lungs of mice. While no specific link between gut health and COVID-19 vulnerability has yet been shown, maintaining a healthy microbiome boosts your immune system overall.

In such unstable times, it might seem as if nothing is in your control. But remember that you do have control over your general health and the quality of your gut bacteria. Eat some yogurt and rejoice in the immense power you hold over the millions of little friends you have inside your gut!