Antiviral Activity of Probiotics in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Respiratory Infections Associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Antiviral Activity of Probiotics in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Respiratory Infections Associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Systematic Review Antiviral Activity of Probiotics in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Respiratory Infections Associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Slimane Chawki Mokadem, Mostefa Naimi, Omar Alami This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4517515/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract Introduction: Probiotics, living microorganisms administered in sufficient quantities, exert beneficial effects on host health. Given the high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, recent studies suggest potential positive impacts of probiotics on COVID-19 patients. Methods: A predetermined search strategy encompassing seven databases, NCBI, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link, Embase, CNKI, and Cochrane Library Databases, was implemented. Human RCTs were scrutinized independently for data extraction, quality and risk of bias assessment, and statistical analysis. Pooled data, employing the random-effects model, are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Assessments of the p value and heterogeneity (I²) were conducted and quantified. Results: Five studies comprising 282 out of 375 participants were included. The meta-analysis revealed effects on various parameters: CRP level (SMD=0.26 MG/L, 95% CI [0.10, 0.43], p= 0.002, (I²=67%, p=0.03); BMI (SMD=0.28 KG/m², 95% CI [0.07, 0.50], p= 0.01, (I²=67%, p=0.40); T-cell count (SMD=0.09 G/L, 95% CI [-0.07, 0.26], p= 0.26, (I²=0%, p=0.73); Albumin level (SMD=0.28 G/DL, 95% CI [0.04, 0.52], p= 0.02, (I²=7%, p=0.34); IL-6 level (SMD=0.67, 95% CI [0.45, 0.90], p= 0.00001, (I²=94%, p=0.0001)); and LDH level (SMD=0.12 mmol/L, 95% CI [-0.05, 0.30], p= 0.17 Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that probiotics had significant positive effects on various measures for treating COVID-19. General Microbiology Bacteriology Virology Biostatistics Probiotics Probiotic intervention Probiotic treatment Respiratory infections COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Supplementaryfile1.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4517515","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Systematic Review","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":398305684,"identity":"c477dbb4-e1da-4d6b-8de1-3123f2c7af37","order_by":0,"name":"Slimane Chawki 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Prophylaxis and Treatment of Respiratory Infections Associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research 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Given the high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, recent studies suggest potential positive impacts of probiotics on COVID-19 patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods:\u003c/strong\u003e A predetermined search strategy encompassing seven databases, NCBI, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link, Embase, CNKI, and Cochrane Library Databases, was implemented. Human RCTs were scrutinized independently for data extraction, quality and risk of bias assessment, and statistical analysis. Pooled data, employing the random-effects model, are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Assessments of the p value and heterogeneity (I²) were conducted and quantified.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e Five studies comprising 282 out of 375 participants were included. The meta-analysis revealed effects on various parameters: CRP level (SMD=0.26 MG/L, 95% CI [0.10, 0.43], p= 0.002, (I²=67%, p=0.03); BMI (SMD=0.28 KG/m², 95% CI [0.07, 0.50], p= 0.01, (I²=67%, p=0.40); T-cell count (SMD=0.09 G/L, 95% CI [-0.07, 0.26], p= 0.26, (I²=0%, p=0.73); Albumin level (SMD=0.28 G/DL, 95% CI [0.04, 0.52], p= 0.02, (I²=7%, p=0.34); IL-6 level (SMD=0.67, 95% CI [0.45, 0.90], p= 0.00001, (I²=94%, p=0.0001)); and LDH level (SMD=0.12 mmol/L, 95% CI [-0.05, 0.30], p= 0.17\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion:\u003c/strong\u003e This meta-analysis suggested that probiotics had significant positive effects on various measures for treating COVID-19.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Antiviral Activity of Probiotics in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Respiratory Infections Associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19): A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":2,"date":"2024-06-11 03:55:02","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4517515/v2","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}},{"code":1,"date":"2024-06-05 17:15:02","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4517515/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ba8287c3-004c-4d66-952c-d67542ebb37d","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 11th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":42429779,"name":"General Microbiology"},{"id":42429780,"name":"Bacteriology"},{"id":42429781,"name":"Virology"},{"id":42429782,"name":"Biostatistics"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-02-06T19:26:06+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-06-11 03:55:02","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v2","identity":"rs-4517515","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4517515","identity":"rs-4517515","version":["v2"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}