Can Probiotics Boost Immunity?

The 2019-nCoV has caused global concern as infections mount. Coronavirus falls under the umbrella of upper respiratory infections, which carry increased risk for the elderly and those with underlying breathing disorders. While practicing good hygiene and reducing exposure risk are the best ways to minimize the risk of being infected, probiotics may offer a novel approach to mitigating symptoms of URIs.

According to Dr. Michael Rogowski, Senior Nutrition Scientist at Plexus Worldwide, “Most probiotic and prebiotic research looking at immune outcomes are based on decreasing auto-immune/allergy response and anti-inflammatory actions of them, usually mediated through the action of T helper cells. The other category of immune health is looking at outcomes related to bolstering innate and adaptive immunity, usually by upregulating some function of B-Cells, Natural Killer Cells, and Macrophages.”
 
The immune system is a complex system, which can make it difficult to predict who will be more severely affected by emerging viruses. There have been numerous studies suggesting a link between the immune system and the gut microbiome, so using probiotics to reduce symptoms doesn’t seem like a leap.
 
For upper respiratory infections, specifically, Rogowski notes, “there are a number of clinical trials in some specific strains and strain combinations that demonstrate reduced incidence, symptom duration, and symptom severity of viral upper respiratory infections.”
 
In one study, daily dietary probiotic supplementation for six months reduced fever, runny nose and chough, while another demonstrated that probiotics were safe and effective for fighting the common cold and influenza-like respiratory infections by boosting the immune system.
 
The bottom line? Studies have shown numerous benefits to probiotic and prebiotic therapy. While they aren’t a magic bullet, research looks promising that daily supplementation with a product like ProBio5 may be effective at helping the immune system resolve URIs in less time with less severe symptoms.