Synbiotic for prevention of SARS-Cov2 infection in high risk hospital
staffs: A randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2 increasingly involves people worldwide. Probiotics can
improve immune system functions via different mechanisms. We proposed
that Synbiotic Lactocare® may also reduce SARS-Cov2 infection in high
risk medical staff working in COVID-19 hospital wards. Method: In a
randomized, controlled trial, 60 hospital staff without any history of
clinical or laboratory evidence of SARS-Cov2 infection were received
either once daily oral synbiotic capsule (Lactocare®) that contains 1
billion CFU/Cap of L. (Lactobacillus) casei, L. rhamnosus, Streptococcus
thermophilus, Bifidobacterium breve, L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium
infantis, L. bulgaricus, and Fructooligosacharide (Zist Takhmir, Tehran,
Iran) or placebo with the same appearance for 30 days. They were
followed for two months. Result: During the two month period of this
study, SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR test results were positive in three
participants (9.67%) in placebo group compared to zero positive test in
synbiotic group. The differences were not statistically significant (p=
0.238). During the study, two persons (7 %) of placebo group had
respiratory complaint such as cough, rhinorrhea and/or dyspnea, compared
with one in synbiotic group (p= 0.492). Conclusion: This study showed
that overall frequency of SARS-COC2 infection in participants receiving
synbiotic and those receiving placebo did not differ significantly.
However, 3 hospital staff in placebo group compared to no one in
synbiotic group had SARS-COV2 infection. Further studies with greater
power and alternative probiotic strains and mixture are warranted to
determine whether Synbiotic can prevent COVID-19 in at-risk hospital
staff. Keywords: COVID-19, Synbiotic, prevention, Lactocare, SARS-Cov2