Abstract
COVID-19, a newly discovered virus disease, can be affected by
probiotics. So, we tried to review the possible effects and associations
of probiotics on viral infections focusing on SARS-CoV-2. We searched on
PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of
Science up to May 2020 to identify interventional & observational
studies documenting the effects of probiotics strains on interleukins,
virus titres, and antibody production with a focus on confirmed
diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. From a total of 93 records, 21
studies were obtained and classified into three domains based on the
efficacy of probiotics on 1)the level of interleukins (n=7), 2)virus
titres reduction (n=2), and 3)antibody production (n=12). The
suppuration of proinflammatory interleukins and type I interferon (IFN)
production seemed to be the main anti-viral strategy of probiotics.
Based on evidence, some probiotic strains may be useful in SARS-CoV-2
infection; randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings.