Synbiotic Therapy for Long COVID Syndrome

Overseen By Jayesh Shah

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

Must not be taking: Probiotics, Prebiotics, Antibiotics, others

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Heavy drug use, Liver cirrhosis, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 4 weeks

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking probiotics, prebiotics, fiber supplements, immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs, and antibiotics at least 30 days before joining the study.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Synbiotic IVS-1 for Long COVID Syndrome?

Research shows that synbiotic treatments, which combine probiotics (good bacteria) and prebiotics (food for these bacteria), can help reduce inflammation in COVID-19 patients and improve gut health, which may be beneficial for Long COVID symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Synbiotic Therapy for Long COVID Syndrome safe for humans?

The synbiotic therapy, which includes various probiotics and prebiotics, has been tested in studies with COVID-19 patients and showed no significant safety concerns. It was generally well-tolerated, with no major side effects reported, indicating it is likely safe for human use. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How is Synbiotic IVS-1 treatment different from other treatments for Long COVID?

Synbiotic IVS-1 is unique because it combines probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (food for these bacteria) to help restore gut health, which may improve immune function and reduce inflammation. This approach is different from other treatments that do not focus on gut microbiota modulation. ^{1 2 3 4 8}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Gut microbiome dysbiosis has been noted in patients with Post-acute sequelae (PASC) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2). A study performed at Columbia found that plasma levels of the short chain fatty acid (SCFA), butyric acid, remained lower in people with Neuropsychiatric PASC (NP-PASC) than in people with PASC after SAR-CoV-2 infection. Synbiotics improve SCFA levels and are well-tolerated in the general population but have not been studied among people with PASC in the United States. The purpose of this pilot study is to characterize changes in plasma SCFA levels and gut microbiome after treatment with synbiotics and placebo in people with NP-PASC. The intervention will be a mixture of the prebiotic resistant starch and the probiotic Bifidobacterium adolescentis in-vivo selection 1 strain (iVS-1). The placebo will be Maltodextrin.

Research Team

Rupak Shivakoti, PhD, MHS

Principal Investigator

Columbia Universtiy Medical Center

Michael Yin, MD, MS

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals experiencing long-term symptoms after COVID-19, known as Post-COVID Syndrome or Long COVID. Participants should have neuropsychiatric symptoms and will be assessed to ensure their condition aligns with the study's focus on gut health related to post-COVID recovery.

Inclusion Criteria

I experience severe fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and worsen after physical or mental activity.

I am older than 18 years.

I have long-term symptoms from COVID-19 lasting more than 4 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy or breastfeeding

I am not currently using probiotics, immunosuppressives, or antibiotics.

Heavy drug or alcohol use

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive either the synbiotic therapy or placebo for 4 weeks

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person) at week 4

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Synbiotic IVS-1

Trial Overview The trial is testing Synbiotic IVS-1—a combination of a prebiotic (resistant starch) and a probiotic (Bifidobacterium adolescentis strain iVS-1)—against Maltodextrin, which serves as a placebo. The goal is to see if Synbiotic IVS-1 can improve gut health by increasing beneficial fatty acids in people with Long COVID.

Participant Groups

Group I: Synbiotic Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A mixture of the prebiotic potato resistant starch (RS, Bobs Red Mill) and the probiotic IVS-1 (Bifidobacterium adolescentis).

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

The placebo to be used is Maltodextrin, a carbohydrate packaged similarly to the study intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

Findings from Research

In a randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 78 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced serum levels of the pro-inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) after 2 weeks, suggesting its potential to modulate inflammatory responses during COVID-19 infection.

The synbiotic group also showed a significant increase in white blood cell (WBC) counts from pre to post-treatment, indicating an immune response, although other inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) did not show significant differences compared to the placebo.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of synbiotic adjunct therapy on clinical and paraclinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Vaezi, M., Ravanshad, S., Akbari Rad, M., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 25 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the synbiotic formula SIM01 significantly improved antibody response against SARS-CoV-2, with 88% of patients developing IgG antibodies compared to 63.3% in the control group by Day 16.

Patients receiving SIM01 also showed reduced levels of pro-inflammatory markers and a significant decrease in nasopharyngeal viral load, indicating that this synbiotic may help restore gut health and improve immune responses in COVID-19 patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gut microbiota-derived synbiotic formula (SIM01) as a novel adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: An open-label pilot study. Zhang, L., Xu, Z., Mak, JWY., et al.[2022]

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 463 patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), the synbiotic preparation SIM01 significantly alleviated symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, and difficulty in concentration after 6 months of treatment.

The safety profile of SIM01 was comparable to placebo, with similar rates of adverse events, suggesting it is a safe option for managing PACS symptoms through modulation of the gut microbiome.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A synbiotic preparation (SIM01) for post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in Hong Kong (RECOVERY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lau, RI., Su, Q., Lau, ISF., et al.[2023]

In a study of 44 moderate/severe COVID-19 inpatients, those who received an oral booster of single-strain probiotic bifidobacteria had a significantly shorter hospital stay (median of 7.6 days) compared to those who did not receive the probiotic.

The probiotic group also showed improved clinical outcomes, including better radiological improvement and lower levels of interleukin-6, with a mortality rate of 5% compared to 25% in the non-probiotic group, suggesting that probiotics may enhance recovery in severe COVID-19 cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oral booster probiotic bifidobacteria in SARS-COV-2 patients. Bozkurt, HS., Bilen, Ö.[2022]

A 2-month nutritional intervention using a high-fiber formula significantly alleviated gastrointestinal symptoms in a patient with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, leading to improvements in appetite, anxiety, and medication dosage for nausea.

The intervention resulted in beneficial changes in the patient's gut microbiota, including the increase of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, which may be linked to symptom relief, highlighting the potential of gut microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy for post-COVID-19 gastrointestinal issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutritional Modulation of Gut Microbiota Alleviates Severe Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Patient with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome. Wang, Y., Wu, G., Zhao, L., et al.[2022]

A study involving 200 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found that a multi-strain probiotic did not significantly affect overall mortality or major health outcomes, such as the need for intensive care or mechanical ventilation.

However, the probiotic was effective in reducing the duration of diarrhea associated with COVID-19 and preventing hospital-acquired diarrhea in patients receiving a single antibiotic, indicating its potential benefit in managing gastrointestinal symptoms during COVID-19 treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of a Probiotic Consisting of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PDV 1705, Bifidobacterium bifidum PDV 0903, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis PDV 1911, and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum PDV 2301 in the Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Ivashkin, V., Fomin, V., Moiseev, S., et al.[2023]

In a study of 100 adult patients with moderate pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2, the use of sorbed Bifidobacterium bifidum 1 significantly improved symptoms such as weakness, hypoosmia/dysgeusia, and cough, reducing their duration and frequency compared to standard treatment.

The probiotic also lowered the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 20% and did not show any side effects, indicating a high safety profile while enhancing patient well-being during recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Efficiency of application of sorbed probiotics in complex therapy of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. Part 1. Heating clinical displays period]. Meskina, ER., Tselipanova, EE., Khadisova, MK., et al.[2022]

Healthy gut microbiota plays a crucial role in reducing the severity of COVID-19, and gut dysbiosis is linked to worse outcomes in infected individuals.

There are currently 19 clinical trials investigating the use of probiotics and synbiotics to prevent and treat COVID-19, highlighting the potential of gut microbiota modulation as a therapeutic strategy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Modulation of Gut Microbiota for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19. Chen, J., Vitetta, L.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of synbiotic adjunct therapy on clinical and paraclinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. [2023]

2. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gut microbiota-derived synbiotic formula (SIM01) as a novel adjuvant therapy for COVID-19: An open-label pilot study. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A synbiotic preparation (SIM01) for post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in Hong Kong (RECOVERY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oral booster probiotic bifidobacteria in SARS-COV-2 patients. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutritional Modulation of Gut Microbiota Alleviates Severe Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Patient with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of a Probiotic Consisting of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PDV 1705, Bifidobacterium bifidum PDV 0903, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis PDV 1911, and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum PDV 2301 in the Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]

7. Russia (Federation) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Efficiency of application of sorbed probiotics in complex therapy of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. Part 1. Heating clinical displays period]. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Modulation of Gut Microbiota for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19. [2021]