Gut: Opinions vary on potential effect on immune system
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I hope everyone is safe and well. The delta virus peak is surging in the Upper Midwest. Hopefully we will get a bit of a reprieve in the new year.
This month’s cover story touches on the potential effects of the intestinal microbiome on our immune system. It stands to reason that what we eat can affect our microbiome, and those changes in turn could impact our immune system. The cover story refers to a few studies that indeed suggest that the intestinal microbiome in patients with COVID-19 is different from that of subjects without COVID. There tends to be less microbial diversity, less Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and more Bacteroides. However, such basis as whether these changes preceded the viral infection, or were a result of it, aren’t yet clear.
Source: Adobe Stock.
This is a topic with lots of opinion and paucity of facts. As you can see in the cover story, there is a wide range of opinion in this area. Our patients are incredibly motivated to learn more about this topic. How do we guide them? I think a few basic principles can be agreed upon. First, take antibiotics only when truly indicated (ie, when a bacterial infection is suspected). Secondly, you can’t go wrong with a whole food mostly plant-based diet — minimize intake of processed foods. Finally, be mindful of sugar intake.
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