On May 22, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) released a research report stating that the risk of long COVID sequelae is related to an imbalance in gut bacteria. The university has developed an oral probiotic capsule formula that helps improve the symptoms of long COVID.
Previous research conducted by CUHK’s medical school revealed a close relationship between gut microbiota and long COVID sequelae. The research team invented the “SIM01” oral capsule formula and recruited 463 adults over 18 who had recovered from COVID-19 between 2021 and 2022. Approximately 70 percent of the participants were infected with the Omicron variant in 2022.
The study aimed to evaluate the formula’s effectiveness in improving post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 across different systems and organs. The participants were equally divided into two groups. One group was given SIM01, an oral probiotic microcapsule formula developed by CUHK Medical School, on a daily basis, while the control group was given vitamin C as a placebo, and their physical conditions and gut microbiota were analyzed after six months.
The study results showed that the group taking the SIM01 formula experienced a significantly higher improvement rate in five categories of long COVID symptoms compared to the control group. These symptoms included gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. The CUHK team also found that the group taking SIM01 had a noticeable increase in beneficial gut bacteria and microbial diversity while the quantity of harmful gut bacteria decreased. This indicates the efficacy of SIM01 in modulating gut microbiota.
Professor Ng Siew-chien, Croucher Professor in Medical Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, stated that this research is the world’s first clinical study demonstrating that SIM01 can alleviate long COVID symptoms by improving gut microbiota. It also suggests that gut microbiota restoration could serve as a novel strategy to improve neurologically related post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.
Professor Chan Ka-leung, Francis, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, said that the team will continue to dedicate efforts to the clinical applications of gut microbiota research.
