The effects of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and colchicine on the control of symptoms, duration, and disease progression of mild and moderate cases of COVID-19: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Samar Osama Ahmed Hassan, Ahmed Nour El-Din Hassan, Manal Sabry Mohamed, Mohamed Nabil Badawy Al Ashram, Mina Michael Nesim, Mohamed Farouk Allam
doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3049708/v1
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging human disease caused by a novel coronavirus, causing a global pandemic crisis. Probiotics and/or colchicine may be considered as options for treatment since they have anti-viral, anti-in ammatory, and immunomodulatory effects.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of probiotic supplements (Lactobacillus acidophilus) and colchicine on symptoms, duration, and progression of mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 infection.
Methods A three-arm randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in the triage clinic of the family medicine department at Ain Shams University Hospitals on 150 participants who had been diagnosed as COVID-19 patients with mild and moderate severity. Patients aged below 18 years or above 65 years with any comorbidities, pregnant or lactating females, and severe COVID-19 con rmed cases were excluded. Randomization was done by using sealed envelopes containing codes for intervention or control. Patients are followed up for improvement of their symptoms with no development of new symptoms over the course of two weeks.
Results A total of 150 patients with mild and moderate severity of COVID-19 were enrolled in the study, 50 patients in each arm; around one third (34.7%) of the participants were aged between 29 and 39 years; one-quarter (24.7%) were aged between 18 and 28 years and 40.6% were aged 40 years and above. The mean duration of symptoms improvement was 12, 11 and 12 in the colchicine, probiotic, and control groups, respectively. Improvement of in ammatory markers over time occurred in each of the three groups, with no statistically signi cant difference between them.
Conclusion Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and colchicine shows no signi cant effect on the symptoms, duration, and progression of mild and moderate cases of COVID-19.
Declarations Author contributions: Each author declares having participated in the activities.
Funding: None. Figure 1 See image above for gure legend.
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