tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Sci Rep
. 2026 Feb 9;16(1):5368.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-27036-3.
Efficacy of heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 for individuals with long coronavirus disease-19 syndrome: a double-blinded randomized control pilot study
Shu-I Wu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Chen-Ju Lin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ya-Ju Lin[SUP] 4 [/SUP], I-Chieh Lin[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Lee-Ching Hwang[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Wan-Lin Chen[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Long coronavirus disease (long COVID) refers to symptoms that persist beyond the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study applied the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, which identifies post-COVID-19 condition as symptoms lasting at least two months and beginning around three months after confirmed infection. Given limited evidence on probiotic use for long COVID, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 (HT-PS23) in individuals with confirmed COVID-19 and self-reported prolonged symptoms. Thirty-nine eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either the heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 (HT-PS23) or placebo for six weeks. Assessments included validated neuropsychological tests (including executive function and working memory using Color Trails 1&2 and Digit Span and Coding), self-reported symptom scales of depression, anxiety, and quality of life, and blood biomarkers related to inflammation, immune response, and stress (e.g. cortisol, IFN-γ zonulin). After the six-week trial, HT-PS23 group showed notable improvements in cortisol level (p = 0.006), a reduction in errors of CTT2 (p = 0.018), and symptom severity related to breathing difficulties (p = 0.016) and appetite loss (p = 0.030) compared to the placebo group. HT-PS23 may be a feasible and well-tolerated intervention for relieving cognitive or physical symptoms associated with long COVID. Further studies with larger samples are warranted.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-27036-3.
Keywords: Heat treated-PS23; Lacticaseibacillus paracasei; Long COVID; Probiotics; Psychobiotics.
. 2026 Feb 9;16(1):5368.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-27036-3.
Efficacy of heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 for individuals with long coronavirus disease-19 syndrome: a double-blinded randomized control pilot study
Shu-I Wu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Chen-Ju Lin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ya-Ju Lin[SUP] 4 [/SUP], I-Chieh Lin[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Lee-Ching Hwang[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Wan-Lin Chen[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41663412
- PMCID: PMC12886842
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-27036-3
Long coronavirus disease (long COVID) refers to symptoms that persist beyond the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study applied the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, which identifies post-COVID-19 condition as symptoms lasting at least two months and beginning around three months after confirmed infection. Given limited evidence on probiotic use for long COVID, we conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 (HT-PS23) in individuals with confirmed COVID-19 and self-reported prolonged symptoms. Thirty-nine eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either the heat-treated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 (HT-PS23) or placebo for six weeks. Assessments included validated neuropsychological tests (including executive function and working memory using Color Trails 1&2 and Digit Span and Coding), self-reported symptom scales of depression, anxiety, and quality of life, and blood biomarkers related to inflammation, immune response, and stress (e.g. cortisol, IFN-γ zonulin). After the six-week trial, HT-PS23 group showed notable improvements in cortisol level (p = 0.006), a reduction in errors of CTT2 (p = 0.018), and symptom severity related to breathing difficulties (p = 0.016) and appetite loss (p = 0.030) compared to the placebo group. HT-PS23 may be a feasible and well-tolerated intervention for relieving cognitive or physical symptoms associated with long COVID. Further studies with larger samples are warranted.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-27036-3.
Keywords: Heat treated-PS23; Lacticaseibacillus paracasei; Long COVID; Probiotics; Psychobiotics.