Low Omega-3 Levels Linked to Worse Outcomes in Severe COVID-19 Patients
This study measured the Omega-3 Index (O3I) — a blood test reflecting the amount of EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes — in 74 patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 and compared them to 10 healthy individuals. On average, the COVID-19 patients had notably lower Omega-3 Index scores than the healthy control group.
Researchers found that patients with lower Omega-3 Index scores were more likely to require mechanical ventilation and had a higher likelihood of death, even after accounting for age, sex, and other known risk factors for severe illness.
The authors suggest that unresolved inflammation, which may be influenced by inadequate omega-3 fatty acid status, could play a role in how severely the body responds to COVID-19 infection. They propose that the Omega-3 Index might eventually serve as a useful marker for stratifying risk in COVID-19 patients, though they note this was a preliminary, small-scale study.
What this means for you
This early, small study suggests a possible link between having a lower Omega-3 Index and worse outcomes during severe COVID-19 illness, but it does not prove that omega-3 supplementation prevents or treats COVID-19. Larger studies are needed to confirm this relationship before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2021-07-21 · DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157722
Read the original source ↗This summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.