If you give omega-3 fatty acids through an IV to someone with a bad case of pancreatitis, it might help them live longer, get fewer infections, and leave the hospital sooner—but if you give it through their stomach (like a pill or liquid), it doesn’t seem to help as much.

Giving omega-3 fatty acids directly into the bloodstream of adults with severe pancreatitis may cut their risk of dying by more than half and reduce infections by about half, likely because it calms down dangerous body-wide inflammation.

Giving omega-3 fatty acids directly into the bloodstream of people with severe pancreatitis might help them leave the hospital about 8 days sooner than usual, meaning they recover faster.

Giving omega-3s through an IV to people with severe pancreatitis might shorten their hospital stay in the ICU by about 4 days, but if you mix in all ways of giving it—including by mouth—it doesn’t seem to help at all.