The Study
The severity of COVID-19 upon hospital admission is associated with plasma omega-3 fatty acids
This study looked at people who got really sick with COVID and noticed that those with more omega-3 fats in their blood tended to have less inflammation. But it didn’t make anyone change their diet — so we don’t know if the fats caused the better outcome or if people who ate healthier already had more omega-3s and were just generally healthier.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at the fats in the blood of people hospitalized with COVID-19 to see if certain fats might help them stay less sick.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 563 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — having more EPA relative to AA before getting sick was linked to less severe inflammation, even without taking supplements.
- 2People with more EPA and less AA in their blood (higher EPA/AA ratio) had lower levels of inflammation markers (CRP and IL-6) and less oxidative stress (F2-isoprostanes).
- 3The overall omega-3 to omega-6 ratio didn't matter.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Scientific Reports
Year
2024
Authors
L. P. Fernandes, Igor H. Murai, Alan L. Fernandes, L. Sales, M. Rogero, Bruno Gualano, L. P. Barroso, Ginger L Milne, R. M. R. Pereira, Inar A Castro
Related Content
Claims (5)
In unvaccinated adults hospitalized with COVID-19, a higher ratio of EPA to AA in the blood is linked to lower levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6.
In hospitalized unvaccinated adults with COVID-19, a lower ratio of EPA to AA in the blood is linked to higher levels of F2-isoprostanes, which indicate oxidative stress from lipid damage, regardless of changes in other lipid signaling molecules like PGE2.
The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the blood is similar in people with mild and severe COVID-19, but the ratio of EPA to AA is a more precise indicator of disease severity.
In patients with mild and severe COVID-19, the level of prostaglandin E2 in the blood is the same, which means the relationship between the EPA/AA ratio and inflammation does not operate through this specific molecule.
Analysis of 22 biomarkers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients found no consistent pattern that reliably indicates how severe the disease will become.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.