COVID-19 and OMEGA-3 fatty acids
COVID-19 and OMEGA-3 fatty acids - brand new findings!
Dear patients and interested parties
The pandemic (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2) is currently the talk of the town.
We do not want to deprive you of the latest findings concerning essential fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids) in connection with the virus defence in COVID-19 .
Important information about the HS-Omega-3 Index
The supply of the important omega-3 fatty acids can be measured in the blood. The highly sensitive HS-Omega-3 Index provides information - the normal value is 8-11%. Unfortunately, often only values in the range of 4-5% are measured!
Effects of low omega-3 index on Covid-19
Countries with populations with a low mean HS omega-3 index (e.g., the United States, Brazil, or the United Kingdom) have a particularly high incidence of COVID-19, in contrast to populations in countries with a high mean omega-3 index, such as South Korea (1).
Why these differences?
The mechanisms of action are thought to be the anti-inflammatory effect of the two essential fatty acids EPA & DHA. These are to be supplied to the body with food (therefore essential). They cause a lower cytokine reaction ("cytokine storm", regulatory proteins in the microimmune system with effect on inflammatory processes) and a faster resolution of inflammatory foci (2). Numerous so-called intervention studies with EPA & DHA for prevention and therapy of COVID-19 have already been started (3).
Ongoing research
Das Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles hat gemeinsam mit seinem amerikanischen Schwesterlabor am 8. Januar 2021 in vorläufiger Form über eine neue Studie berichtet. (4) Bei 100 COVID-19 Patienten wurde bei der Krankenhausaufnahme der hochsensitive HS-Omega-3 Index bestimmt. 75 Patienten hatten einen HS-Omega-3 Index < 5,7%, bei den anderen 25 wrde ein HS-Omega-3 Index > 5,7% gemessen.
Zum Ende der stationären Behandlung waren 13 Patienten mit einem HS-Omega-3 Index < 5,7% verstorben (entspricht 17.3%) und nur ein Patient (4%) mit einem HS-Omega-3 Index > 5,7%.
So with an HS-Omega-3 Index > 5.7% the risk of dying was only about 25% compared to the mortality in people with lower HS-Omega-3 Index values. Due to the small number of patients, the data are still preliminary - an analogous study is being worked on.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it seems that a high HS-Omega-3 index means a more favorable course of COVID-19.
In addition to vitamin D, zinc, artemisia, vitamin C and co, another top-class player in the pandemic can show its best side here.
STAY HEALTHY - with omega-3 fatty acids. Gladly also on recommendation and with specific dosage instructions by one of our doctors at the Wise Medicine center. Appointment booking at https://www.wisemed.ch/termin-buchen
Your Joachim Ahlers, Senior Physician
Literature & Links
(1) Stark KD, Van Elswyk ME, Higgins MR, Weatherford CA, Salem N Jr. Global survey of the omega-3 fatty acids, docosahe- xaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the blood stream of healthy adults. Prog Lipid Res. 2016 Jul; 63:132-52.
(2) Weill P, Plissonneau C, Legrand P, Rioux V, Thibault R. May omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplementation help reduce severe complications in Covid-19 patients? Biochimie. 2020 Dec;179:275-280.
(3) Registered in clinicaltrials.gov: NCT043228, NCT04335032, NCT04412018, NCT04435223, NCT04460651, NCT04483271, NCT04495816, NCT04505098, NCT04507867, NCT04553705, , NCT04609423, NCT04647604
(4) http://medrxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2021.01.06.21249354