Omega-3 Index and Clinical Outcomes of Severe COVID-19: Preliminary Results of a Cross-Sectional Study

Rodrigo Zapata B., José Miguel Müller, Juan Enrique Vásquez, Franco Ravera, Gustavo Lago, Eduardo Cañón, Daniella Castañeda, Madelaine Pradenas and Muriel Ramírez-Santana
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Rodrigo Zapata B.: Faculty of Medical Science, Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Neurosurgery Service, Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
José Miguel Müller: Faculty of Medical Science, Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Neurosurgery Service, Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Juan Enrique Vásquez: Faculty of Medical Science, Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Neurosurgery Service, Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Franco Ravera: Faculty of Medical Science, Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Neurosurgery Service, Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Gustavo Lago: Hospital Clínico Fusat, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Eduardo Cañón: Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Daniella Castañeda: Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Madelaine Pradenas: Hospital Regional Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins, Rancagua 2820000, Chile
Muriel Ramírez-Santana: Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, Chile

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-8

Abstract: The potentially detrimental effects of the worldwide deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids on the COVID-19 pandemic have been underestimated. The Omega-3 Index (O3I), clinical variables, biometric indices, and nutritional information were directly determined for 74 patients with severe COVID-19 and 10 healthy quality-control subjects. The relationships between the OI3 and mechanical ventilation (MV) and death were analyzed. Results: Patients with COVID-19 exhibited low O3I (mean: 4.15%; range: 3.06–6.14%)—consistent with insufficient fish and Omega-3 supplement consumption, and markedly lower than the healthy control subjects (mean: 7.84%; range: 4.65–10.71%). Inverse associations were observed between O3I and MV (OR = 0.459; C.I.: 0.211–0.997) and death (OR = 0.28; C.I.: 0.08–0.985) in severe COVID-19, even after adjusting for sex, age, and well-known risk factors. Conclusion: We present preliminary evidence to support the hypothesis that the risk of severe COVID-19 can be stratified by the O3I quartile. Further investigations are needed to assess the value of the O3I as a blood marker for COVID-19.

Keywords: Omega-3 fatty acids; COVID-19; Omega-3 Index; inflammation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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