Inverse Association between Omega-3 Index and Severity of COVID-19: A Case-Control Study.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 19(11)2022 05 25.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35682030
ABSTRACT
Background:
Omega-3 fatty acids enhance immune response and modulate inflammation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid status and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods:
Using a case−control design, we compared hospitalized patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (cases, n = 73) with a group of ambulatory patients with mild SARS-CoV-2 infection (controls, n = 71). No patients were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.Results:
The cases were older (p = 0.003), less educated (p = 0.001), had larger neck and smaller waist circumferences (p = 0.035 and p = 0.003, respectively), more frequently had diabetes (p < 0.001), consumed less fish (p < 0.001), consumed higher proportions of fried fish (p = 0.001), and had lower Omega-3 Index (O3I) values (p = 0.001) than controls. Cases had significantly lower rates of upper airway symptoms than controls. Lower O3I was associated with an increased likelihood of developing severe COVID-19 after adjusting for potential confounders (OR 0.52; CI 0.32−0.86). Diabetes (OR 4.41; CI 1.60−12.12), neck circumference (OR 1.12; CI 1.03−1.21), and older age (OR 1.03; CI 1.002−1.062) were also linked to COVID-19 severity. Fried fish consumption and low educational level were independent risk factors for severe COVID-19.Conclusions:
This study suggests incorporating nutritional interventions to improve omega-3 status within nonpharmacological measures may help to reduce the severity of COVID-19.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
/
Diabetes Mellitus
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Chile