OREANDA-NEWS. American scientists have concluded, that people with a high index of Omega-3 fatty acids have a much lower risk of dying from coronavirus than patients with a deficiency of this substance. Experts from the Fatty Acid Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California published the study in the journal «Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids». It provides evidence, that higher levels of Omega-3 in the blood reduce the risk of death from COVID-19.

The researchers analyzed blood tests taken from 100 patients with coronavirus during hospitalization. It turned out, that 13 of the 14 deaths occurred in the group with a deficiency of Omega-3. A sufficient content of this substance almost four times increases the risk of not dying from the coronavirus.

The authors of the study believe that low levels of Omega-3 can be considered as a predictor of a high risk of death from COVID-19, and high levels can indicate the presence of protection against severe variants of the disease with rapid release of inflammatory cytokines.

Scientists explain this by saying, that long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, contained in fish oil, have powerful biological activity and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as weaken the excessive inflammatory response — cytokine storm — one of the main causes of death in COVID-19.

In the Netherlands, hundreds of people protested on Monday, January 25, against restrictions due to the coronavirus. The police used water cannon and tear gas.