It's not antibodies alone that could protect you from developing a serious case of COVID. According to a new study conducted by researchers at the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI) and Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers of Los Angeles and Orange County, having adequate levels of omega-3 fatty acids in your blood could keep you from developing severe COVID. Read on to discover what this means in terms of protecting yourself and others. And if you're wondering where COVID is spreading the fastest, This Is How Bad the COVID Outbreak Is in Your State.
The study, published in the Jan. 20, 2021 issue of Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, found that, among a group of 100 individuals hospitalized with COVID, those with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood had their risk of dying reduced by 75 percent, compared with patients with lower circulating omega-3 levels. Overall, patients with lower omega-3 levels in their bloodstream were four times likelier to die than those with higher omega-3 levels.
"This pilot study – along with multiple lines of evidence regarding the anti-inflammatory effects of EPA and DHA – strongly suggests that these nutritionally available marine fatty acids may help reduce risk for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 patients," the study's lead author, Arash Asher, MD, said in a statement.
While omega-3 levels may be associated a lower risk of COVID-related mortality, that doesn't necessarily mean you should go out and grab a bottle of fish oil just yet. While an August 2020 study published in Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can reduce systemic inflammation that could lead to more severe COVID, the study's authors concluded that additional studies should be performed before omega-3 supplementation was recommended as a panacea for COVID patients.
Omega-3s aren't alone in offering protection against the virus, however. Read on to find out what habits could make you less susceptible to the virus. And if you want to ensure you're playing it safe, Dr. Fauci Says This Is the One Thing You Shouldn't Be Doing Right Now.