A new retrospective study analyzing data from over 33,000 COVID-19 patients points to omega-3 fatty acids as a potential preventive strategy against the psychiatric aftereffects of the illness.
Key findings:
- Patients taking omega-3 supplements before COVID-19 had around 20% lower risk of depression, anxiety and insomnia in the year following infection.
- The benefits remained consistent across different groups based on age, sex, race, and vaccination status.
- Omega-3 users also had lower rates of some physical symptoms like cough and muscle pain after COVID-19.
COVID’s Hidden Psychiatric Toll
While its physical symptoms may fade, COVID-19 often inflicts lasting damage to mental health.
Studies suggest more than 30% of COVID survivors develop neuropsychiatric issues like anxiety, depression and “brain fog” in the months after infection.
For many, these post-COVID mental health problems persist for over a year and severely impact quality of life.
They’re believed to stem largely from inflammation and vascular changes wrought by the virus in the brain.
Finding ways to prevent and treat these psychiatric aftereffects is crucial.
But clinically proven options are still scarce, prompting investigation into supplementary approaches like omega-3 fatty acids.
Why Omega-3s for COVID’s Mental Toll?
Omega-3s are essential fatty acids with natural anti-inflammatory properties that help resolve inflammation and protect the brain.
Research shows omega-3 deficiency is linked to higher inflammation and risk for mood disorders like depression.
Multiple studies and meta-analyses find omega-3 supplements can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep issues.
This anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective profile makes omega-3s a promising candidate for mitigating COVID’s effects on mental health.
The Retrospective Study Design
The new study analyzed anonymized records of over 33,000 COVID patients from a large global database.
About 17,000 patients took omega-3 supplements before being diagnosed with COVID.
These were propensity score matched with 17,000 patients who didn’t take omega-3s, controlling carefully for differences in demographics and health conditions.
The two matched groups were then compared on rates of neuropsychiatric diagnoses and symptoms in the 90 days to 1 year after COVID infection.
Lower Risk of Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia
In the year following COVID diagnosis:
- 6.1% of omega-3 users developed depression, versus 7.2% of non-users – a 21% lower relative risk.
- 5.3% of omega-3 users developed anxiety disorders, versus 6.8% of non-users – a 17% lower relative risk.
- 1.1% of omega-3 users developed insomnia, versus 2.2% of non-users – a 33% lower relative risk.
This pattern held across age, sex, race and vaccination subgroups.
Omega-3 supplementation was linked to 24-31% lower neuropsychiatric risks in adults under 60, and around 20% lower risks in females and white patients.
Potential Physical Symptom Benefits Too
Interestingly, omega-3s were also associated with reduced rates of some physical post-COVID symptoms.
Cough was 20% less common in omega-3 users. Muscle pain had a 40% lower incidence with omega-3 supplementation.
No major differences emerged for other common symptoms like chest pain, breathing issues, abdominal problems, headaches or “brain fog.”
Anti-Inflammatory Effects May Reduce COVID’s Mental Toll
The researchers suggest omega-3s’ anti-inflammatory properties help counteract the exaggerated immune response to the virus.
This may mitigate downstream psychiatric effects by:
- Reducing virus-induced inflammation in the brain and neuronal damage.
- Lessening COVID’s impact on brain blood vessels and flow.
- Neutralizing the virus before it can fully infect the body and trigger inflammation.
Overall, the findings indicate omega-3 fatty acids warrant further study as a preventive approach for post-COVID mental health issues through rigorous, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Translating Results to Recommendations
So should we start popping fish oil pills to protect our minds from COVID? Here are a few key caveats before drawing hasty conclusions:
- This was an observational study, so can’t prove cause and effect or rule out hidden confounders.
- Specific omega-3 doses weren’t analyzed. Optimal intakes for mental health benefits remain unclear.
- Mental health outcomes were identified from medical codes, not standardized assessments.
- Participants were relatively healthy without major pre-existing conditions.
- Those taking omega-3s beforehand may have been more health-conscious overall.
Current expert recommendations advise healthy adults to get 250–500 mg combined EPA + DHA omega-3s daily for general health.
Higher intakes of 1–2 grams daily appear beneficial for mood disorders.
While promising, these preliminary findings need verification through rigorous clinical trials directly testing omega-3s for mitigating post-COVID neuropsychiatric outcomes across different doses.
In the meantime, omega-3 rich foods like fatty fish, flaxseeds, walnuts and soybeans, or algal oil supplements in moderation, can help ensure adequate intake as part of a healthy lifestyle.
But megadoses of fish oil supplements for COVID recovery should be avoided until more solid evidence emerges.
The Bigger Picture for Post-COVID Mental Health
While awaiting further omega-3 research, we must urgently establish a multifaceted approach to managing COVID’s widespread psychiatric fallout based on current best practices.
This requires:
- Early screening for mental health issues in COVID survivors by healthcare providers.
- Expanding free/low-cost access to mental healthcare and psychotherapy.
- Reducing social stigma around post-viral mental health problems.
- Promoting stress-relieving lifestyle behaviors like exercise, meditation and healthy sleep habits.
- Raising awareness of post-COVID resources like support groups.
With the right combination of lifestyle strategies, improved access to care and targeted treatment innovations, we can help the growing number of people struggling with long COVID’s invisible but very real psychiatric burden reclaim their mental well-being.
References
- Study: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the psychiatric post-acute sequelae of COVID-19
- Authors: Ting-Hui Liu et al. (2023)
