Publication date: Sep 14, 2023

Early prevention and management of psychiatric symptoms in long COVID (or post-COVID-19 conditions) are crucial for reducing long-term disability. Existing clinical guidelines recommend the use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as a promising therapeutic approach for various common psychiatric disorders due to their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective characteristics. This study aims to investigate the potential efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs in alleviating the psychiatric sequelae following COVID-19. This 1-year retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX electronic health records network to examine the effects of omega-3 PUFAs supplements on psychiatric sequelae in adults diagnosed with COVID-19. Using propensity-score matching, the study compared those who used omega-3 PUFAs supplements with those who did not, assessing outcomes including depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and other somatic conditions up to a year after COVID-19 diagnosis. In 16,962 patients who received omega-3 PUFAs supplements and 2,248,803 who did not, omega-3 supplementation significantly reduced the risk of developing psychiatric sequelae post-COVID-19 diagnosis (HR, 0. 804; 95% CI, 0. 729 to 0. 888). Specifically, the risks for depression (HR, 0. 828; 95% CI, 0. 714 to 0. 960), anxiety disorders (HR, 0. 833; 95% CI, 0. 743 to 0. 933), and insomnia (HR, 0. 679; 95% CI, 0. 531 to 0. 869) were reduced in the omega-3 group. This effect was consistent across sex, race, 18-59 age group, and patients with less than two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The omega-3 group also had a lower risk of cough and myalgia, but no significant difference was noted for other symptoms like chest pain, abnormal breathing, abdominal issues, fatigue, headache, and cognitive symptoms. Omega-3 PUFAs may require re-evaluation as a preventive strategy against adverse mental health outcomes post-COVID-19 in placebo-controlled clinical trials.

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