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Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: November 29, 2013
Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation and Respiratory Infections
Valentina De Cosmi1, Alessandra Mazzocchi1, Stefano Turolo2
1Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Background:
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) can actively affect the maintenance and optimal functioning of immune cells. The metabolites of both omega-3 and omega-6 play an important role in the synthesis of different mediators, such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, protectins, and resolvins, that can interfere with the virus and modulate inflammation.
Summary:
In this narrative review, we aim to identify whether LCPUFA supplementation may be effective in protecting the population against respiratory tract infections. We included only randomized controlled trials performed in both pediatric and adult subjects. Eight papers were selected: five trials were conducted in a pediatric population and three in adults. Different concentrations of fatty acids supplementation were associated with a lower incidence of common respiratory symptoms, except for two studies that did not provide significant results. Most of the studies are of low quality, and respiratory infections were assessed as secondary or even safety outcomes.
Key Messages:
No data were available on the role of LCPUFAs in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although these data showed that LCPUFAs may be effective in preventing respiratory tract infections, future studies are still needed to clarify their possible co-adjuvant role in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections.
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