Feasibility Pilot Clinical Trial of Omega-3 Supplement vs. Placebo for Post Covid-19 Recovery Among Health Care Workers

Feasibility Pilot Clinical Trial of Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) Supplement vs. Placebo for Post-Acute Sequelae of Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) Recovery Among Health Care Workers

This is a two-arm, double blind randomized 12-week study to supplement omega-3 (Eicosapentaenoic acid - EPA + docosahexaenoic acid - DHA) among 100 adults (age 18+) who had coronavirus-19 (covid-19) and are experiencing possible after-effects from post-acute sequelae of covid-19 (also called post-covid syndrome or long covid syndrome).

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: COVID-19
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Omega-3 (EPA+DHA); Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

This is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two treatment arms:

Arm 1 - Omega-3 (Eicosapentaenoic acid - EPA + docosahexaenoic acid - DHA) - Dose is 2,100mg per day via 3 mini-capsules, 2x/day (a total of 6 mini-capsules per day). Each capsule has 252mg of EPA and 102mg of DHA.

Support for dosing:

• The American Heart Association (AHA) says taking up to 3 grams of fish oil daily in supplement form is considered safe;
• Up to 5,000mg of omega-3 fatty acids per day is considered safe;
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends consuming no more than 3 g/day of EPA and DHA combined, including up to 2 g/day from dietary supplements.

Arm 2 - Placebo - made from soybean oil (same dosing schedule as intervention arm)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Erin Speiser, PhD; Phone Number: 5519968071; Email: Erin.speiser@hmhn.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • New Jersey
    • Edison, New Jersey, United States, 08820
      • Susan Dara

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 87 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Team member at Hackensack Meridian Health
• Age: 18+
• Willing to provide informed consent
• Formal diagnosis of COVID-19 via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)test (if home test was done, team member must confirm via PCR test)
• Outpatient treatment only for covid-19; no hospitalization (most team members will be vaccinated and may likely have milder case)
• Must be experiencing 1+ ongoing covid-19 symptom being measured in this study (respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, cough), fatigue, loss of taste, loss of smell)
• Symptom(s) have persisted for more than 12 weeks after initial infection
• Symptom(s) coincided with covid-19 infection and were not present prior to covid-19 infection
• Does not have soy allergy
• Does not have allergy to fish
• Able to participate in bi-weekly surveys in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap)
• Able to take own blood pressure and record it in bi-weekly REDCap survey
• Willing to participate in 12-week study and be assigned to either intervention or placebo arm
• Not currently taking an omega-3 supplement or other high-dose supplement (over 2,000 IU) with potential for aiding recovery of long covid syndrome (e.g. zinc, Vit C, Elderberry).
• Able to take/swallow six mini-pills daily
• Able and willing to give a spot blood sample (2 drops) at baseline and end of study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not a Team Member at Hackensack Meridian Health
• Not age 18+
• Unwilling to provide informed consent/ declined to take part
• No formal diagnosis of COVID-19 via PCR test (if home test was done, team member must confirm via PCR test)
• Were hospitalized for treatment of covid-19
• Not experiencing 1+ ongoing covid-19 symptom being measured in this study (respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, cough), fatigue, loss of taste, loss of smell)
• Symptom(s) have persisted for more than 12 weeks after initial infection
• Symptom(s) did not coincide with covid-19 infection and were present prior to covid-19 infection
• Does have soy allergy
• Does have allergy to fish
• Not able to participate in bi-weekly surveys in REDCap
• Able to take own blood pressure and record it in bi-weekly REDCap survey
• Not willing to participate in 12-week study and be assigned to either intervention or placebo arm
• Currently taking an omega-3 supplement or other high-dose supplement (over 2,000 IU) with potential for aiding recovery of long covid syndrome (e.g. zinc, Vit C, Elderberry).
• Unable to take/swallow six mini-pills daily
• Not able and not willing to give a spot blood sample (2 drops) at baseline and end of study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Study arm - Omega 3 supplement; Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) - Dose is 2,100mg per day via 3 mini-capsules, 2x/day (a total of 6 mini-capsules per day). Each capsule has 252mg of EPA and 102mg of DHA.	Drug: Omega-3 (EPA+DHA); Dose is 2,100mg per day via 3 mini-capsules, 2x/day (a total of 6 mini-capsules per day). Each capsule has 252mg of EPA and 102mg of DHA.; Other Names: fish oil
Placebo Comparator: Control arm - placebo; 3 Soybean Oil Placebo capsules 2x/day (a total of 6 mini-capsules per day).	Drug: Placebo; 3 Soybean Oil Placebo capsules

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility study for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation v. placebo in adult patients to limit long covid syndrome - Compliance as captured by the number of participants who remain compliant for the whole duration of the study by taking all pills daily	Number of participants who remain compliant for 12 weeks	12 weeks
Feasibility study for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation v. placebo in adult patients to limit long covid syndrome - Recruitment as illustrated by the number of screen failures (potential participants approached but not interested in participating).	Number of participants approached but not interested in participating	6 months recruitment efforts (starting on actual study start date)
Feasibility study for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation v. placebo in adult patients to limit long covid syndrome - Retention as illustrated by the number of participants that initiate but do not complete the study.	Number of participants who initiate but do not complete study	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Impact of omega-3 supplement on post-covid symptoms - Shortness of breath	Self-reported shortness of breath as captured at baseline (self-completing survey-pre) and after 12 weeks of treatment with omega-3 (self-completing survey-post).	12 weeks from baseline
Impact of omega-3 supplement on post-covid symptoms - Cough	Self-reported cough as captured at baseline (self-completing survey-pre) and after 12 weeks of treatment with omega-3 (self-completing survey-post).	12 weeks from baseline
Impact of omega-3 supplement on post-covid symptoms - Fatigue	Self-reported fatigue as captured at baseline (self-completing survey-pre) and after 12 weeks of treatment with omega-3 (self-completing survey-post).	12 weeks from baseline
Impact of omega-3 supplement on post-covid symptoms - Loss of smell	Self-reported loss of smell as captured at baseline (self-completing survey-pre) and after 12 weeks of treatment with omega-3 (self-completing survey-post).	12 weeks from baseline
Impact of omega-3 supplement on post-covid symptoms - Loss of taste	Self-reported loss of taste as captured at baseline (self-completing survey-pre) and after 12 weeks of treatment with omega-3 (self-completing survey-post).	12 weeks from baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hackensack Meridian Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Arunima Sarkar, MD, Hackensack Meridian Health

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

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• 11. CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with Covid-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network - United States - March-June 2020. Accessed on 25 Jan 2021 from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6930e1.htm 12. Couzin-Frankel, J. From 'brain fog' to heart damage, COVID-19's lingering problems alarm scientists. July 31, 2020. Accessed 25 January 2021 from https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/brain-fog-heart-damage-covid-19-s-lingering-problems-alarm-scientists 13. Cooney, Elizabeth. Stat / Health Column: Long after the fire of a covid-19 infection, mental and neurological effects can still smolder. Accessed 26 Jan 2021 from https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/12/after-covid19-mental-neurological-effects-smolder/ 14. Puntmann VO, Carerj ML, Wieters I, et al. Outcomes of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients Recently Recovered From Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiol. 2020;5(11):1265-1273. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2020.3557 15. Carfì A, Bernabei R, Landi F, for the Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group. Persistent Symptoms in Patients After Acute COVID-19. JAMA. 2020;324(6):603-605. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.12603 16. Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group. Post-COVID-19 global health strategies: the need for an interdisciplinary approach. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2020 Aug;32(8):1613-1620. doi: 10.1007/s40520-020-01616-x. Epub 2020 Jun 11. PMID: 32529595; PMCID: PMC7287410. 17. Scaioli E, Liverani E, Belluzzi A. The Imbalance between n-6/n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Review and Future Therapeutic Perspectives. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017; 18(12): e2619 18.Yaqoob, P. Mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects of n-3 PUFA. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 2010; 69(3): 311-315 19.Rees D, Miles EA, Banerjee T, Wells SJ, Roynette CE, Wahle KW, Calder PC. Dose-related effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on innate immune function in healthy humans: A comparison of young and older men. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2006; 83: 331-342 20. Endres S, Ghorbani R, Kelley VE, Georgilis K, Lonnemann G, van der Meer JW, Cannon JG, Rogers TS, Klempner MS, Weber PC, Schaefer EJ, Wolff SM, Dinarello CA. The effect of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the synthesis of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor by mononuclear cells. N. Engl. J. Med. 1989; 320: 265-271
• 21.Kelei Li, Tao Huang, Jusheng Zheng, Duo Li. Effect of Marine-Derived n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin 6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor a: A Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE, 2014;9(2): e88103 22. Mogensen TH, Melchjorsen J, Hollsberg P, Paludan SR. Activation of NF-kappa B in virus-infected macrophages is dependent on mitochondrial oxidative stress and intracellular calcium: Downstream involvement of the kinases TGF-beta-activated kinase 1, mitogen-activated kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1, and I kappa B kinase. J Immunol. 2003; 170(12): 6224- 6233 23.Beyazit Y, Purnak T, Kekilli M. Role of nitric oxide in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver by omega-3 fatty acids. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2010; 32(2): 303-304 24. Adli M, Merkhofer E, Cogswell P, Baldwin AS. IKKalpha and IKKbeta each function to regulate NFkappaB activation in the TNF-induced/canonical pathway. PLoS One. 2010 Feb 25; 5(2): e9428 25. Sabater J, Masclans JR, Sacanell J, Chacon P, Sabin P, Plnas M. Effects of an omega-3 fatty acid enriched lipid emulsion on eicosanoid synthesis in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011; 8(1): 22. 26. Dushianthan A, Rebecca Cusack V, Burgess A, Grocott M, Calder P. Immunonutrition for Adults With ARDS: Results From a Cochrane Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Respiratory Care January 2020; 65(1): 99-110 27. Langlois P, D'Aragon F, Hardy G, Manzanares W. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition. 2019; 61: 84-92 28. Chen H, Wang S, Zhao Y, Luo Y, Tong H, Su L. Correlation analysis of omega-3 fatty acids and mortality of sepsis and sepsis-induced ARDS in adults: data from previous randomized controlled trials. Nutr J. 2018; 17(1): 57 29. NBC News, NJ Gov. Murphy says state is hardest hit by coronavirus in U.S. May 12, 2020. Accessed at: https://www.nbcnews.com/video/new-jersey-gov-murphy-says-state-is-hardest-hit-by-coronavirus-in-u-s-83346501863 30. NJ Department of Health / Covid-19 Dashboard. Accessed 8 Jan 2021 from https://covid19.nj.gov/
• 31. Barrett, E.S., Horton, D.B., Roy, J. et al. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously undiagnosed health care workers in New Jersey, at the onset of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Infect Dis 20, 853 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-020-05587-2 32. Gooch, Kelly. Becker's Hospital Review: Covid-19 Sidelines over 100 New Jersey Hospital Workers. Dec 2, 2020. Accessed on 27 Jan 2021 from https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/covid-19-sidelines-over-100-new-jersey-hospital-workers.html. 33. American Heart Association: Professional Heart Daily (13 March 2017. Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (Fish Oil) Supplementation and the Prevention of Clinical Cardiovascular Disease. Available at: https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/omega-3-polyunsaturated-fatty-acid-fish-oil-supplementation-and-the-prevention 34. Scientific Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). (Source: EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) / 27 July 2012 https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2815|) 35.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Summary of qualified health claims subject to enforcement discretion. 2014. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-nutrition/qualified-health-claims-letters-enforcement-discretion 36. Insights From the OPERA Randomized Trial--Emmanuel Akintoye , Prince Sethi, William S. Harris , Paul A. Thompson , Roberto Marchioli , Luigi Tavazzi , Roberto Latini , Mias Pretorius , Nancy J. Brown , Peter Libby, Dariush Mozaffarian, Originally published5 Nov 2018https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.118.004584Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 2018;11 37. n-3 Fatty acids affect haemostasis but do not increase the risk of bleeding: clinical observations and mechanistic insights: John K Wachira, Mark K Larson, William S Harris; PMID: 24472372, DOI: 10.1017/S000711451300425X 38. Elevated plasma glucose and lowered triglyceride levels from omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in type II diabetes ; K E Friday , M T Childs, C H Tsunehara, W Y Fujimoto, E L Bierman, J W Ensinck--Diabetes Care . 1989 Apr; 12(4):276-81. doi:10.2337/diacare.12.4.276. 39. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Glucose Control and Lipid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis, Cai Chen, 1 , 2 Xuefeng Yu, 1 and Shiying Shao 1 ,* Published online 2015 Oct 2. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139565 40. Morris MC, Sacks F, Rosner B. Does fish oil lower blood pressure? A meta-analysis of controlled trials. Circulation. 1993;88(2):523-533. doi:10.1161/01.cir.88.2.523 41. Cleveland Heart Lab: Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Natural Way to Lower Blood Pressure. Blog post 20 August 2015. Available at: https://www.clevelandheartlab.com/blog/horizons-omega-3-fatty-acids-a-natural-way-to-lower-blood-pressure/ 42. Overview of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Therapies; J. Chris Bradberry, PharmD and Daniel E. Hilleman, PharmD----PMID: 24391388 43. Link, R. Healthline blog: 8 Little-Known Side Effects of Too Much Fish Oil. 17 July 2018. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fish-oil-side-effects#section4 44. Khodarahmi M, Azadbakht L. Dietary fat intake and functional dyspepsia. Adv Biomed Res. 2016;5:76. Published 2016 Apr 21. doi:10.4103/2277-9175.180988

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 10, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 21, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): April 21, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 16, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 12, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 8, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: quality of life; omega-3; healthcare workers; post-acute sequelae of covid-19; post- covid syndrome; long covid syndrome; post-covid symptoms
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; COVID-19
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pro2020-1166

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No