Can N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids be considered a potential adjuvant therapy for COVID-19-associated cardiovascular complications?
Autor
Darwesh, Ahmed M.
Bassiouni, Wesam
Sosnowski, Deanna K.
Seubert, John M.
Institución
Resumen
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has currently led to a global pandemic with millions of
confirmed and increasing cases around the world. The novel SARS-CoV-2 not only affects the
lungs causing severe acute respiratory dysfunction but also leads to significant dysfunction in
multiple organs and physiological systems including the cardiovascular system. A plethora of
studies have shown the viral infection triggers an exaggerated immune response,
hypercoagulation and oxidative stress, which contribute significantly to poor cardiovascular
outcomes observed in COVID-19 patients. To date, there are no approved vaccines or therapies
for COVID-19. Accordingly, cardiovascular protective and supportive therapies are urgent and
necessary to the overall prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Accumulating literature has
demonstrated the beneficial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) toward the
cardiovascular system, which include ameliorating uncontrolled inflammatory reactions, reduced
oxidative stress and mitigating coagulopathy. Moreover, it has been demonstrated the n-3 PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are precursors to a
group of potent bioactive lipid mediators, generated endogenously, which mediate many of the
beneficial effects attributed to their parent compounds. Considering the favorable safety profile
for n-3 PUFAs and their metabolites, it is reasonable to consider n-3 PUFAs as potential
adjuvant therapies for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients. In this article, we provide
an overview of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications secondary to COVID-19 and
focus on the mechanisms that may contribute to the likely benefits of n-3 PUFAs and their
metabolites.