Salmon oil playing key role in Covid recovery, say researchers

A medicinal oil product derived from salmon trimmings could play a big part in helping patients to recover from Covid-19.

Hofseth BioCare, a leader in science-led marine nutrition, has announced new findings from a recent study on the benefits of its salmon oil (OmeGo), in helping treat the effects of Covid-19.

Published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, this pioneering research has demonstrated that OmeGo has the potential to improve immune responses and reduce inflammation in individuals with mild to moderate Covid-19 infection, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The study found that those taking OmeGo had significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which is vital for reducing the acute inflammatory response linked to the complications of Covid-19.

Additionally, OmeGo supplementation led to better interferon-related gene expression, essential for effective viral clearance and maintaining a balanced immune response.

Hofseth Biocare also said that participants also showed improved lung barrier function and enhanced immune memory, indicating a strong and lasting immune defence.

The company describes OmeGo as an “enzymatically liberated” oil, an approach which means that valuable components of the salmon oil, which is derived from fish off-cuts, are not lost during processing.

For most people, covid-19 is a mild illness that passes, but some suffer from symptoms that last beyond the acute phase.

People who have symptoms that affect functioning in daily life and have lasted for at least two months, are diagnosed with “late sequelae of covid-19”. The diagnosis is usually made three months after the patient has gone through the illness.

Such late effects have also been reported after many other infections, and it is therefore not surprising that some people experience long-term problems after Covid. Covid is a condition affecting an estimated 65 million people globally.

Hofseth believes the research sheds light on the potential role of whole salmon oil in managing long

Dr Crawford Currie, lead author and Head of Medical R&D at Hofseth Biocare said: “The Covid-19 pandemic cast immune health under the spotlight and since then, consumers worldwide have been exploring solutions to proactively boost their viral defences. T

The broad-spectrum benefits of our enzymatically liberated salmon oil stand as a beacon of hope, with this latest study demonstrating its power to modulate the immune response, aid recovery and reduce the risk of severe outcomes. OmeGo® encapsulates the essence of whole fish, offering profound health benefits that extend beyond nutrition to help fortify our immune systems and support recovery from viral infections.”

OmeGo is derived from Norwegian Atlantic salmon and mirrors the lipid profile of whole salmon. It provides unique anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic benefits distinct from omega-3 alone.

Hofseth BioCare’s headquarters are in Ålesund, Norway with branches in Oslo, Chicago, Mumbai, Tokyo and Menlo Park, California.