P670 - COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WHOLE BODY RESERVES OF OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS IN INDIVIDUALS DYING IN FULL HEALTH AND THOSE DYING FROM COVID-19 INFECTION

P670

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WHOLE BODY RESERVES OF OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS IN INDIVIDUALS DYING IN FULL HEALTH AND THOSE DYING FROM COVID-19 INFECTION

P. Skořepa^1,2,*, M. Vecka^3,4, M. Burda⁵, I. Selke Krulichová⁶, P. Hejna⁷, R. Hyšpler⁸, A. Žák³, Z. Zadák¹

¹3rd Department of Internal Medicine-Metabolic Care and Gerontology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, ²Deparment of Military Internal Medicine and Military Hygiene, University of Defence, Military faculty of Medicine, Hradec Kralove, ³4th Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Charles University, ⁴Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, First Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, ⁵Institute for Research and Applications of Fuzzy Modeling, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, ⁶Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, ⁷Department of Forensic Medicine, ⁸Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital Hradec Kralove and Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Rationale: Severe COVID-19 triggers immune activation, influencing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), precursors of specialized pro-resolving mediators. While some organs concentrate omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs for immunomodulatory functions, their organ-specific distribution remains unclear.

Methods: We quantified PUFA composition in major organs of 10 individuals who died from COVID-19 and 14 patients who died from other causes (e.g., accidents, injuries). Tissue samples (brain, heart, right and left lungs, spleen, kidneys, liver) were collected post-mortem. Lipids were extracted, hydrolyzed, methylated, and analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. PUFA content was expressed as absolute concentrations (mg per g of tissue).

Results: We compared omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA content across selected fatty acids. Linoleic acid (18:2n-6) had values of 0.773 (0.673 – 0.913) in COVID-19 patients and 0.334 (0.305 – 0.363) in healthy individuals (p < 0.0001). Arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) showed values of 0.683 (0.585 – 0.760) in COVID-19 patients and 0.444 (0.405 – 0.482) in healthy individuals (p = 0.0002). For omega-3 PUFAs, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) showed values of 0.041 (0.040 – 0.043) in COVID-19 patients and 0.008 (0.008 – 0.009) in healthy individuals (p < 0.0001), while eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) had values of 0.163 (0.137 – 0.210) in COVID-19 patients and 0.018 (0.015 – 0.019) in healthy individuals (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: This study reveals significant differences in omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA distribution across major organs in individuals who died from COVID-19 compared to healthy individuals. Differences in main PUFA suggest metabolic shifts in severe COVID-19 that may impact immune and inflammatory responses.

References: Supported by MH CZ – DRO (UHHK, 00179906) and by DZRO-FVZ22-KLINIKA II.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared