Research conducted at Louisiana State University Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence reports that ‘Elovanoids’, bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3 very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, may block the virus that causes Covid-19 from entering cells and protect the air cells (alveoli) of the lung. The findings of the research are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

“Because the compounds are protective against damage in the brain and retina of the eye and the Covid-19 virus clearly damages the lung, the experiment tested if the compounds would also protect the lung,” noted Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, Director of the LSU Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center and senior author of the paper. The research team tested Elovanoids (ELVs) on infected lung tissue from a 78-year-old man in petri dish cultures. They found that ELVs not only reduced the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to bind to receptors and enter cells, but they also triggered the production of protective, anti-inflammatory proteins that counteract lung damage.