Fish oil meets TB drugs: can Omega-3 help clear infection faster?
NCT ID NCT07118059
First seen Sep 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether taking omega-3 fish oil capsules every day for eight weeks, alongside standard tuberculosis treatment, helps the body clear the infection faster and lowers inflammation. The trial enrolls 40 adults aged 18 to 45 with newly diagnosed, drug-sensitive pulmonary TB. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either omega-3 capsules or a placebo oil, and researchers track how long it takes for TB bacteria to grow in sputum samples, along with changes in inflammation markers, liver function, iron levels, and overall treatment outcomes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) from fish oil, given as capsules alongside standard tuberculosis treatment
- What this could lead to
- If it works, adding omega-3 capsules could become a low-cost way to help standard tuberculosis treatment clear the infection faster and reduce inflammation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small Phase 2 trial with 40 people, so any hint of benefit may not hold up in larger studies. Omega-3 supplements can also interact with blood thinners or affect bleeding, and they may not change how well TB drugs work.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Aug 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 45 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * adults aged 18-45 years * laboratory confirmed Pulmonary TB defined as a hard copy of a sputum result detected by WHO recommended assay or mycobacteria culture. * Women of childbearing potential with a negative pregnancy test on enrollment * All participant irrespective of HIV status who consent to have a HIV test during enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: * Comorbid condition with treatment of NSAIDS is indicated * Institutionalized or incarcerated individuals * Those on Multiple drug resistance treatment for more than 4 days within the past 6 months or within 1 month to prior to TB treatment initiation * Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women who become pregnant in the first 4 weeks of the trial will be withdrawn * show lab safety values: AST or ALT \> x3 upper limit of normal (ULN) or Total bilirubin \> 2x the ULN, Neutrophils ≤ 700/mm³, Platelets \< 50,000/mm³, Haemoglobin \< 8 g/dL, Serum creatinine \> 2× ULN. * Are receiving or planning treatment with any of the following in the 3 months before or during the trial: Anticoagulants Immune-modulating therapy (e.g., cancer treatment, oral/inhaled corticosteroids) Antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) * Have a known allergy or sensitivity to fish or fish oil. * Have a recent history (within 2 years) or current clinical evidence of: Peptic ulcer disease or GI bleeding Coagulopathy or bleeding disorders Kidney or liver disease requiring hospitalisation Cardiovascular disease or significant risk factors for it -Are HIV-positive and meet any of the following: CD4 count \< 100 cells/mm³ Viral load \> 400 copies/mL (if on ART) Not yet on ART but are expected to initiate treatment during the 8-week intervention phase * Report high-risk alcohol use (average \>4 units/day or binge drinking patterns) * Have any other medical condition or situation that, in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with protocol adherence or data interpretation. * Plan to relocate from the study area within the next 3 months. * Are currently using omega-3 or omega-6 supplements and are unwilling to stop for the duration of the study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Perinatal HIV research Unit (Matlosana)
RECRUITINGKlerksdorp, North West, 2571, South Africa
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