Fish-oil derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can increase muscle mass and improve muscle functionality among healthy, older adults, according to research from Washington University’s School of Medicine.
Scientists compared the effect on a group of 60–85 year old men of fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA therapy during a six month period, compared against a placebo group. The test group consumed four 1g pills of u-3 acid-ethyl ester every day that provided the equivalent of between 200g and 400g of freshwater fatty fish, and found that both muscle and mass and functionality improved.
The study found that the therapy did not significantly affect body weight, total body fat mass or inter-muscular fat content. However, the test group benefitted from increased thigh muscle volume, handgrip strength and muscle strength, and tended to increase average isokinetic leg muscle power, when compared to the placebo group.
The difference in muscle volume and muscle strength between the two groups was as much as 3.5% and 6%, suggesting that six months of n-3 PUFA therapy can prevent between two and three years of normal age-associated muscle mass and function loss.
The findings have been welcomed by health and nutrition ingredients provider DSM.
Washington University School of Medicine research associate Dr Bettine Mittendorfer said: “The study indicates that dietary supplementation with marine n-3 PUFAs has significant anabolic and, even more importantly, function-enhancing effects on muscle in older adults. This is an important development and has direct clinical relevance, as currently, besides vitamin D, there are no treatments good enough for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia aside from regular exercise, which is difficult to adhere to especially in older people. In addition, our findings open avenues for the discovery of potential new cellular mechanisms that are critical for the regulation of muscle mass and function, which we plan to pursue in the near future.”
DSM senior vice president of nutrition, science and advocacy Dr Manfred Eggersdorfer added: “Omega-3 is a safe and effective therapy to prevent aging-associated decline in muscle mass and function. Having meals with oily fish twice a week – such as salmon or sardines – provides a healthy dose of omega-3, but most adults don’t get nearly enough in their diets due to changes in modern eating habits. Taking purified, concentrated omega-3 EPA/DHA supplements and enriched foods are great ways of ensuring a healthy and consistent daily dose.”
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