Fish oil-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia
Gray, S. R. and Mittendorfer, B. (2018) Fish oil-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 21(2), pp. 104-109. (doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000441) (PMID:29232264)
154383.pdf - Accepted Version
Purpose of review: Muscle mass and function decline progressively starting in middle age, which can result in sarcopenia and affect people's mobility and independence later in life. Exercise training and increased protein intake are typically recommended to counteract the age-associated decline in muscle mass and function. However, few people comply with exercise recommendations and the effectiveness of high-protein intake to halt the decline in muscle mass and function has not been proven. This review aims to explore recent developments in the potential for fish-oil derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) to improve muscle mass and function in older people. Recent findings: The results from several recent studies demonstrate that dietary supplementation with fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA stimulates muscle protein synthesis and improves muscle mass and function in sedentary older adults and augments the resistance exercise training-induced increase in muscle strength in older adults. The exact mechanisms by which fish oil-derived n-3 PUFAs exert their beneficial effects on muscle mass and function remain to be elucidated. Summary: Fish-oil supplementation has antisarcopenic effects and should be considered in the clinical care of older adults.
S.R.G. has nothing to declare. Bettina Mittendorfer has received salary support from NIH grants DK 94483, DK 56341 (Nutrition and Obesity Research Center), and UL1 TR000448 (Clinical Translational Science Award), and the Atkins and Pershing Square Foundations during the preparation of this manuscript.
Gray, Dr Stuart
Gray, S. R., and Mittendorfer, B.
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
First published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care 21(2):104-109
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