title: Fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA therapy increases muscle mass and function in healthy older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age-associated declines in muscle mass and function are major risk factors for an impaired ability to carry out activities of daily living, falls, prolonged recovery time after hospitalization, and mortality in older adults. New strategies that can slow the age-related loss of muscle mass and function are needed to help older adults maintain adequate performance status to reduce these risks and maintain independence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of fish oil-derived n-3 (ω-3) PUFA therapy to slow the age-associated loss of muscle mass and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty healthy 60-85-y-old men and women were randomly assigned to receive n-3 PUFA (n = 40) or corn oil (n = 20) therapy for 6 mo. Thigh muscle volume, handgrip strength, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) lower- and upper-body strength, and average power during isokinetic leg exercises were evaluated before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four subjects completed the study [29 subjects (73%) in the n-3 PUFA group; 15 subjects (75%) in the control group]. Compared with the control group, 6 mo of n-3 PUFA therapy increased thigh muscle volume (3.6%; 95% CI: 0.2%, 7.0%), handgrip strength (2.3 kg; 95% CI: 0.8, 3.7 kg), and 1-RM muscle strength (4.0%; 95% CI: 0.8%, 7.3%) (all P < 0.05) and tended to increase average isokinetic power (5.6%; 95% CI: -0.6%, 11.7%; P = 0.075).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA therapy slows the normal decline in muscle mass and function in older adults and should be considered a therapeutic approach for preventing sarcopenia and maintaining physical independence in older adults. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01308957.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition and.
authors.forename: Gordon I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition and.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Julliand
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition and.
authors.forename: Dominic N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Reeds
authors.affiliation: Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sinacore
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition and.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition and mittendb@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mittendorfer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils
keywords: aging; muscle mass; muscle power; muscle strength; omega-3 fatty acids