Fish Oil and Muscle Function

The Washington University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sarcopenia

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 fatty acids; Dietary Supplement: corn oil

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT01308957

201012999

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on changes in muscle mass, muscular strength and physical function.

Full description

Loss of muscle mass is a normal consequence of aging in many older adults, worsened by chronic illness, poor appetite and diet, and reduced physical activity. The ensuing decline in physical function is a major cause of frailty, disability and death. Treatments that can reverse or reduce the age-associated loss of muscle mass are therefore much needed. Evidence is emerging that consumption of fish or fish oil derived long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFA) may be important for maintenance of muscle mass and physical function throughout the life-span. However, the effect of LCn-3PUFA supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength and overall physical function is not known. The goal of this study therefore is to determine the effect of LCn-3PUFA supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical function in older adults.

Enrollment: 77 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Non-obese (i.e., BMI less than 35 kg/m2)
• Between 18 to 45 or between 60 and 85 y old
• Subjects who are sedentary (<1 h of exercise/week)

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with evidence of significant organ system dysfunction (e.g. diabetes, severe cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, cirrhosis, hypogonadism, uncontrolled hypo- or hyperthyroidism; uncontrolled hypertension)
• Subjects with metal implants
• Subjects with iron storage disease,
• Subjects with severe ambulatory impairments,
• Individuals with cancer or cancer that has been in remission for <5 years,
• Individuals with dementia,
• Individuals who smoke,
• Subjects who are taking medications known to affect muscle (e.g., steroids),
• Subjects who receive anticoagulant therapy.
• Subjects taking medications to control certain medical conditions (e.g., hypertension) will be included if the drug regimen has been stable for at least 6 months before entering the study and is not expected to change during the study.
• Subjects with allergies to sea food,
• Subjects who regularly consume fish oil or consume >2 servings of fish with a high LCn-3PUFA content (e.g. salmon, mackerel, sardines, etc) per week.
• Physical performance test score less than 17 out of 36.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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77 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Long chain omega-3 fatty acids

Experimental group

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 fatty acids

Corn oil

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: corn oil

Young healthy controls

No Intervention group

Description:

Young subjects' muscle mass and physical function will be evaluated once (i.e., during baseline testing only). The data in young subjects will be used to determine the magnitude of the aging-induced decline in muscle mass and physical function in the older subjects prior to starting the interventions.