The Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Muscle Functioning, Inflammation and Muscle Signaling

KU Leuven23 enrolled

Overview

Elderly are supplemented with either Omega-3 (3 x 1.1g per day) or placebo (corn oil) during 14 weeks. The last 12 weeks, supplementation is combined with resistance exercise training (3x per week) focusing on upper leg strength. In the present project, the investigators study whether differences in muscle strength and/or muscle mass between conditions can be explained by omega-3-induced effects on systemic or muscle inflammatory signaling, or differences in muscle molecular signaling.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Aging

Interventions

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementationDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Daily supplementation with omega-3 capsules (daily for 14 weeks). Each day: 3 capsules of 1.1g

Resistance exerciseOTHER

Resistance exercise training in both supplementation conditions (3 times per week for 12 weeks).

Placebo - appearance-matched oil supplementationDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Daily supplementation with placebo capsules (daily for 14 weeks). Each day: 3 capsules of 1.1g

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsMax age: 100 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * aged \>= 65 years Exclusion Criteria: * BMI \< 20; BMI \> 35 * regular NSAID intake in the last 3 months * omega-3 supplementation in the last year * regular resistance exercise in the last year * cancer, liver and renal disease, unstable cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disease * cognitive limitations that might interfere with the (adherence to) the intervention or with the testing of outcome parameters * unstable body weight * smoking

Locations (1)

KU Leuven

Leuven, Belgium

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Isometric muscle strength

Isometric muscle strength as assessed with Biodex Device in Nm

Time frame: Change in muscle strength between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019)

Systemic inflammatory signaling

Systemic (blood) markers of inflammation: hs-CRP (mg/L), IL-6 (pg/mL), TNFa (pg/mL)

Time frame: Change in inflammatory signaling between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019)

Muscle strength

One Repetition Maximum on the leg press fitness device in kg

Time frame: Change in muscle strength between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019)

Secondary Outcomes

Muscle quality

muscle strength (Torque) per muscle volume

Time frame: Change in muscle quality between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019)

Muscle molecular signaling (Protein levels of anabolic/catabolic signaling and skeletal muscle stress)

Biochemical analyses of muscle biopsies obtained pre-post intervention in both conditions. This involves parameters of muscle anabolism, catabolism, stress, structure, integrity, quality etc.: mTORC1 pathway, FoXO, MAPK (western blotting technique, values expressed as arbitrary units)

Time frame: Change in muscle molecular signaling between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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