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FoundMyFitness · 2023-07-03 · Rhonda Patrick (host), Chris McGlory

Chris McGlory, PhD, on the Anabolic Potential of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

54 research-tied claims examined: 2 overstated 50 supported 2 unverified

2

Overstated

0:39:01Chris McGloryoverstatedmoderate

Meta-analyses support that omega-3 supplementation improves muscle mass in humans.

"There are a couple of papers that have shown, you know, if you feed omega-3s, that improves muscle mass. There's meta-analyses supporting this" (said at 0:39:01)

While at least one meta-analysis of randomized trials in older adults reported a modest increase in muscle mass (weighted mean gain of ~0.33 kg, increasing to ~0.67 kg at doses >2 g/day), the majority of subsequent meta-analyses across healthy adults and older populations have found that omega-3 supplementation does not produce statistically significant gains in muscle or lean body mass. Some meta-analyses do, however, report small positive effects on muscle strength or physical performance measures.

1:12:30Rhonda Patrick (host)overstatedlow

Studies have shown that DHA and EPA increase resting metabolic rate by 19% and exercise fat oxidation by 27% in older women.

"So there's a few studies, like limited I'd say limited evidence showing that DHA and EPA can increase the metabolic rate of both resting and during exercise in older women. ... And these effects were even more profound in like fat oxidation, so it was like a 19% increase in in resting metabolic rate and 27% increase during exercise for fat oxidation." (said at 1:12:30)

A 12-week randomized controlled trial in 24 older females (Logan et al., 2015) found that 3 g/day of EPA and DHA increased the rate of resting fat oxidation by 19% (not resting metabolic rate, which increased by 14%) and exercise fat oxidation by 27% (energy expenditure during exercise increased by 10%). The speaker slightly misattributed the 19% figure to resting metabolic rate rather than resting fat oxidation. Furthermore, the evidence base is small and mixed, as a subsequent randomized trial in older adults (PMID: 32342642) found no significant effect of 12 weeks of fish oil supplementation on resting metabolic rate or fat oxidation.

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.