Fish-oil supplementation enhances the effects of strength training in elderly women.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 22218156 · doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.021915
What was done
Forty-five older women (mean age 64 ± 1.4 years) were randomized to three groups: strength training alone for 90 days (ST), strength training plus 2 g/day fish oil for 90 days (ST90), or fish oil for 150 days with strength training during the final 90 days (ST150). Peak torque, rate of torque development, muscle activation level, electromechanical delay (across knee and ankle flexors/extensors), and chair-rising functional performance were measured before and after the 90-day training intervention.
What was found
Baseline variables were comparable across all groups. Peak torque and rate of torque development increased from pre- to post-training in all groups, with greater gains in the ST90 and ST150 groups compared to the ST group. Muscle activation level and electromechanical delay changed significantly only in the fish-oil groups (ST90 and ST150). Chair-rising performance was higher in the fish-oil groups than in the ST group. Specific numerical values, effect sizes, and p-values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study suggests that adding omega-3 PUFA supplementation to resistance exercise may augment neuromuscular adaptation and functional gains in older adults.
Limits
The sample size was small (45 participants split across three arms), and the sample was restricted to older women. The abstract does not indicate whether a placebo was used for the control group, whether blinding was maintained, or the exact numerical results.
Cited by
- supports A study by Rodacki and colleagues published in AJCN found that omega-3 supplementation potentiated strength gains during resistance training in older women.