Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength and Muscle Performance among the Elderly: A Meta-Analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 33291698 · doi:10.3390/nu12123739
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and CINAHL through July 2018 for randomized controlled trials evaluating omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on sarcopenia-related outcomes in elderly populations. Ten articles were included in the meta-analysis.
What was found
Omega-3 supplementation was associated with: - Muscle mass gain: +0.33 kg (95% CI: 0.05 to 0.62 kg) overall, and +0.67 kg (95% CI: 0.16 to 1.18 kg) in subgroups receiving >2 g/day. - Timed up and go test: -0.30 seconds (95% CI: -0.43 to -0.17 s). - Walking speed: +1.78 m/s (95% CI: 1.38 to 2.17 m/s) in subgroups receiving interventions lasting more than 6 months.
Why it matters
Omega-3 supplementation may offer a modest nutritional strategy to support muscle mass and mobility in aging populations, particularly when provided at doses above 2 g per day or for longer durations.
Limits
The total number of participants, baseline sarcopenia status, specific omega-3 formulations (EPA vs. DHA ratios), adverse effects, and direct measures of muscle strength were not reported in the abstract. The absolute effect sizes for overall mass gain and timed-up-and-go improvement were small.
Cited by
- supports Meta-analyses show that supplementing older adults with 2 grams of omega-3 per day increases muscle mass and improves walking speed.