Sep 5, 2026
2:00 PM12:00 PM
ePoster display
PD138 - NEUROMUSCULAR ACTIVATION SPEED IS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN PLASMA OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY INDEX IN OLDER MEN FOLLOWING COMBINED EXERCISE TRAINING
PD138
NEUROMUSCULAR ACTIVATION SPEED IS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN PLASMA OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY INDEX IN OLDER MEN FOLLOWING COMBINED EXERCISE TRAINING
S. Rudloff1,2, K. Norman1,2, U. Haß3, C. Herpich1,2,*
1Department of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, 2Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, 3Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Potsdam, Germany
Rationale: Neuromuscular activation speed reflects α-motoneuron function in fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are essential for rapid movements and vulnerable to age-related decline While omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) have shown benefits for muscle strength, their impact on neuromuscular speed remains underexplored in older adults.
Methods: Sixty-one participants (70.5±4.7 years; 47.5% men) were randomized to either control, high-protein (1.2-1.5 g/kg), or high-protein + n-3 PUFA (2.2 g/day) supplementation. All participants completed weekly sessions of whole-body vibration training combined with home-based bodyweight exercises for 8 weeks. Neuromuscular activation speed was assessed by the maximal tapping frequency (Hz) of the Foot-Tapping Test (FTT) using mechanography. Plasma n-3 PUFA index (%) was analyzed via gas chromatography. Fat-free mass (FFM) was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Results: At baseline, n-3 index values (control: 5.1±1.2%; protein: 5.6±1.7%; n-3 PUFA: 4.9±1.4%) and FTT performance (control: 9.3±1.3 Hz; protein: 9.2±1.0 Hz; n-3 PUFA: 9.5±1.5 Hz) did not differ between groups. Only in men, there was a significant correlation between increases in the n-3 index and relative changes in FTT frequency (r=0.527; p=0.003). In the regression analysis, change in n-3 PUFA intake was significantly associated with change in FTT performance (β=0.173, 95%CI [0.042-0.305], p=0.012) after adjusting for age, fat free mass/height, baseline FTT, protein intake and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). This association was not observed in women.
Conclusion: These findings suggest a potential sex-specific link between increased n-3 PUFA levels and neuromuscular activation speed.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared