PP118 - EIGHT-WEEK OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID SUPPLEMENTATION AFFECTS MARKERS OF MUSCLE RECOVERY IN OLDER ADULTS: A DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

PP118

EIGHT-WEEK OMEGA-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID SUPPLEMENTATION AFFECTS MARKERS OF MUSCLE RECOVERY IN OLDER ADULTS: A DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

C. Herpich^1,*, N. Jeschinowski¹, L. Göger¹, D. Li¹, K. Norman^1,2

¹Department of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, ²Department of Geriatrics and Medical Gerontology, Charité - Universitätmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Rationale: Maintaining muscle health is vital for healthy aging and independence, but muscle recovery may be impaired in older adults. This study examined the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on muscle recovery foloowing exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD).

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial 43 healthy, older women and men (65-85 yr) took 5 mL of n-3 PUFA algae oil (609mg EPA, 1158mg DHA) or placebo daily for eight weeks. After eight weeks participants performed a bout of 10x10 eccentric-emphasized leg extensions. Functional: maximal voluntary quadriceps contraction (MVC), countermovement jump (CMJ) height and muscle soreness (DOMS) and molecular (CK, IL-6, hsCRP) EIMD symptoms were assessed at baseline and over 72-hours post-exercise. The effects of activity level and sex on recovery were examined.

Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between placebo (n=22) and n-3 PUFA group (n=21). After eight weeks, n-3 PUFA group exhibited a trend for lower baseline IL-6 (p=0.074). Post-exercise, CK increased from baseline to 24-hours post-exercise (p=0.014) only in the placebo, while IL-6 was reduced immediately in the n-3 PUFA group (p=0.038). n-3 PUFA group also trended towards greater muscle strength loss (p=0.064), with lower MVC compared to placebo at 24-hours (p=0.042) and 72-hours (p=0.025) post-exercise. DOMS and CMJ were similar between groups. Lower activity levels were associated with greater increases in CK, IL-6, and hsCRP post-exercise. Men exhibited higher CK, IL-6, and hsCRP responses than women.

Conclusion: These data suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation may influence muscle function recovery in older adults, potentially impacting muscle membrane integrity[1] or force generation[2]. 

References: [1]DOI:10.3945/jn.111.155259; [2]DOI:10.3945/ajcn.111.021915. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared