Effects of a Long Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-rich Multi-ingredient Nutrition Supplement on Body Composition and Physical Function in Older Adults with Low Skeletal Muscle Mass

Abstract

Six months of supplementation with a multi-ingredient nutrition supplement was investigated in older adults with low skeletal muscle mass given the recently purported benefits of such approaches. Community-dwelling older adults (age, 74.9 ± 3.6 y; M/F, 18/19) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial involving daily consumption of either fruit juice placebo (PLA) or supplement (SUPP) in the form of a 200-mL carton of a juice-based emulsion of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) (3000 mg as 1500 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 1500 mg eicosapentaenoic acid), whey protein isolate (8 g), vitamin D3 (400 IU), and resveratrol (150 mg). Body composition, physical function, and circulating markers of metabolic health were assessed at baseline (PRE), and after 3 (MID) and 6 (POST) months of supplementation. Lean body mass (LBM) was unchanged in either group, but fat mass increased in SUPP by 1.41 (0.75, 2.07) kg at POST (+6.4%; p < .001; d = 0.20). Hand-grip strength was maintained in SUPP, but declined in PLA by 2.50 (0.81, 4.19) kg at POST (−6.8%; p = .002; d = 0.38). Short physical performance battery score was unchanged in PLA, but increased in SUPP by 1.13 (0.41, 1.84) above PRE at POST (p = .001; d = 0.47). Circulating markers of metabolic health were unchanged in response to the intervention in either PLA or SUPP. Long-term supplementation with an LC n-3 PUFA-rich multi-ingredient nutrition supplement demonstrates potential efficacy for improving physical function in older adults in the absence of exercise training and independent of a change in LBM.

Keywords:

• Docosahexaenoic acid eicosapentaenoic acid omega-3 lean body mass strength

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, GDV and BE; methodology, GDV and BE; formal analysis, ASP, MH, AMM, and BE; investigation, ASP, FTM, MH, AMM, and GL; writing—original draft preparation, ASP and BE; writing—review and editing, FTM and BE; supervision, GDV and BE; project administration, GDV and BE; funding acquisition, GDV and BE. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by Norwegian biotech company Smartfish® AS, who also provided the ready-to-drink juice formulations of the nutrition supplement and placebo. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Notes on contributors

Alessandro Scotto di Palumbo

Alessandro Scotto di Palumbo, completed his PhD in the study of acute exercise, exercise training and metabolic health. He is currently employed at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Fionn T. McSwiney

Fionn T. McSwiney, completed his PhD in the study of a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet and its impact of endurance exercise performance, body composition and circulating markers of health in athletes. He is currently employed by Eli Lilly & Company in Cork, Ireland.

Michelle Hone

Michelle Hone, completed her PhD in the study of leucine supplementation and dietary protein distribution in recovery and adaptation to exercise in trained men and older adults. She is founder and currently CEO of the The Fit Clinic in Dublin, Ireland.

Aoibheann M. McMorrow

Aoibheann M. McMorrow, completed her PhD in the study of an anti-inflammatory dietary intervention on the metabolic phenotype of overweight and obese adolescents. She is currently employed as a registered dietitian at St. James’ Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.

Gina Lynch

Gina Lynch, completed her PhD in the study of inflammation and skeletal muscle dysfunction with potential mitigation by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. She is currently employed by AbbVie in Sligo, Ireland.

Giuseppe De Vito

Giuseppe De Vito, is a Full Professor of Human Physiology at University of Padova, Italy. His research investigates muscle function and neuromuscular control in both older and young subjects, as well as the study of sarcopenia and how it relates to both aging and chronic diseases such as in type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Brendan Egan

Brendan Egan, is an Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Physiology at Dublin City University, Ireland, and Visiting Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Pensacola FL USA. His research investigates skeletal muscle function and adaptation, with special interest in the synergy between nutrition and exercise interventions to optimise performance across the life course.