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

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant characteristics at baseline.

	PLA n = 16	SUPP n = 21	All n = 37	PLA vs SUPP p value
Anthropometry
M/F	8/8	11/10	19/18
Age (y)	74.8 ± 3.9	75.0 ± 3.4	74.9 ± 3.6	.838
Height (m)	1.67 ± 0.10	1.67 ± 0.11	1.67 ± 0.10	.908
Body mass (kg)	71.0 ± 12.9	71.4 ± 16.3	71.2 ± 14.7	.942
BMI (kg/m^2)	25.2 ± 3.3	25.3 ± 3.5	25.3 ± 3.4	.958
Body fat (%)	33.0 ± 8.4	33.6 ± 6.7	33.4 ± 7.4	.808
Fat mass (kg)	23.1 ± 7.8	23.4 ± 6.9	23.3 ± 7.2	.902
LBM (kg)	45.41 ± 9.51	45.26 ± 11.49	45.32 ± 10.54	.965
ALM (kg)	19.57 ± 4.55	19.38 ± 5.62	19.47 ± 5.12	.912
SMMI (kg/m^2)	6.83 ± 1.02	6.79 ± 1.39	6.81 ± 1.24	.938
Physical function
Hand-grip strength (kg)	32.0 ± 7.3	30.5 ± 9.7	31.1 ± 8.7	.619
Gait speed (m/s)	1.05 ± 0.14	1.09 ± 0.15	1.07 ± 0.15	.377
Sit-to-stand (s)	10.5 ± 1.3	12.5 ± 3.6	11.6 ± 3.0	.035
Balance (s)	24.8 ± 8.2	20.3 ± 12.5	22.2 ± 11.0	.240
SPPB score	10.7 ± 1.6	9.4 ± 2.4	10.0 ± 2.2	.076
Blood markers
Total cholesterol (mM)	4.29 ± 1.11	4.85 ± 1.04	4.58 ± 1.09	.135
HDL-C (mM)	1.51 ± 0.37	1.66 ± 0.55	1.59 ± 0.47	.357
LDL-C (mM)	2.94 ± 1.04	3.04 ± 0.95	2.99 ± 0.98	.754
TG (mM)	1.00 ± 0.45	0.94 ± 0.31	0.97 ± 0.38	.677
hsCRP (mg/L)	1.35 ± 0.82	1.03 ± 1.43	1.19 ± 1.16	.439
Glucose (mM)	5.22 ± 0.74	5.15 ± 0.73	5.18 ± 0.72	.782
Insulin (mU/L)	7.13 ± 5.47	6.24 ± 3.73	6.64 ± 4.55	.587
HOMA-IR	1.67 ± 1.37	1.48 ± 1.15	1.58 ± 1.12	.632
Dietary intake
Energy (kcal)	1720 ± 397	1680 ± 489	1699 ± 439	.825
Carbohydrate (g)	191 ± 48	193 ± 86	192 ± 69	.943
Protein (g)	72 ± 14	80 ± 22	76 ± 19	.276
Protein (g/kg)	1.01 ± 0.26	1.13 ± 0.34	1.07 ± 0.30	.356
Fat (g)	70 ± 24	62 ± 14	66 ± 19	.313

Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation. ALM, appendicular lean mass; BMI, body mass index; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment–insulin resistance; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; LBM, lean body mass; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; M/F, male/female; SMMI, skeletal muscle mass index; SPPB; Short Physical Performance Battery; TG, triglycerides.

Figure 1. Flow chart for study participation.

Figure 2. Changes in plasma concentrations of total (EPA + DHA) LC n-3 PUFA in response to the intervention. ^sssp < .001 for SUPP vs PRE.

EPA indicates eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; LC n-3 PUFA, long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; SUPP, supplement; PRE, baseline.

Figure 3. Changes in body composition assessed by (A) body mass, (B) lean body mass, and (C) fat mass in response to the intervention. ^ssp < .01 and ^sssp < .001 for SUPP vs PRE.

SUPP indicates supplement; PRE, baseline.

Figure 4. Changes in physical function assessed by (A) hand-grip strength, (B) gait speed, (C) chair rise test, and (D) balance. ^ssp < .01 and ^sssp < .001 for SUPP vs PRE. ^ppp < .01 PLA vs PRE.

SUPP indicates supplement; PRE, baseline; PLA, placebo.

Table 2. Changes in serum concentrations of markers of metabolic health after 3 (MID) and 6 (POST) months of intervention.

	PLA			SUPP
	PRE	MID	POST	PRE	MID	POST	Time p value	Group p value	T*G p value
Total cholesterol (mM)	4.29 ± 1.11	4.21 ± 1.10	4.12 ± 1.13	4.85 ± 1.04	4.64 ± 1.37	4.74 ± 1.14	.675	.108	.877
HDL-C (mM)	1.51 ± 0.37	1.42 ± 0.35	1.39 ± 0.41	1.66 ± 0.55	1.56 ± 0.56	1.52 ± 0.51	.037	.346	.986
LDL-C (mM)	2.94 ± 1.04	2.92 ± 0.87	2.95 ± 1.17	3.04 ± 0.95	2.88 ± 0.95	2.66 ± 0.87	.618	.808	.366
TG (mM)	1.00 ± 0.45	0.99 ± 0.35	0.93 ± 0.54	0.94 ± 0.31	0.91 ± 0.46	0.86 ± 0.39	.447	.576	.973
hsCRP (mg/L)	1.35 ± 0.82	1.40 ± 1.09	1.27 ± 1.05	1.03 ± 1.43	1.65 ± 2.56	1.13 ± 1.16	.400	.855	.584
Glucose (mM)	5.22 ± 0.74	5.23 ± 0.51	5.39 ± 1.17	5.15 ± 0.73	5.16 ± 0.74	4.95 ± 0.90	.990	.312	.479
Insulin (mU/L)	7.13 ± 5.47	7.26 ± 6.02	7.30 ± 6.20	6.24 ± 3.73	5.79 ± 2.92	6.46 ± 3.21	.831	.480	.830
HOMA-IR	1.69 ± 1.37	1.66 ± 1.36	1.61 ± 1.17	1.48 ± 1.15	1.33 ± 0.73	1.40 ± 0.78	.810	.472	.916

Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation. HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment–insulin resistance; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; PLA, placebo; PRE, baseline; SUPP, supplement.