Bones: Omega 3s improve their health and reduce fatty tissue

Combined intake of combined linoleic acid and Omega-3-rich fish oil could be a new strategy to reduce adipose tissue and improve bone mineral density. This was hypothesized by researchers at the Health Science Center at the University of Texas at San Antonio (United States) at the end of a series of experiments conducted on mice. Their findings were published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The relationship between fat and bone

During old age, the amount of fat in the bone marrow correlates with skeletal bone mass: the higher the fat levels, the lower the bone mass. Although this relationship has been known for some time, there is no specific therapy for the treatment of fat tissue accumulation in the bone marrow.

From mice to man

Researchers at the University of Texas evaluated the possibility of counteracting this by giving mice conjugated linoleic acid, fish oil or both of these supplements. The experiments were conducted on a group of animals characterized by a mutation that causes low bone density and more prone to obesity and to develop type 2 diabetes. The study involved feeding 12-month-old animals a diet enriched with the following:

- 0.5% conjugated linoleic acid;

- 5% fish oil (rich in omega-3 fatty acids);

- both supplements.

As a control, mice of the same type were fed a diet consisting of 10% corn oil. After 6 months, the researchers evaluated the following parameters:

- weight of animals

- fat mass

- bone mineral density

- lean mass of the hind legs

Fish oil: an added value

Intake of conjugated linoleic acid alone was associated with lower weight and reduced fat mass. Conversely, this nutrient caused an increase in lean mass in hind legs and bone mineral density. Despite these benefits, linoleic acid intake was associated with the development of fatty liver, a condition characterized by excessive fat accumulation in liver cells. Increased insulin resistance, a phenomenon underlying the development of type 2 diabetes, was also observed in mice fed this supplement. In contrast, animals given fish oil showed an increase in bone mineral density, which was associated with improved insulin sensitivity. No changes in fat mass and lean mass levels were, however, observed in these mice. Animals fed both supplements simultaneously showed a reduction in weight and fat mass, increased bone mineral density and lean mass in the hind legs, and, at the same time, reduced liver enlargement and increased insulin resistance. The double supplementation significantly reduced the presence of adipose tissue in the bone marrow and, in aging mice, inflammation and oxidative stress. According to the authors, these results demonstrate the potential of linoleic acid and omega-3-rich oil for protecting bone health.  

Source

1. Halade GV, Rahman MM, Williams PJ, Fernandes G, "Combination of conjugated linoleic acid with fish oil prevents age-associated bone marrow adiposity in C57Bl/6J mice," J Nutr Biochem. 2011 May;22(5):459-69. Epub 2010 Jul 24