Fish oil boosts muscle growth from exercise in older women
Omega 3: more muscle strength in older women
A new study will examine the benefits of taking fish oil rich in Omega-3during exercise to counteract muscle loss typical of old age. The first study to monitor changes in muscle function and mass achievable in old age by combining exercise with the intake of Omega-3-rich fish oil is now underway.
This was announced by Stuart Gray, a researcher at the University of Aberdeen (UK), during the British Science Festival.
Thanks to this new research, it will be possible to understand whether taking fish oil and, at the same time, working out, is a good strategy to protect muscles from the deterioration typical ofaging.
Protecting muscles from aging
The human body is made up of a large amount of skeletal muscle, which not only provides the ability to perform various movements but is also important for overall health. Unfortunately, during the natural aging process, the size of muscles decreases by between 0.5 and 2 percent each year, resulting in what is known as sarcopenia.
This phenomenon can significantly reduce quality of life, so much so that it can lead to the loss of part of individual independence during old age. Exercise can help counteract the loss of muscle mass, but the effectiveness of a training-based approach also declines with advancing age. Finding alternative methods to protect muscles could help overcome this obstacle.
The combined action of exercise and Omega-3
Both a preliminary study by researchers at the University of Aberdeen and research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by a group of experts from the Federal University of Parana (Brazil) have shown that in older women the benefits of exercise are greater if fish oil rich in Omega-3s is taken during exercise. The latter are essential fatty acids for the body, where they perform both a structural function (that is, they are among the molecules that form cellular structures and, therefore, tissues and organs) and beneficial health activities. Among the best known are their ability to reduce inflammation and protect the cardiovascular system by regulating triglyceride and cholesterol levels. However, Omega-3s are not only good for the heart, but also for many other organs and tissues, such as those in the nervous system, joints and even muscles. With their new research, Gray and colleagues want to go into more detail about the benefits exerted by these nutrients on muscle tissue and thus contribute to the development of new treatments to combat sarcopenia.
Not only women
The analyses, so far conducted mainly on women, will be extended to men as well. All participants will be involved in an 18-week exercise program, but only half will receive fish oil. Gray explained that the expected benefits are based on several factors, first and foremost the anti-inflammatory action of the Omega-3s contained in fish oil. During old age, in fact, inflammation levels change, interfering with the ability of muscles to increase their mass and strength. According to Gray, Omega-3s could inhibit this effect. Not only that, these fatty acids could help make muscles more fluid and increase protein levels that allow muscle mass to increase.
Source:
1. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/details-13096.php
2. Rodacki CL, Rodacki AL, Pereira G, Naliwaiko K, Coelho I, Pequito D, Fernandes LC. Source, "Fish-oil supplementation enhances the effects of strength training in elderly women," Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jan 4
