Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Muscle Protein Synthesis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether omega-3 fatty acid supplementation influences muscle protein synthesis rates in young and older adults.

Detailed Description
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Loss of muscle mass is a normal consequence of aging. The decline in muscle mass is estimated to be 0.2-0.5% per year from 60 years old onwards in healthy subjects with the decline worsened by chronic illness, poor appetite and diet, and reduced physical activity in the elderly. Increased morbidity is demonstrable with as little as a 5% loss of muscle mass - therefore, treatments that can prevent or slow the progression of muscle loss with aging are much desired. A major cause for loss of muscle mass in advanced age appears to be an impaired ability to stimulate the synthesis of muscle protein in response to increased levels of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and insulin as occurs after eating because of low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance in muscle of old persons. We propose that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) slow the loss of muscle mass because fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and increases the sensitivity of muscle protein synthesis to insulin and amino acids. We will test this by studying the effect of fish oil supplementation on the muscle protein synthesis process in young and older adults.

Official Title
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Muscle Protein Synthesis

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: omega-3 fatty acids
* Dietary Supplement: corn oil


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2; Age 18-45 yr; or Age 65-85 yr Exclusion Criteria: Those taking medications known to affect substrate metabolism or medications that may confound the findings from our study (synthetic steroids, glucocorticoids etc.); Those with evidence of significant organ system dysfunction (e.g. diabetes mellitis, cirrhosis, hypo- or hyperthyroidism; hypertension); Body mass index > 30 kg/m2 Age <18 yr, 45-65 yr or > 85 yr Those performing >1.5h of exercise/wk

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: A<br>omega-3 fatty acids | Dietary Supplement: omega-3 fatty acids<br>* 4 grams per day for 8 weeks<br>* Other names: Lovaza;|
| Placebo Comparator: B<br>corn oil | Dietary Supplement: corn oil<br>* 4 grams per day for 8 weeks<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on skeletal muscle protein synthesis rates both in the basal, postabsorptive state and in response to infusion of insulin and amino acids in young and older adults |  | Measurements taken prior to and following 8 weeks of supplementation | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on anabolic signaling pathways in skeletal muscle |  | Measurements taken prior to and following 8 weeks of supplementation | 
| Evaluate the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation and inflammatory signaling pathways in skeletal muscle |  | Measurements taken prior to and following 8 weeks of supplementation | 
| Compare muscle protein synthesis rates between men and women in the basal, postabsorptive state and in response to insulin and amino acid infusion |  | prior to supplementation only | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Healthy volunteers, young adults, Aged