The Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Muscle Functioning, Inflammation and Muscle Signaling

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Elderly are supplemented with either Omega-3 (3 x 1.1g per day) or placebo (corn oil) during 14 weeks. The last 12 weeks, supplementation is combined with resistance exercise training (3x per week) focusing on upper leg strength. In the present project, the investigators study whether differences in muscle strength and/or muscle mass between conditions can be explained by omega-3-induced effects on systemic or muscle inflammatory signaling, or differences in muscle molecular signaling.

Detailed Description
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Elderly are supplemented with either Omega-3 (3 x 1.1g per day) or placebo (corn oil) during 14 weeks. The last 12 weeks, supplementation is combined with resistance exercise training (3x per week) focusing on upper leg strength. In the present project, the investigators study whether differences in muscle strength and/or muscle mass between conditions can be explained by omega-3-induced effects on systemic or muscle inflammatory signaling, or differences in muscle molecular signaling.

Official Title
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The Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation on Muscle Functioning, Inflammation and Muscle Signaling in Elderly

Conditions
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Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation
* Other: Resistance exercise
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo - appearance-matched oil supplementation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: aged >= 65 years Exclusion Criteria: BMI < 20; BMI > 35 regular NSAID intake in the last 3 months omega-3 supplementation in the last year regular resistance exercise in the last year cancer, liver and renal disease, unstable cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disease cognitive limitations that might interfere with the (adherence to) the intervention or with the testing of outcome parameters unstable body weight smoking

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 100 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: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Elderly humans (>65y) are randomized to a placebo or omega-3 group (interventions, tests, analyses etc. are executed in parallel).
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Omega-3<br>Elderly supplemented with omega-3. | Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation<br>* Daily supplementation with omega-3 capsules (daily for 14 weeks). Each day: 3 capsules of 1.1g<br>Other: Resistance exercise<br>* Resistance exercise training in both supplementation conditions (3 times per week for 12 weeks).<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Elderly supplemented with corn oil. | Other: Resistance exercise<br>* Resistance exercise training in both supplementation conditions (3 times per week for 12 weeks).<br>Dietary Supplement: Placebo - appearance-matched oil supplementation<br>* Daily supplementation with placebo capsules (daily for 14 weeks). Each day: 3 capsules of 1.1g<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Isometric muscle strength | Isometric muscle strength as assessed with Biodex Device in Nm | Change in muscle strength between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019) | 
| Systemic inflammatory signaling | Systemic (blood) markers of inflammation: hs-CRP (mg/L), IL-6 (pg/mL), TNFa (pg/mL) | Change in inflammatory signaling between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019) | 
| Muscle strength | One Repetition Maximum on the leg press fitness device in kg | Change in muscle strength between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Muscle quality | muscle strength (Torque) per muscle volume | Change in muscle quality between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019) | 
| Muscle molecular signaling (Protein levels of anabolic/catabolic signaling and skeletal muscle stress) | Biochemical analyses of muscle biopsies obtained pre-post intervention in both conditions. This involves parameters of muscle anabolism, catabolism, stress, structure, integrity, quality etc.: mTORC1 pathway, FoXO, MAPK (western blotting technique, values expressed as arbitrary units) | Change in muscle molecular signaling between prior to and following the study intervention of 14 weeks (Jan - May 2019) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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muscle metabolism, inflammation, muscle molecular signaling, muscle functioning