Clinical trial NCT05971147: Time Course Change in Skeletal Muscle and Blood Phospholipid Composition With Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation
Official title: Time Course Change in Skeletal Muscle and Blood Phospholipid Composition With Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Washout in Adult Women and Men
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Skeletal Muscle Fatty Acid Metabolism
Keywords: Omega-3 fatty acids
Eicosapentaenoic acid
Docosahexaenoic acid
Fish oil
Skeletal muscle
Lead sponsor: Queen's University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-08-02
Enrollment: 29
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 19
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Single-arm 5g per day of omega-3 fatty acid intake (3750 mg EPA and 1250 mg DHA)
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Increased omega-3 fatty acid composition of human skeletal muscle phospholipids is linked to improved skeletal muscle strength and growth in women and men. However, what is unknown is if biological sex influences skeletal muscle phospholipid composition in response to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Moreover, whilst time course changes in skeletal muscle phospholipid composition with omega-3 fatty acid intake have been established, no study has characterized a washout of omega-3 fatty acids from skeletal muscle phospholipids following cessation of omega-3 fatty acid intake. Thus, the aim of the present investigation is to establish a time course change and washout of omega-3 fatty acids from skeletal muscle phospholipids in response to omega-3 fatty acid intake. The investigators also aim to establish if this washout is impacted by biological sex.

Detailed description: Previous work has shown that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids leads to increased omega-3 fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle phospholipids. This increase in skeletal muscle omega-3 fatty acid phospholipid composition following omega-3 fatty acid intake is linked to potentiated rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis in response to amino acid and insulin infusion in older and younger women and men. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids is also known to enhance skeletal muscle strength and size in older adults. The exact biological mechanisms responsible for the anabolic influence of omega-3 fatty acid are unknown. However, there is emerging data that acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) play an active role. Indeed, there is now a growing body of evidence in cells, preclinical models, and humans that these key omega-3 fatty acids are primarily responsible for the observed anabolic impact of omega-3 fatty acids supplement intake towards skeletal muscle.

Whilst there is a growing body of literature supporting the anabolic potential of EPA and DHA in skeletal muscle, few studies have examined how biological sex influences EPA and DHA incorporation into skeletal muscle. Indeed, it has been purported that women EPA to DHA more efficiently in blood erythrocytes compared to men. To the investigators knowledge, no study examined how biological sex impacts changes in skeletal muscle phospholipid profiles in response to EPA and DHA intake. Moreover, no study has established a time course washout of EPA and DHA from skeletal muscle phospholipids in response to the cessation of EPA and DHA intake. The lack of data regarding EPA and DHA washout from skeletal muscle in response to EPA and DHA intake limits the ability to execute within subject cross over trials, which is important given that within-subject cross over trials possess more statistical power than parallel arm trials. Thus, establishing a washout of EPA and DHA from skeletal muscle phospholipids in response to EPA and DHA intake would provide important information for the design of future trials in this field.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Males and females 19-30 years
* BMI between 18-29 kg/m2
* Free of musculoskeletal injuries
* Participants not currently pregnant
* Participants willing to maintain current use of contraceptives or post-menopausal supplementation if any for the duration of the study.
* Not allergic to fish
* COVID-19 vaccinated to comply with Queen's University's return to campus guidelines, unless exempt by reasons from the Ontario Human Rights Code
* Recreationally active

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any muscular, neurological, respiratory or metabolic disease including diabetes
* Any form of cancer currently or in the last 5 years
* Currently taking fish oil supplements
* Currently taking any form of steroid
* Consuming \>2 oily fish meals per week
* Pregnant
* Any current illness
* Any current/past lower limb injury/surgery

Primary outcomes:
measure: Changes in skeletal muscle EPA and DHA content
timeFrame: At 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in the expression of mitochondrial related proteins
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
measure: Changes in erythrocyte EPA and DHA content
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
measure: Changes in the expression of translational factors related to skeletal muscle protein synthesis
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
measure: Changes in circulating glucose concentrations
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
measure: Changes in circulating insulin concentrations
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
measure: Changes in circulating TNFa concentrations
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
measure: Changes in circulating CRP concentrations
timeFrame: 0, 6, 8, 16, 20, and 22 weeks.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Kingston
country: Canada
facility: School of Kinesiology and Health Studies
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: Queen's University
name: Chris McGlory, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: