Lack of evidence for Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in enhancing lean mass, muscle strength, and physical function in healthy adults and clinical populations: An overview of reviews

IF 2.9 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS
Everson A. Nunes , Alysha C. D'Souza , Jeremy P. Steen, Stuart M. Phillips
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background & aims

N-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3-PUFA) have been hypothesized to enhance/maintain skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function. We conducted an overview of reviews of n-3 fatty acid monotherapy supplementation and examined whether the evidence supports the effects in healthy young and old adults and clinical populations.

Methods

In line with the PRISMA guidelines, a widely accepted framework for conducting and reporting systematic reviews, we conducted a comprehensive search for systematic reviews (OVID, Embase, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus) reporting the effect of n-3 fatty acid supplementation in our target populations. To ensure the reliability and validity of our findings, the methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 1, a validated tool for appraising the methodological quality of systematic reviews.

Results

Thirty-three systematic reviews met our inclusion criteria: 19 non-oncologic, 11 oncologic, and 3 mixed. In non-oncologic populations, 4 out of 16 reviews showed some evidence that n-3-PUFA supplementation benefitted lean mass, with 3 reviews focusing on older populations. For strength, 1 out of 14 reviews found sufficient evidence in favor, while 3 others reported some evidence of n-3-PUFA ingestion. For physical function, 1 out of 15 reviews found sufficient evidence, and 3 reported some evidence favoring n-3-PUFA use. In oncologic participants, only 1 out of 13 reviews found sufficient evidence that n-3-PUFA improved lean mass. No reviews found sufficient evidence for strength or physical function improvements.

Conclusions

Our analysis indicates limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of n-3-PUFA supplementation in both younger and older healthy adults, as well as clinical populations including oncologic patients, to improve or prevent loss of lean mass. Most systematic reviews concluded that n-3-PUFA supplementation did not significantly affect strength, or studies were inconclusive, and there was no consistent impact of n-3-PUFA supplementation on functional outcome measures. These findings underscore the need for further research to better understand the role of n-3-PUFA in muscle health and to guide clinical practice. Our analysis does not support n-3-PUFA monotherapy for lean mass gain/retention enhancing strength or function in healthy young and older persons, and oncologic populations.
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来源期刊
Clinical nutrition ESPEN
Clinical nutrition ESPEN NUTRITION & DIETETICS-
CiteScore
4.90
自引率
3.30%
发文量
512
期刊介绍: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN is an electronic-only journal and is an official publication of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN). Nutrition and nutritional care have gained wide clinical and scientific interest during the past decades. The increasing knowledge of metabolic disturbances and nutritional assessment in chronic and acute diseases has stimulated rapid advances in design, development and clinical application of nutritional support. The aims of ESPEN are to encourage the rapid diffusion of knowledge and its application in the field of clinical nutrition and metabolism. Published bimonthly, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN focuses on publishing articles on the relationship between nutrition and disease in the setting of basic science and clinical practice. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN is available to all members of ESPEN and to all subscribers of Clinical Nutrition.
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