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Huang T, Liu C, Cui C, Zhang N, Cheung WH, Wong RMY. Potential of Fatty Acids in Treating Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2023; 15:3613. [PMID: 37630803 PMCID: PMC10459935 DOI: 10.3390/nu15163613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a systematic review of studies investigating the effects of fatty acid supplementation in potentially preventing and treating sarcopenia. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched using the keywords 'fatty acid' and 'sarcopenia'. Results: A total of 14 clinical and 11 pre-clinical (including cell and animal studies) studies were included. Of the 14 clinical studies, 12 used omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as supplements, 1 study used ALA and 1 study used CLA. Seven studies combined the use of fatty acid with resistant exercises. Fatty acids were found to have a positive effect in eight studies and they had no significant outcome in six studies. The seven studies that incorporated exercise found that fatty acids had a better impact on elderlies. Four animal studies used novel fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid, trans-fatty acid, and olive leaf extraction as interventions. Three animal and four cell experiment studies revealed the possible mechanisms of how fatty acids affect muscles by improving regenerative capacity, reducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial and peroxisomal dysfunctions, and attenuating cell death. Conclusion: Fatty acids have proven their value in improving sarcopenia in pre-clinical experiments. However, current clinical studies show controversial results for its role on muscle, and thus the mechanisms need to be studied further. In the future, more well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to assess the effectiveness of using fatty acids in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ronald Man Yeung Wong
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (T.H.); (C.L.); (C.C.); (N.Z.); (W.H.C.)
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Zhang H, He Y, Song C, Chai Z, Liu C, Sun S, Huang Q, He C, Zhang X, Zhou Y, Zhao F. Analysis of fatty acid composition and sensitivity to dietary n-3 PUFA intervention of mouse n-3 PUFA-enriched tissues/organs. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2023; 192:102568. [PMID: 37003143 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6 n3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5 n3), are of concern for their health-promoting effects such as anti-inflammatory, but the tissue selectivity for n-3 PUFA (i.e., which tissues and organs are rich in n-3 PUFA) is still not well known. In addition, it is unclear which tissues and organs are more sensitive to n-3 PUFA intervention. These unresolved issues have greatly hindered the exploring of the health benefits of n-3 PUFA. METHODS Twenty-four 7-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were assigned to the control, fish oil, DHA, and EPA groups. The last three groups were given a 4-week oral intervention of fatty acids in ethyl ester (400 mg/kg bw). The fatty acid profiles in 27 compartments were determined by gas chromatography. RESULTS The proportion of long-chain n-3 PUFA (the total relative percentage of EPA, DPA n3, and DHA) was analyzed. Eight tissues and organs, including the brain (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus) and peripheral organs (tongue, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, kidney, and heart) were determined as being n-3 PUFA-enriched tissues and organs, owing to their high n-3 PUFA levels. The highest n-3 PUFA content was observed in the tongue for the first time. Notably, the content of linoleic acid (LA; C18:2 n6c) in peripheral organs was observed to be relatively high compared with that in the brain. Interestingly, the proportions of EPA in the kidney, heart, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and tongue increased more markedly after the EPA intervention than after the DHA or fish oil intervention. As expected, the levels of proinflammatory arachidonic acid (AA; C20:4 n6) in the kidney, quadriceps, and tongue were markedly decreased after the three dietary interventions. CONCLUSION Peripheral tissues and organs, including the tongue, quadriceps, gastrocnemius, kidney, and heart, besides the brain, showed obvious tissue selectivity for n-3 PUFA. In the whole body of mice, the tongue exhibits the strongest preference for n-3 PUFA, with the highest proportion of n-3 PUFA. Moreover, these peripheral tissues and organs, especially the kidney, are more sensitive to dietary EPA administration in comparison with the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Yannan He
- Institute of Nutrition & Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China; OmegaBandz.Inc, Shanghai, 1180 Xingxian Road, Shanghai, 201815, China
| | - Chunyan Song
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Zhenglong Chai
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Chundi Liu
- The Affiliated Stomatologic Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Shuben Sun
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Institute of Digestive Disease of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315020, China
| | - Qiuhan Huang
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Canxia He
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
| | - Yuping Zhou
- The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Institute of Digestive Disease of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315020, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Institute of Nutrition & Health, Qingdao University, 308 Ningxia Road, Qingdao, 266071, China
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To examine recent findings related to the influence of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acid supplementation on skeletal muscle anabolism with a particular focus on situations of skeletal muscle disuse. RECENT FINDINGS Skeletal muscle disuse results in a reduction in fed and fasted rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis leading to the loss of skeletal muscle mass. Recent evidence has suggested that supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids during a period of skeletal muscle disuse increases the ω-3 fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle membranes, heightens rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis, and protects against skeletal muscle loss. The protective effects of ω-3 fatty acids towards skeletal muscle during disuse appear to be related to changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics suggesting crosstalk between mitochondria and the regulation of skeletal muscle protein synthesis. SUMMARY ω-3 fatty acid ingestion is a potential preventive therapy to combat skeletal muscle-disuse atrophy but additional, appropriately powered randomized controlled trials are now needed in a range of populations before firm conclusions can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Ferguson
- School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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