An interventional study of Fish oil supplementation in Aging, Sarcopenia and Muscle Atrophy, sponsored by University of Stirling. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-12-04.
Sponsored by University of Stirling · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
In this 5-month study, we will track the incorporation and washout of n-3 PUFA into different tissues following two different dosing strategies in healthy young and older volunteers. All groups will be followed for washout.
Data gathered from this study will be used to establish novel dosing strategies and provide insights into the incorporation of n-3 PUFAs in different tissues and their washout in young and older participants.
Skeletal muscle is crucial for health and accounts for approximately 40% of total body mass. A loss of skeletal muscle mass is seen in the process of ageing, with reductions between 0.2%-0.5% of muscle mass per year starting in the fifth decade. Accelerated loss of muscle and function above a certain threshold is characterized as sarcopenia. Age-related sarcopenia is prevalent in the UK; it is estimated to affect 4.6% men and 7.9% women with an average age of 67 years. Older people have an impaired capacity to increase muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rates in response to protein intake; this is thought to be a key contributor to age-related sarcopenia. Therefore, it is essential to elucidate new strategies to prevent and treat the accelerated loss of muscle mass and function.
Omega (ω)-polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) derived from fish oil have possible beneficial effects on health. Evidence suggests potential therapeutic effects of n-3 PUFAs in maintenance/prevention of loss of skeletal muscle mass. N-3 PUFAs probably exert their effects by incorporation into tissue membranes. However, the relation between dose and incorporation into tissue membranes is unclear. Interestingly, a higher dose ingested over 4 weeks seen by McGlory et al. induced similar omega-3 incorporation in the tissue compared to the low doses over 8 weeks studied by Smith et al. If higher doses change tissue composition earlier, then there will be earlier benefits for muscle health and function. Thus, there is a need to examine whether an initial loading dose incorporation into tissues can be sustained by moving to a lower maintenance feeding dose. Furthermore, the exact molecular mechanisms of how n-3 PUFAs act on skeletal muscle are unclear. Several metabolic and molecular responses are affected, but wherein these pathways n-3 PUFAs act remain largely unknown and requires more investigation, with a focus on long-term settings.
This study aims to tackle these problems by executing a 5-month study where we will track the incorporation and washout of n-3 PUFAs into different tissues following two different dosing strategies in healthy young and older volunteers. Data gathered from this study will be used to establish novel dosing strategies and provide insights into the incorporation of n-3 PUFAs in different tissues and their washout in young and older participants. Ultimately, these insights will help targeting, prevention, and treatment of sarcopenia.
Participating in this study requires approximately 30 hours of commitment, of which 12 hours will be spent in the lab.
1,208 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcopenia; 402 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 28 is below the median of 60 across 775 interventional studies indexed under Sarcopenia.
Browse Sarcopenia studies →University of Stirling is the lead sponsor of 23 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants (18-35) will receive a loading dose of fish oil supplementation during the first 4 weeks of the intervention period of the study. In the last 8 weeks participants will receive a maintenance dose of fish oil supplementation. The total amount of EPA/DHA received throughout the supplementation period will be the same as the old group.
Dietary Supplement: Fish oil supplementation
Participants (60y+) will receive a loading dose of fish oil supplementation during the first 4 weeks of the intervention period of the study. In the last 8 weeks participants will receive a maintenance dose of fish oil supplementation. The total amount of EPA/DHA received throughout the supplementation period will be the same as the young group.
Dietary Supplement: Fish oil supplementation
Participants (18-35y) will receive a constant dose of fish oil supplementation throughout the intervention period of the study. Total amount of EPA/DHA received throughout the 12 weeks supplementation period will be the same as the loading groups.
Dietary Supplement: Fish oil supplementation
Participants (60y+) will receive a constant dose of fish oil supplementation throughout the intervention period of the study. Total amount of EPA/DHA received throughout the 12 weeks supplementation period will be the same as the loading groups.
Dietary Supplement: Fish oil supplementation
Fish oil capsules.
Red blood cell lipid composition
Changes in red blood cell membrane lipid composition by collecting venous blood samples.
Time frame: Screening, Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks (post intervention), 14 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Skeletal muscle lipid composition
Changes in skeletal muscle lipid composition by performing a muscle tissue biopsy in the vastus lateralis.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Adipose tissue lipid composition
Changes in adipose lipid composition by performing an adipose tissue biopsy in the abdominal region.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Skeletal muscle tissue biopsy muscle protein turnover markers
Secondary outcome from the skeletal muscle biopsy will focus on the measurement of the phosphorylation status of signaling proteins known to regulate protein synthesis and breakdown.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Adipose tissue biopsy inflammation markers
Secondary outcome from the adipose tissue biopsy will focus on markers involved in inflammation (e.g. NF-kB, IL-6)
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Red blood cell lipid mediator markers
Secondary outcome measures from red blood cells will focus on mediators derived from lipid and changes in lipid mediator synthesis.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Body composition DEXA scan.
Body composition will be estimated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Subcutaneous fat determination.
Subcutaneous fat will be assessed with the sum of skinfold thicknesses from 8 sites, following the ISAK protocol.
Time frame: Baseline (0 weeks), 12 weeks (post-intervention), 20 weeks (post wash-out)
Strength measures
Muscle strength is determined by performing the handgrip strength test.
Time frame: Screening (baseline, 0 weeks), 8 weeks, 16 weeks.
Mobility measures
Muscle mobility is determined by performing the timed-up-and-go test.
Time frame: Screening (baseline, 0 weeks), 8 weeks, 16 weeks.
Plan to share: No
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This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Stirling