Sex differences in the effect of fish-oil supplementation on the adaptive response to resistance exercise training in older people: A randomized controlled trial
Date
2016-11-16Author
Abstract
Background: Resistance exercise increases muscle mass and function
in older adults, but responses are attenuated compared with
younger people. Data suggest that long-chain n–3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFAs) may enhance adaptations to resistance exercise
in older women. To our knowledge, this possibility has not been
investigated in men.
Objective: We sought to determine the effects of long-chain n–3
PUFA supplementation on resistance exercise training–induced increases
in muscle mass and function and whether these effects differ
between older men and women.
Design: Fifty men and women [men: n = 27,mean 6 SD age: 70.6 6
4.5 y, mean 6 SD body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2), 25.6 6 4.2;
women: n = 23, mean 6 SD age: 70.7 6 3.3 y, mean 6 SD BMI:
25.3 6 4.7] were randomly assigned to either long-chain n–3 PUFA
(n = 23; 3 g fish oil/d) or placebo (n = 27; 3 g safflower oil/d) and
participated in lower-limb resistance exercise training twice weekly
for 18 wk. Muscle size, strength, and quality (strength per unit muscle
area), functional abilities, and circulating metabolic and inflammatory
markers were measured before and after the intervention.
Results: Maximal isometric torque increased after exercise training
to a greater (P , 0.05) extent in the long-chain n–3 PUFA group than
in the placebo group in women, with no differences (P . 0.05)
between groups in men. In both sexes, the effect of exercise training
on maximal isokinetic torque at 30, 90, and 2408 s21, 4-m walk time,
chair-rise time, muscle anatomic cross-sectional area, and muscle fat did
not differ (P . 0.05) between groups. There was a greater (P , 0.05)
increase in muscle quality in women after exercise training in the
long-chain n–3 PUFA group than in the placebo group, with no such
differences in men (P . 0.05). Long-chain n–3 PUFAs resulted in
a greater decrease (P , 0.05) than the placebo in plasma triglyceride
concentrations in both sexes, with no differences (P . 0.05) in
glucose, insulin, or inflammatory markers.
Conclusion: Long-chain n–3 PUFA supplementation augments
increases in muscle function and quality in older women but not
in older men after resistance exercise training.
Description
Open Access article
Citation : Da Boit, M. et al. (2016) Sex differences in the effect of fish-oil supplementation on the adaptive response to resistance exercise training in older people: A randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 105 (1), pp. 151-158
Research Institute : Institute for Allied Health Sciences Research
Peer Reviewed : Yes