Omega-3 Supplementation and Resistance Training

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Inflammation; Sarcopenia; Dynapenia
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 Supplementation

• Registration Number: NCT02617511
• Lead Sponsor: University of Manitoba

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (combined eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid \[EPA/DHA\] supplement) augments the effects of a 12-week resistance training program in older men. Outcome variables include inflammatory biomarkers in the systemic circulation, body composition and performance measures. The specific inflammatory markers in the blood include: C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. Remaining parameters include: body composition (as assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (as assessed by chest press and leg press one-repetition maximum strength tests), and functional ability (as assessed by timed up and go test as well as the 6-minute walking test).

Detailed Description

Summary: Sarcopenia is a prevalent health concern for many older individuals and finding strategies to ameliorate and reduce the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength is deemed important for maintaining functional ability and independence as individual's age. Currently, resistance training is considered the standard of care for inducing an anabolic stimulus and preserving as well as enhancing muscle mass and strength in aged individuals. One mechanism whereby older adults seem to lose muscle mass with age is via chronic low grade inflammation. Finding complementary strategies to reduce inflammation, while at the same time building skeletal muscle mass and strength, is considered essential for combating the increased prevalence of sarcopenia observed as the population ages. Using nutritional supplementation strategies, such as omega-3 fatty acids, seems to provide an effect in not only reducing inflammation but also acting as an anabolic stimulus for skeletal muscle growth. It is not known whether or not providing omega-3 fatty acids (in the form of EPA/DHA supplementation) along with resistance training will result in a greater increase in skeletal muscle mass and strength than resistance training alone in an older population.

Hypotheses: The primary hypothesis of this research project is that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and resistance training for 12 weeks will decrease markers of inflammation more so than resistance training and placebo in a cohort of older adults. A secondary hypothesis of the project is that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and resistance training for 12 weeks will provide for a greater increase in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and functional ability than resistance training and placebo in a cohort of older adults.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-10
• Status Verified: 2015-11
• Study First Submitted: 2015-11-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-11-30
• Study First Posted: 2015-12-01
• Primary Completion: 2016-09
• Study Completion: 2016-11
• Results First Submitted: 2022-11-01
• Results First Submitted QC: 2022-11-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-11-01
• Results First Posted: 2023-09-13
• Last Update Posted: 2023-09-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

1. equal to or greater than 65 years of age,
2. male,
3. they will not participate in a structured exercise program any more than 2-times per week.

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Exclusion Criteria

1. consumption of anti-inflammatory medication (which would confound the results in terms of the effects that the exercise and nutritional intervention is accomplishing),
2. diagnosis with an inflammatory disease (such as inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatoid arthritis) as this is not the participant population we want to evaluate,
3. consumption of any natural health products that have anti-inflammatory components to them (such as omega-3 fatty acids or omega-3 fortified eggs or more than 2 servings per week of fatty fish),
4. current participation in an exercise program ≥ 2 times per week or current participation in a structured resistance training program > 1 time per week as we want to evaluate an untrained, sedentary population,
5. has a mental or cognitive disability (such as dementia), and
6. has a physical disability that would limit them from participating in a structured resistance training program.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	This group will supplement their regular diet with 3.0 grams of a combined omega-3-6-9 supplement in soft gel form on a daily basis for 12 weeks. This group will also complete a whole body progressive resistance training program 3 days per week for 12 weeks.
Omega-3 Supplementation	Omega-3 Supplementation	This groups will supplement their regular diet with 2.97 grams of combined omega-3 fatty acid (EPA/DHA) supplement in soft gel form on a daily basis for 12 weeks. This group will also complete a whole body progressive resistance training program 3 days per week for 12 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha	12 weeks	The cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha will be used as the primary outcome to assess change in inflammatory status over the 12 week intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Lean Tissue Mass	12 weeks	Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry will be used to assess changes in lean tissue mass.
Leg Press Strength	12 weeks	A one-repetition maximum leg press strength test will be used to assess lower body strength.
Chest Press Strength	12 week	A one-repetition maximum chest press strength test will be used to assess upper body strength.
Timed up and go Test	12 weeks	Mobility and balance will be assessed using a 3 meter timed up and go test.
Bone Mineral Content	12 weeks	Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry will be used to assess changes in bone mass.
6 Minute Walk Test	12 weeks	A 6 minute walk test will be used to assess the distance walked in 6 minutes of continuous walking.
Interleukin-6	12 weeks	Interleukin-6 will be used to assess changes in inflammatory status.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Applied Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Manitoba; 🇨🇦 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada