The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Membrane Composition and Cellular Metabolism

NCT ID: NCT01732003

Last Updated: 2012-11-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

24 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2011-11-30

Study Completion Date

2013-02-28

Brief Summary

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The biological membranes that surround a cell and its organelles are vital to the overall function of the cell. Fatty acids are the main structural component of membranes, and the presence of specific fatty acids can alter a membrane's characteristics, which subsequently alters function. Two fatty acids that are of particular interest to researchers are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fatty acids have unique unsaturated structures, and their incorporation into biological membranes appear to elicit potent physiological effects. The body is unable to intrinsically synthesize these important fatty acids, so they must be obtained from the diet or through supplementation.

Compared to research investigating other body tissues, the effect of EPA and DHA on skeletal muscle membranes and cellular function has received little attention. Of the studies done, EPA and DHA supplementation consistently results in increased EPA, DHA, and total omega-3 fatty acid content in the skeletal muscle membranes of rodents. One study has also demonstrated this effect in humans. These studies, however, have been limited to whole muscle measurements, yet cells contain numerous subcellular membranes with diverse functions. Two membranes of key importance to the metabolic function of a skeletal muscle cell are the membrane that surrounds the cell (plasma membrane), and the membrane that surrounds the mitochondria.

The plasma and mitochondrial membranes are responsible for taking up nutrients and converting them into useable energy for the muscle. Recent findings suggest that physiological changes in these processes may occur following EPA and DHA supplementation. At rest and during exercise, there is potential for a shift in substrate selection that favors fat utilization following EPA and DHA supplementation. Several membrane proteins are responsible for transporting fat into the cell and mitochondria. The presence of EPA and DHA within membranes has the potential to affect the membrane integration and function of proteins. The investigators aim to determine whether fat utilization increases following EPA and DHA supplementation, and if there is a concurrent change in the concentrations of fat transport proteins within plasma and mitochondrial membranes. Supplementation with EPA and DHA may also affect oxygen consumption, an important process in energy production that is regulated by mitochondrial membrane proteins. Evidence from human and rodent studies shows a decrease in whole body oxygen consumption following supplementation. The investigators aim to examine these changes directly by measuring mitochondrial respiration following EPA and DHA supplementation.

Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to examine how plasma and mitochondrial membrane fatty acid composition change individually in response to EPA and DHA supplementation in humans. The secondary purpose of this study is to examine functional metabolic changes that occur in skeletal muscle in response to EPA and DHA supplementation, and to investigate correlational relationships between these changes and any compositional alterations in plasma and mitochondrial membranes. The investigators hypothesize that supplementation with EPA and DHA will alter fuel selection at rest and during exercise, and this will correspond to an increase in the concentration of membrane fatty acid transport proteins, and that these changes will correlate to an increase in the EPA, DHA, and total omega-3 content of plasma and mitochondrial membranes.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism

Keywords

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Omega-3 Skeletal Muscle Eicosapentaenoic acid Docosahexaenoic acid Exercise Membrane Composition Lipid Metabolism

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Omega-3 Complete

Oral ingestion of 3000 mg (5 capsules) of Omega-3 Complete (Jamieson Laboratories Ltd., Windsor, Ontario, Canada) per day for 12 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Omega-3 Complete

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo Pill

Oral ingestion of 5 capsules of a placebo oil pill (Jamieson Laboratories Ltd., Windsor, Ontario, Canada) per day for 12 weeks

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo Pill

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Interventions

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Omega-3 Complete

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo Pill

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Recreationally active
* Must currently practice a consistent diet, and exercise regimen, and maintain this throughout the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Current or previous supplementation with omega-3s
* Average fish intake greater than two times per week
* Sedentary
* Highly active/trained
* Diagnosed respiratory problem
* Diagnosed heart problem/condition
* Lightheadedness, shortness of breath, chest pain, numbness, fatigue, coughing, or wheezing during at rest of with low to moderate physical activity
* Cardiovascular disease risk factors: Family history of heart attacks, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obesity
* Allergies to lidocaine, fish/fish oil, gelatine, glycerin, or mixed tocopherols
* Currently taking any medications or supplements that may increase the chance of bleeding (e.g. Aspirin, Coumadin, Anti-inflammatories, Plavix, Vitamin C or E, high doses of garlic, ginkgo biloba, willow bark products)
* Tendency toward easy bleeding or bruising
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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McMaster University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Medical University of Bialystok

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Guelph

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Lawrence Spriet

Professor and Chair

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Lawrence L Spriet, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Guelph

Locations

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University of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Christopher J Gerling, BScH

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 1-519-821-4120

Email: [email protected]

Jamie Whitfield, BA

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 1-519-821-4120

Email: [email protected]

References

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Ayre KJ, Hulbert AJ. Dietary fatty acid profile influences the composition of skeletal muscle phospholipids in rats. J Nutr. 1996 Mar;126(3):653-62. doi: 10.1093/jn/126.3.653.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8598550 (View on PubMed)

Peoples GE, McLennan PL. Dietary fish oil reduces skeletal muscle oxygen consumption, provides fatigue resistance and improves contractile recovery in the rat in vivo hindlimb. Br J Nutr. 2010 Dec;104(12):1771-9. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510002928. Epub 2010 Aug 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20691135 (View on PubMed)

Andersson A, Nalsen C, Tengblad S, Vessby B. Fatty acid composition of skeletal muscle reflects dietary fat composition in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Dec;76(6):1222-9. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/76.6.1222.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12450886 (View on PubMed)

Couet C, Delarue J, Ritz P, Antoine JM, Lamisse F. Effect of dietary fish oil on body fat mass and basal fat oxidation in healthy adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997 Aug;21(8):637-43. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0800451.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15481762 (View on PubMed)

Delarue J, Labarthe F, Cohen R. Fish-oil supplementation reduces stimulation of plasma glucose fluxes during exercise in untrained males. Br J Nutr. 2003 Oct;90(4):777-86. doi: 10.1079/bjn2003964.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 13129446 (View on PubMed)

Peoples GE, McLennan PL, Howe PR, Groeller H. Fish oil reduces heart rate and oxygen consumption during exercise. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2008 Dec;52(6):540-7. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0b013e3181911913.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19034030 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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11SE032

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id