Effect of 12 wk of Omega-3 FA Supplementation on Metabolic and Physical Health Parameters in Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT01734538

Last Updated: 2012-11-27

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

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2012-11-30

Study Completion Date

2013-11-30

Brief Summary

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The biological membranes that surround a cell and its organelles are important to the overall function of the cell. Fatty acids are the main structural components of a membrane, and the presence of certain fatty acids can alter a membrane's characteristics, which subsequently alters its function. Two fatty acids that are of particular interest to researchers are eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fatty acids have unique unsaturated structures, and their incorporation into biological membranes appears 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.

EPA and DHA supplementation has been reported to provide numerous positive health benefits, including decreased blood pressure and an improved blood lipid profile. Recent research in our laboratory has demonstrated in young men that resting metabolic rate was increased following a 12 week period of omega fatty acid supplementation of 3 g/day. Fat utilization was also increased and carbohydrate use was decreased both at rest and during a 1 hr moderate exercise challenge. These findings have positive implications for people who are interested in losing weight, but it not known whether these effects occur in older adults. With age, body composition changes (increase in fat mass and decrease in lean mass) occur which may negatively affect general health, particularly normal physical functioning and quality of living of the older adult. The potential role of omega 3 fatty acids to increase fat oxidation and increase resting metabolic rate may be a therapy for decreasing fat mass in the older adult. Research has suggested that omega 3 fatty acids may elicit an additional therapeutic role by reducing joint pain.

Another aspect of aging is a loss in lean body mass, which is associated with an attenuation of skeletal muscle protein synthesis in response to nutritional stimuli (amino acids and insulin). The weakened anabolic response is considered to be partly due to defects in the anabolic signaling cascade in the muscle. Research in older adults has reported an increase in muscle protein signaling with EPA and DHA supplementation in response to a nutritional challenge. However it is unknown whether the increase in protein signaling results in an eventual increase in lean body mass. The physical functioning of older adults is not only influenced by body composition changes, but also age-related neuronal changes that affect the velocity of axonal conduction and influence the ability of the muscle to generate torque and the rate at which the torque is developed. Muscular strength and functional capacity increases have been reported with chronic resistance exercise in a cohort of older women supplemented with EPA and DHA. However, the effect of EPA and DHA intake on physical strength in older adults with previously low EPA and DHA consumption, independent of exercise, is currently unknown.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of 12 weeks of omega-3 supplementation at 3 g/day on metabolic and physical health parameters in community-dwelling older adults. We hypothesize that EPA and DHA supplementation will result in 1) a decrease in resting heart rate and blood pressure; 2) a more healthy blood profile; 3) an increase in resting metabolic rate; 4) a greater reliance on fat oxidation for energy both at rest and during exercise; and 5) a decrease in fat mass; and 6) an increase in lean mass, strength and physical function.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Physical Fitness

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 Capsule

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 capsule

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Interventions

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Omega-3 Complete

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo capsule

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 60 to 74 years of age
* Community-dwelling

Exclusion Criteria

* Current or previous supplementation with omega-3's
* Average fish intake greater than one time per week
* Diagnosed heart condition
* Lightheadeness, shortness of breath, chest pain, numbness, fatigue, coughing, or wheezing during rest or at low to moderate physical activity
* Cardiovascular disease risk factors: family history of heart attacks, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking
* Allergies to lidocaine, fish/fish oil, gelatin, 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, gingko biloba, willow bark products)
Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

74 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Guelph

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Lawrence Spriet

Dr. Lawrence Spriet

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Lawrence L. Spriet, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Guelph

Locations

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The University of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Samantha Logan, MSc

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 519-821-4120

Email: [email protected]

References

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Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Andridge R, Malarkey WB, Hwang BS, Glaser R. Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation in healthy middle-aged and older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav Immun. 2012 Aug;26(6):988-95. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.05.011. Epub 2012 May 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22640930 (View on PubMed)

Rodacki CL, Rodacki AL, Pereira G, Naliwaiko K, Coelho I, Pequito D, Fernandes LC. Fish-oil supplementation enhances the effects of strength training in elderly women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Feb;95(2):428-36. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.021915. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22218156 (View on PubMed)

Smith GI, Atherton P, Reeds DN, Mohammed BS, Rankin D, Rennie MJ, Mittendorfer B. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increases the rate of muscle protein synthesis in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Feb;93(2):402-12. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.005611. Epub 2010 Dec 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21159787 (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)

Calder PC. n-3 Fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: evidence explained and mechanisms explored. Clin Sci (Lond). 2004 Jul;107(1):1-11. doi: 10.1042/CS20040119.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15132735 (View on PubMed)

Logan SL, Spriet LL. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for 12 Weeks Increases Resting and Exercise Metabolic Rate in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Females. PLoS One. 2015 Dec 17;10(12):e0144828. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144828. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 26679702 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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12OC014

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id