Trial reportThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2021
Omega-3 Supplementation Improves Isometric Strength But Not Muscle Anabolic and Catabolic Signaling in Response to Resistance Exercise in Healthy Older Adults.
Trial report in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 45 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Inflammatory Profile of Older Adults in Response to Physical Activity and Diet Supplementation: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- The Influence of n-3PUFA Supplementation on Muscle Strength, Mass, and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The effect of fish oil supplementation on resistance training-induced adaptations.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2023Trial
- Efficacy ofNutrients · 2023Trial
- Review
- The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Sarcopenia and Aging Muscle.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Review
- International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids.Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2025Review
- Neurobiological Synergy of Plant and Animal Sources of Omega-3 and Exercise in Aging: Implications for Molecular Signaling, Memory, Spatial Learning, and Brain Function.Food science & nutrition · 2025Review
- Luteolin Induces Nrf2 Activity in C2C12 Cells: Implications for Muscle Health.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Exercise in Obesity Management: Independent and Synergistic Benefits in Metabolism and Knowledge Gaps.Biology · 2025Review
- Effects of Fish Oil Supplementation on Serum C-Reactive Protein Levels in Trained Individuals: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.Clinical nutrition research · 2025Review
- Associations of healthy eating patterns with biological aging: national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 1999-2018.Nutrition journal · 2024Article
- The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Sarcopenia: Mechanism of Action and Potential Efficacy.Marine drugs · 2023Review
- Review
- Insights into Pathogenesis, Nutritional and Drug Approach in Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review.Biomedicines · 2023Review
- Physical inactivity by tail suspension alters markers of metabolism, structure, and autophagy of the mouse heart.Physiological reports · 2023Article
- Mechanosensors control skeletal muscle mass, molecular clocks, and metabolism.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Old skeletal muscle exhibits decreased anabolic sensitivity, eventually contributing to muscle wasting. Besides anabolism, also muscle inflammation and catabolism are critical players in regulating the old skeletal muscle's sensitivity. Omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3) are an interesting candidate to reverse anabolic insensitivity via anabolic actions. Yet, it remains unknown whether ω-3 also attenuates muscle inflammation and catabolism. The present study investigates the effect of ω-3 supplementation on muscle inflammation and metabolism (anabolism/catabolism) upon resistance exercise (RE). Twenty-three older adults (65-84 years; 8♀) were randomized to receive ω-3 (~3 g/d) or corn oil (placebo [PLAC]) and engaged in a 12-week RE program (3×/wk). Before and after intervention, muscle volume, strength, and systemic inflammation were assessed, and muscle biopsies were analyzed for markers of anabolism, catabolism, and inflammation. Isometric knee-extensor strength increased in ω-3 (+12.2%), but not in PLAC (-1.4%; pinteraction = .015), whereas leg press strength improved in both conditions (+27.1%; ptime < .001). RE, but not ω-3, decreased inflammatory (p65NF-κB) and catabolic (FOXO1, LC3b) markers, and improved muscle quality. Yet, muscle volume remained unaffected by RE and ω-3. Accordingly, muscle anabolism (mTORC1) and plasma C-reactive protein remained unchanged by RE and ω-3, whereas serum IL-6 tended to decrease in ω-3 (pinteraction = .07). These results show that, despite no changes in muscle volume, RE-induced gains in isometric strength can be further enhanced by ω-3. However, ω-3 did not improve RE-induced beneficial catabolic or inflammatory adaptations. Irrespective of muscle volume, gains in strength (primary criterion for sarcopenia) might be explained by changes in muscle quality due to muscle inflammatory or catabolic signaling.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.