Effects of an Omega-3 Supplemented, High-Protein Diet in Combination with Vibration and Resistance Exercise on Muscle Power and Inflammation in Old Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Inflammaging is considered to drive loss of muscle function. Omega-3 fatty acids exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, we examined the effects of eight weeks of vibration and home-based resistance exercise combined with a whey-enriched, omega-3-supplemented diet on muscle power, inflammation and muscle biomarkers in community-dwelling old adults. Methods: Participants were randomized to either exercise (3x/week, n = 20), exercise + high-protein diet (1.2–1.5 g/kg, n = 20), or exercise + high-protein and omega-3-enriched diet (2.2 g/day, n = 21). Muscle power (watt/m²) and chair rise test (CRT) time (s) were assessed via CRT measured with mechanography. Furthermore, leg strength (kg/m²) and fasting concentrations of inflammatory (interleukin (IL-) 6, IL-10, high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1)) and muscle biomarkers (insulin-like growth factor (IGF-) 1, IGF-binding protein-3, myostatin) were assessed. Results: Sixty-one participants (70.6 ± 4.7 years; 47% men) completed the study. According to generalized linear mixed models, a high-protein diet improved leg strength and CRT time. Only IGF-1 increased with additional omega-3. Sex-specific analyses revealed that muscle power, IL-6, IL-6/IL-10 ratio, and HMGB-1 improved significantly in the male high-protein, omega-3-enriched group only. Conclusion: Vibration and home-based resistance exercise combined with a high-protein, omega-3-enriched diet increased muscle power and reduced inflammation in old men, but not in old women. While muscle biomarkers remained unchanged, a high-protein diet combined with exercise improved leg strength and CRT time.

Effects of Exercise and Omega-3-Supplemented, High-Protein Diet on Inflammatory Markers in Serum, on Gene Expression Levels in PBMC, and after Ex Vivo Whole-Blood LPS Stimulation in Old Adults

“…In total, 61 old adults (70.6 ± 4.7 years; 53% women) were included in the final analysis. The three groups, consisting of either a control, a high-protein (protein), or a high-protein, omega-3-enriched diet (protein + omega-3), showed similar baseline characteristics such as age, sex distribution, body composition ( Table 1 ) as well as physical fitness and dietary intakes (see Table S1 as published in [ 16 ]). Baseline values of inflammatory markers were also comparable between groups, aside from serum IL-1RA ( Table 1 ).…”

“…With regard to our exercise intervention, the participants started with overall comparable physical fitness and showed similar adherence to exercise protocols regarding vibration training as well as home-based exercises (see Table S1 as published in [ 16 ]).…”

“…Although still under debate, evidence further suggests that proteins in particular from dairy/whey or soy have anti-inflammatory potential [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. We recently performed an intervention trial to assess the physical and biochemical effects of whole-body vibration training and home-based exercise in combination with a high-protein, omega-3-enriched diet in community-dwelling old adults [ 16 ]. Hereby, we observed significant alterations of several circulating inflammatory markers with additional omega-3 supplementation [ 16 ].…”

“…We recently performed an intervention trial to assess the physical and biochemical effects of whole-body vibration training and home-based exercise in combination with a high-protein, omega-3-enriched diet in community-dwelling old adults [ 16 ]. Hereby, we observed significant alterations of several circulating inflammatory markers with additional omega-3 supplementation [ 16 ]. Therefore, the primary aim of this sub-analysis was the detailed investigation of the impact of an omega-3-supplemented, high-protein diet in combination with exercise on inflammatory status in old adults using analyses of inflammatory markers in serum, on gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole-blood cultures.…”

“…Therefore, the primary aim of this sub-analysis was the detailed investigation of the impact of an omega-3-supplemented, high-protein diet in combination with exercise on inflammatory status in old adults using analyses of inflammatory markers in serum, on gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole-blood cultures. Since we observed sex-specific differences in our previous analyses [ 16 ] and it is recommended to consider the impact of sex on inflammation even in higher age [ 17 ], we also examined sex-related inflammatory responses in sub-group analyses.…”