Effects of DHA-Rich n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and/or Resistance Training on Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Overweight and Obese Post-Menopausal Women

Abstract

Resistance training (RT) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) supplementation have emerged as strategies to improve muscle function in older adults. Overweight/obese postmenopausal women (55–70 years) were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups, receiving placebo (olive oil) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich n-3 PUFA supplementation alone or in combination with a supervised RT-program for 16 weeks. At baseline and at end of the trial, body composition, anthropometrical measures, blood pressure and serum glucose and lipid biomarkers were analyzed. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and strength tests were also performed. All groups exhibit a similar moderate reduction in body weight and fat mass, but the RT-groups maintained bone mineral content, increased upper limbs lean mass, decreased lower limbs fat mass, and increased muscle strength and quality compared to untrained-groups. The RT-program also improved glucose tolerance (lowering the OGTT incremental area under the curve). The DHA-rich supplementation lowered diastolic blood pressure and circulating triglycerides and increased muscle quality in lower limbs. In conclusion, 16-week RT-program improved segmented body composition, bone mineral content, and glucose tolerance, while the DHA-rich supplement had beneficial effects on cardiovascular health markers in overweight/obese postmenopausal women. No synergistic effects were observed for DHA supplementation and RT-program combination.

Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation Alone and Combined with Resistance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…These articles included 2438 participants (1660 females, 778 males). Fifteen studies included were randomized controlled trials [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ], while one was a randomized, non-controlled trial [ 42 ].…”

“…The average age of the participants was 69.1 years. Seven studies involved females only [ 29 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 41 , 42 ], one study involved males only [ 37 ], while the remainder included both males and females [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 33 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Nine studies involved untrained individuals [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], one involved recreationally active participants [ 35 ], and six did not report the activity levels of the participants [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 39 ].…”

“…Seven studies involved females only [ 29 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 41 , 42 ], one study involved males only [ 37 ], while the remainder included both males and females [ 27 , 28 , 30 , 33 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Nine studies involved untrained individuals [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], one involved recreationally active participants [ 35 ], and six did not report the activity levels of the participants [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 39 ]. Rolland et al [ 30 ] involved individuals at risk of cognitive decline, Félix-Soriano et al [ 31 ] involved overweight or obese individuals, Krzymińska-Siemaszk et al [ 39 ] included those with low lean body mass or at risk of having low lean body mass, twelve studies included individuals who were free of any significant health concerns [ 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 ,…”

“…Nine studies involved untrained individuals [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], one involved recreationally active participants [ 35 ], and six did not report the activity levels of the participants [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 39 ]. Rolland et al [ 30 ] involved individuals at risk of cognitive decline, Félix-Soriano et al [ 31 ] involved overweight or obese individuals, Krzymińska-Siemaszk et al [ 39 ] included those with low lean body mass or at risk of having low lean body mass, twelve studies included individuals who were free of any significant health concerns [ 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], and one did not report the health status of the participants [ 27 ]. Eight studies involved a structured RET program [ 27 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 42 ], two involved a mixed program involving circuit training, postural exercises, and aerobic exercise [ 29 , 32 ], five did not involve an exercise program [ 33 , 34 , …”

The Association of Anti-Inflammatory Diet Ingredients and Lifestyle Exercise with Inflammaging

“…Ferucci et al [37] observed that both EPA and DHA demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and were inversely associated with IL-6 and TNFα but positively associated with IL-10 concentrations. Recently, Felix-Soriano et al [38] demonstrated that supplementation with a DHA-rich fish oil concentrate had beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health markers in postmenopausal women. In our study, the adherence to dietary recommendations concerning PUFA was better in the diet of the elderly in the LGI group compared to those in the HGI group.…”