Effects of Exercise Combined with a Healthy Diet or Calanus finmarchicus Oil Supplementation on Body Composition and Metabolic Markers—A Pilot Study

Abstract

Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in muscle mass and an increase in fat mass, which are detrimental changes associated with the development of health conditions such as type-2 diabetes mellitus or chronic low-grade inflammation. Although both exercise as well as nutritional interventions are known to be beneficial in counteracting those age-related changes, data to which extent untrained elderly people may benefit is still sparse. Therefore, a randomized, controlled, 12-week interventional trial was conducted in which 134 healthy untrained participants (96 women and 38 men, age 59.4 ± 5.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2) were allocated to one of four study groups: (1) control group with no intervention (CON); (2) 2×/week aerobic and resistance training only (EX); (3) exercise routine combined with dietary counseling in accordance with the guidelines of the German Nutrition Society (EXDC); (4) exercise routine combined with intake of 2 g/day oil from Calanus finmarchicus (EXCO). Body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), as well as markers of glucose metabolism and blood lipids, were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the study. The highest decreases in body fat were observed within the EXCO group (−1.70 ± 2.45 kg, p < 0.001), and the EXDC (−1.41 ± 2.13 kg, p = 0.008) group. Markers of glucose metabolism and blood lipids remained unchanged in all groups. Taken together results of this pilot study suggest that a combination of moderate exercise and intake of oil from Calanus finmarchicus or a healthy diet may promote fat loss in elderly untrained overweight participants.

Exercise Training Combined with Calanus Oil Supplementation Improves the Central Cardiodynamic Function in Older Women

“…We also observed a change in body phenotype toward a lower trunk fat mass and higher lean mass in the ET-Calanus group. A similar effect of Calanus oil combined with ET was recently reported by Wasserfurth et al [ 45 ]. In line with this, we also showed a stronger effect of the combined ET-Calanus intervention on leg muscle strength in a previous publication [ 25 ].…”

Marine Oil from C. finmarchicus Enhances Glucose Homeostasis and Liver Insulin Resistance in Obese Prediabetic Individuals

“…In general, LC n-3 FAs exert anti-obese effects via AMPK-mediated stimulation of fat metabolism (i.e., suppressing lipogenic genes; activating genes that encode mitochondrial and peroxisomal beta-oxidation in both the liver and muscle) As a result, VAT and fat accumulation (and intermediate metabolites) in peripheral tissues are reduced [14]. In a recent study, it was showed that moderate exercise combined with 2 g CO per day (200 mg EPA + DHA/day) has a beneficial effect on reducing fat mass [46]. In line with this, Dad'ová et al (2020) found a reduction in VAT in obese women after an exercise intervention combined with 2.5 g CO per day (230 mg EPA + DHA/day) [47].…”

Impact of Obesity-Related Inflammation on Cardiac Metabolism and Function

“…The underlying mechanism is not clear, but increased adipose tissue lipolysis and/or decreased lipogenesis, as well as increased hepatic drainage of FAs from the abdominal fat stores, are possibilities that could be further investigated. Although clinical studies are sparse, recent studies in elderly untrained overweight participants 110 suggested that a combination of moderate exercise and intake of oil from C. finmarchicus may promote fat loss. It was also shown that wax ester—bound PUFAs from Calanus oil were significantly incorporated into the membranes of red blood cells, thereby increasing the omega-3-index.…”