Fish oil supplementation and maintaining muscle mass in chronic disease: state of the evidence

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Providing EPA and DHA, in the form of fish oils, to benefit muscle is an emerging area of interest. The aim of this work was to evaluate the current literature that has assessed muscle mass as an outcome during a fish oil intervention in any chronic disease. Recent Findings:The vast majority of studies published in the last 3 years (12 out of 15) have been conducted in the oncological setting, in patients undergoing treatment for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, head and neck, lung, cervix and hematological cancers. Three studies were conducted in patients with COPD. Fish oil was provided as part of a nutrient mixtures in 12 studies and as capsules in 3 studies. Summary:Overall the evidence for an effect of fish oil supplementation on muscle mass in cancer patients undergoing treatment and in COPD remains unequivocal and reveals nothing new in the area of fish oil supplementation in the cancer setting which continues to provide mixed evidence on the efficacy of fish oil on muscle mass and function. This review highlights challenges in comparing and interpreting current studies aimed at testing fish oil supplementation for muscle health.

Pathways Contributing to Chemotherapy‐Induced Myotoxicity Are Attenuated by EPA + DHA in a Clinically Relevant Model of Colorectal Cancer

“…Benefits of n‐3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [ 41 ], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [ 3 ]. The biological underpinnings of these benefits remain elusive and require experimental models to identify mechanisms.…”

“…Benefits of n-3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [41], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [3].…”

Pathways Contributing to Chemotherapy‐Induced Myotoxicity Are Attenuated by EPA + DHA in a Clinically Relevant Model of Colorectal Cancer

“…Benefits of n‐3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [ 41 ], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [ 3 ]. The biological underpinnings of these benefits remain elusive and require experimental models to identify mechanisms.…”

“…Benefits of n-3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [41], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [3].…”

The Role of Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Muscle Mass: A Literature Review

“…However, the exact mechanism of this is controversial, but there is evidence that omega 3 fatty acids are involved in anabolic pathaways specifically mTOR pathaway which has long been known to function as a signaling pathaway that controls muscle protein synthesis in its effect on a person's muscle mass (McCarthy et al, 2010). One of the activities carried out to maintain muscle mass is resistance training, but the obstacle to maintaining or increasing muscle mass is common in elderly individuals due to reduced ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis after exercise (van der Meij et al, 2020). Anabolic resistance which is the main cause of reduced muscle mass in elderly individuals occurs due to a lack of response to anabolic stimuli such as the availability of amino acids.…”

The impact of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with cancer: emerging themes

“…Themes involving n-3 PUFAs and cancer that have dominated the cancer literature in the last 25 years span cachexia, muscle wasting, side effects of cancer treatment, quality of life and survival. Long-chain n-3 PUFAs have well established effects on the immune system [1,2] and muscle condition [3] in the context of chronic disease. However, evidence for the impact on patients with cancer in clinical studies is conflicting and n-3 PUFAs in the oncology setting are not consistently part of clinical practice guidelines.…”

Pathways Contributing to Chemotherapy‐Induced Myotoxicity Are Attenuated by EPA + DHA in a Clinically Relevant Model of Colorectal Cancer

“…Benefits of n‐3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [ 41 ], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [ 3 ]. The biological underpinnings of these benefits remain elusive and require experimental models to identify mechanisms.…”

“…Benefits of n-3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [41], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [3].…”

The Role of Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Muscle Mass: A Literature Review

“…However, the exact mechanism of this is controversial, but there is evidence that omega 3 fatty acids are involved in anabolic pathaways specifically mTOR pathaway which has long been known to function as a signaling pathaway that controls muscle protein synthesis in its effect on a person's muscle mass (McCarthy et al, 2010). One of the activities carried out to maintain muscle mass is resistance training, but the obstacle to maintaining or increasing muscle mass is common in elderly individuals due to reduced ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis after exercise (van der Meij et al, 2020). Anabolic resistance which is the main cause of reduced muscle mass in elderly individuals occurs due to a lack of response to anabolic stimuli such as the availability of amino acids.…”

The impact of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with cancer: emerging themes

“…Themes involving n-3 PUFAs and cancer that have dominated the cancer literature in the last 25 years span cachexia, muscle wasting, side effects of cancer treatment, quality of life and survival. Long-chain n-3 PUFAs have well established effects on the immune system [1,2] and muscle condition [3] in the context of chronic disease. However, evidence for the impact on patients with cancer in clinical studies is conflicting and n-3 PUFAs in the oncology setting are not consistently part of clinical practice guidelines.…”

Pathways Contributing to Chemotherapy‐Induced Myotoxicity Are Attenuated by EPA + DHA in a Clinically Relevant Model of Colorectal Cancer

“…Benefits of n‐3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [ 41 ], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [ 3 ]. The biological underpinnings of these benefits remain elusive and require experimental models to identify mechanisms.…”

“…Benefits of n-3 fatty acids have been reported to be beneficial for muscle in several disease states, including cancer [41], but few have been conducted in the context of chemotherapy [3].…”

The Role of Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Muscle Mass: A Literature Review

“…However, the exact mechanism of this is controversial, but there is evidence that omega 3 fatty acids are involved in anabolic pathaways specifically mTOR pathaway which has long been known to function as a signaling pathaway that controls muscle protein synthesis in its effect on a person's muscle mass (McCarthy et al, 2010). One of the activities carried out to maintain muscle mass is resistance training, but the obstacle to maintaining or increasing muscle mass is common in elderly individuals due to reduced ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis after exercise (van der Meij et al, 2020). Anabolic resistance which is the main cause of reduced muscle mass in elderly individuals occurs due to a lack of response to anabolic stimuli such as the availability of amino acids.…”

The impact of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with cancer: emerging themes

“…Themes involving n-3 PUFAs and cancer that have dominated the cancer literature in the last 25 years span cachexia, muscle wasting, side effects of cancer treatment, quality of life and survival. Long-chain n-3 PUFAs have well established effects on the immune system [1,2] and muscle condition [3] in the context of chronic disease. However, evidence for the impact on patients with cancer in clinical studies is conflicting and n-3 PUFAs in the oncology setting are not consistently part of clinical practice guidelines.…”