Fish or n3‐PUFA intake and body composition: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Obesity is a major public health issue and an important contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. Studies indicate that fish and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) supplements may help prevent cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the effect of fish oil on body composition is still uncertain, so we performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and the first meta-analysis on the association between fish or fish oil intake and body composition measures. We found evidence that participants taking fish or fish oil lost 0.59 kg more body weight than controls (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.96 to -0.21). Treatment groups lost 0.24 kg m(-2) (body mass index) more than controls (-0.40 to -0.08), and 0.49 % more body fat than controls (-0.97 to -0.01). Fish or fish oil reduced waist circumference by 0.81 cm (-1.34 to -0.28) compared with control. There was no difference for fat mass and lean body mass. Further research is needed to confirm or refute our findings and to reveal possible mechanisms by which n3-PUFAs might reduce weight.

Relationships between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D, food consumption, and nutritional status among adolescents

“…In an experimental trial, fish oil-fed rats presented a 150% higher amount of peroxisome enzymes and lower hepatic triglyceride content when compared to safflower oil-fed rats [41]. These findings may elucidate the negative correlation between n-3 PUFA intake and BMI found in this study, which has also been reported in a study with fish or fish oil consumption that resulted in bigger weight loss and decreased BMI when comparing with the control group [42].…”

Longitudinal Associations of Exposure to Perfluoroalkylated Substances in Childhood and Adolescence and Indicators of Adiposity and Glucose Metabolism 6 and 12 Years Later: The European Youth Heart Study

“…Another example is the consumption of seafood and predatory fish, which are considered to contain high doses of health-hazardous substances including PFASs (31). At the same time, fish intake has been related to weight loss in randomized trials (32). Generally, seafood and fish are perceived as a more exclusive and expensive alternative to other sorts of meat thus consumed more frequently by individuals of higher socioeconomic strata.…”

Mechanisms of the anorexia of aging—a review

“…Results for agerelated changes are inconclusive: some authors reported increased CART mRNA expression ( Wolden-Hanson et al 2004), while others found no changes (Kappeler et al 2003). As shown by Sohn et al, testosterone may lower hypothalamic CART mRNA levels (Bender et al 2014). Therefore, there might be aging-related increase of CART activity in males.…”