The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Lipid Mediators on Skeletal Muscle Regeneration: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the human body, comprising approximately 40% of body mass. After damage or injury, a healthy skeletal muscle is often fully regenerated; however, with aging and chronic diseases, the regeneration process is usually incomplete, resulting in the formation of fibrotic tissue, infiltration of intermuscular adipose tissue, and loss of muscle mass and strength, leading to a reduction in functional performance and quality of life. Accumulating evidence has shown that omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their lipid mediators (i.e., oxylipins and endocannabinoids) have the potential to enhance muscle regeneration by positively modulating the local and systemic inflammatory response to muscle injury. This review explores the process of muscle regeneration and how it is affected by acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, focusing on the potential role of n-3 PUFAs and their derivatives as positive modulators of skeletal muscle healing and regeneration.

Blueberry Intake Elevates Post-Exercise Anti- inflammatory Oxylipins: A Randomized Trial

“…Several review papers have concluded that increased intake of blueberries, anthocyanins, and polyphenols in general may have a small, variable, or null effect on mitigating exercise-induced muscle soreness, damage, and dysfunction [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Lipid mediators generated from DHA and EPA have been hypothesized to enhance muscle regeneration by regulating the inflammatory response to muscle injury, but definitive evidence in exercise-based studies is lacking [20,37,38]. Daily intraperitoneal injection of DHA-derived resolvin D1 (RvD1) in aged mice suppressed inflammatory cytokine expression and improved recovery of muscle function and was advanced as a promising treatment of muscular injuries and pain in the elderly [38].…”

“…Relatively few acute and chronic exercise-based studies have been conducted using oxylipins as a primary outcome measure [5,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. In general, the acute post-exercise increase in plasma levels of oxylipins is more diverse and greater with prolonged and intensive cardiorespiratory exercise (e.g., 2-3 h of cycling and running) than with resistance-based exercise bouts [5,[16][17][18][22][23][24].…”

“…Emerging evidence indicates that lipid mediators are involved in initiating, mediating, and resolving exercise-2 induced muscle tissue injury, inflammation, and metabolic stress [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Previous studies indicate that increases in inflammatory cytokines and oxylipins following prolonged and intensive running or cycling can be countered through carbohydrate ingestion, with the largest effects seen for ARA-CYP-derived oxylipins [5,22].…”

Association between dietary antioxidant and fatty acids and low muscle mass in obese and non-obese community-dwelling older adults: An NHANES analysis

“…[15][16][17] Emerging evidence suggests that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid, possess anti-inflammatory properties and may enhance aspects of muscle health, such as lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass, and quadriceps strength. [18] However, their effects can vary across different patient groups, as seen in older women or cancer patients, where consistent improvements in muscle maintenance were not observed. [19,20] Given the substantial global burden of sarcopenia among the aging population and the relatively unexplored relationship between antioxidant intake and skeletal muscle mass, particularly in the context of obesity, this study sought to investigate the association between dietary antioxidants and low muscle mass in older adults.…”

“…[15–17] Emerging evidence suggests that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid, possess anti-inflammatory properties and may enhance aspects of muscle health, such as lean body mass, skeletal muscle mass, and quadriceps strength. [18] However, their effects can vary across different patient groups, as seen in older women or cancer patients, where consistent improvements in muscle maintenance were not observed. [19,20]…”